OVERVIEW GLOBAL RASPBERRY, BLACKBERRY AND REDCURRANT MARKET

  Reports have come from far and wide about the current state of the market for raspberries, blackberries and redcurrant. In the global market, there now seems to be mostly a small supply for a high demand. The coronavirus has also taken a toll on this market, as sales have been poor in recent months. Redcurrant has been…

Peruvian avocado industry looks to expand presence in US market

The 2020 Peruvian avocado season started in late April, with large shipments to Europe and small shipments to the US arriving in early May. Xavier Equihua, President of Avocados From Peru, says: “This year Peru will have promotable volumes in the US from mid-June all the way to early October. This will…

US protests create hurdles for some shippers in moving product

Days of protests and civil unrest across several U.S. cities have led to new logistical challenges for produce shippers in moving product. “The first direct business interruption was this past Monday. We had three containers that we couldn’t get out of the Port of Miami,” says Peter Leifermann with…

US: YUMI organic black seedless watermelon to be available 3rd week of June

Around the third week of June, an organic black seedless watermelon will hit markets nationwide. While this watermelon variety has been available in local markets for a few years, this year will be the first year that it will be launched as a branded product and be distributed throughout the United…

CAN (QC): First plants in new Lufa Farms rooftop greenhouse

68,700 tomato plants and 4,800 eggplant seedlings have been raised in the new Lufa Farms greenhouse. Literally raised: the greenhouse is located on top of an existing and repurposed office building in Ville Saint-Laurent, a suburb of Montreal, Quebec. The bottom floor functions as a distribution centre…

California Table Grape Commission promotes Karen Hearn to VP of Domestic Marketing

Karen Hearn is the new Vice President of Domestic Marketing for the California Table Grape Commission. Hearn’s responsibilities include leading the domestic retail team,…

New Brunswick potato farmers call for Minister Bibeau to take action now

Delays rolling out a COVID-19-related support program for Canadian agriculture may cause difficulties for potato farmers. While the government delays, millions of pounds of…

Q&A with the Wonderful Company on the upcoming United Fresh show

Could you elaborate on Wonderful’s decision to exhibit at United Fresh’ virtual trade show? “The United Fresh Expo has always been a good show for us – particularly for Wonderful Citrus from a timing perspective,” says Adam Cooper with The Wonderful Company. “The show gives us a good opportunity to…

New RPC Mini Series launched to increase transport efficiency

IFCO Systems announced the launch of its new RPC Mini Series. The Mini Series RPCs are the smallest reusable containers on the market specifically designed for the transportation of fresh food. The size of the RPCs allows retailers, growers and suppliers to efficiently use the available space when…

Computer modeling drives precision bloom thinning in apple orchards

This spring, New York apple growers are applying the results of a computer modeling-based orchard management research funded by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) to more precisely manage their orchard thinning practices with a goal of producing higher quality fruit for…

Ecuador will decrease its banana production by 10% to avoid oversupply

The current oversupply of bananas in Ecuador has caused a drastic drop in the export price. Producers currently receive 2 to 4 dollars per box, even though the minimum support price stands at $6.40 per box. The National Federation of Banana Growers of Ecuador (Fenabe) announced on June 3 that its members…

May 2020 banana exports Cameroon down 4,000 tons year-on-year

In May 2020, Cameroon’s banana exports dropped significantly after a disappointing first quarter, which saw a 13,000 tons-plus drop in exports. According to figures compiled…

New Zealand: Ormond couple experiment with banana growing

An Ormond couple who have experimented with banana growing with the aim of commercial production can see real potential for it in Tairawhiti. Kevin Brockhurst and Tania…

Biotech firm’s $28.5 million boost in battle to save bananas from extinction threat

Tropic Biosciences, based at the Norwich Research Park, uses cutting-edge plant breeding and gene editing technologies to improve commercial varieties of banana and coffee…

Rising demand for Egyptian sweet potatoes

The Egyptian sweet potato season has started, and one exporter is hoping to add to his markets in Europe. Due to the pandemic, prices could become extremely high this season and competition could be fierce as a result. According to Mostafa Adel, International Sales Manager for MMA Fresh Produce, Egypt…

New Brunswick potato farmers call for Minister Bibeau to take action now

Delays rolling out a COVID-19-related support program for Canadian agriculture may cause difficulties for potato farmers. While the government delays, millions of pounds of…

Idaho-grown red potatoes still available due to investments in storage technology

Big investments into new storage technology have allowed Eagle Eye Produce to continue to supply premium Idaho-Grown Red Potatoes while most resort to sourcing from distant growing regions. As the Idaho potato planting season wraps up, traditionally stored potatoes see a dip in quality. This requires…

"Sellable fresh cut avocado getting closer"

Ready to eat and prepared fruit and vegetables are widely available whether for food service or direct to consumers. One fruit however is missing. The avocado. The avocado is notoriously difficult to keep from browning so it is not included in the ready to eat ranges. Agricultural scientist and…

Significant volumes of Peruvian avocados expected soon

The big volumes of Peruvian avocados are now rolling and are expected to hit Europe very soon. Significant volumes are anticipated  to arrive in the European marketplace throughout the summer. South Africa, Colombia and Kenya all compliment the volume from Peru, but it’s the dominance of the Peruvian harvest…

Peruvian avocado industry looks to expand presence in US market

The 2020 Peruvian avocado season started in late April, with large shipments to Europe and small shipments to the US arriving in early May. Xavier Equihua, President of Avocados From Peru, says: “This year Peru will have promotable volumes in the US from mid-June all the way to early October. This will…

Province of Bac Giang plans promotional events to boost Vietnamese lychee exports

Officials in Vietnam’s northern province of Bac Giang are planning a series of promotional events as this year’s peak harvest season nears, to promote and boost the export of…

China may allow half a million tonnes of Cambodian mangoes

Last Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia announced that Chinese and Cambodian officials are scheduled to sign an agreement on June 9 permitting the Kingdom to export…

media global

LuLu Mango World 2020 launched in Qatar

On Thursday, LuLu Mango World 2020, with a specially picked collection of 12 varieties from different countries, started across all LuLu Hypermarket branches in Qatar. Running until Saturday (June 6), LuLu Mango World presents a wide diversity of the king of fruits sourced from across the continents. The…

CAN (QC): First plants in new Lufa Farms rooftop greenhouse

68,700 tomato plants and 4,800 eggplant seedlings have been raised in the new Lufa Farms greenhouse. Literally raised: the greenhouse is located on top of an existing and repurposed office building in Ville Saint-Laurent, a suburb of Montreal, Quebec. The bottom floor functions as a distribution centre…

Hydroponic growing in the Philippines with greenhouse kit

The challenging time of COVID-19 pushed TAPKIT to provide its services remotely. The TAPKIT is a 500 m2 hydroponic unit, which can produce 6-12 tons of leafy vegetables and fresh herbs per year. Four of these hydroponic system units are now in construction in the Philippines, while the instruction and…

What do papayas, vanilla and black pepper have in common?

Do you recognize the second plant from the left in the below picture? Most of the participants in the webinar on the Greenhouse Pharmacy project, held as part of the WUR Urban Greenhouse Challenge, had no problems seeing this was a vanilla orchid. It got a bit trickier when Professor Wouter Verkerke…

Vending by JSR

Vending machines open up market for UK growers

JSR supplies out of Blairgowrie, Scotland, supplies fresh produce vending machines to farmers in the UK. Sales and marketing director Stuart Retson said many farmers now realise it is a viable way to sell all their produce, following the success of milk vending machines on dairy farms. “Typically, folk…

"Virtual exhibitions will indirectly foster innovation"

Around the globe companies are trying to come up with ways to cope with the COVID-pandemic. The fruit and vegetable sector was not as affected by the measures and shutdowns as others but keeping distance and finding enough employees has been a challenge. Another big change has been the cancellation of…

“This is an opportunity we should take advantage of”

In less than three weeks, the produce industry will experience its first virtual trade show ever, organized by the United Fresh Produce Association. “With our membership going back three decades, we’ve been a long-time supporter of the association,” says Marsha Verwiebe with Volm Companies. “We know that…

Public support for food standards bolstered as 500,000 sign NFU petition

The NFU’s food standards petition has seen overwhelming backing from the public in just a matter of days, with more than 500,000 people pledging their support since Sunday 31…

The EU and Mexico advance their agenda to reach a new trade agreement

The European Union and Mexico have completed the last stage of negotiations for a new trade agreement. The negotiation was started in 2016 and will probably enter into force…

US and Taiwan sign an organic equivalence arrangement

The American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States signed and exchanged letters on behalf of the United States…

Australia: Selwyn Snell to step down as Chair of Hort Innovation

Hort Innovation Chair Selwyn Snell is set to retire from horticulture’s research and development corporation in November this year. The change comes as the company’s…

EU leaders will intervene in Brexit talks in autumn

Britain will be asked to give away some sovereignty to secure free trade with the EU but Europe’s leaders will intervene in the negotiations in the autumn with the aim of…

Woolworths is one of the companies to act on World Environment Day

Woolworths is among the local businesses to unveil sustainability initiatives for World Environment Day, June 5. Woolworths is reducing plastic packaging for its fruit and…

“Currently our watercress sales are just ahead of where they were last year"

Each year there is more and more evidence to back up the claims of watercress to be a superfood. It has been known for some time that watercress is very good for you, but it takes time to get the scientific evidence together. Tom Amery from The Watercress Company said that in the last 12 months they have…

Fruit Attraction will be back in October 2020

Raúl Calleja, Director of Fruit Attraction, has released a statement through his LinkedIn account announcing the new date on which the fair will take place this year. The largest global #marketplace of professionals specialized in the fruit and vegetable sector will be held from October 20 to 22 and will…

School Foodservice Forum to take place during United Fresh LIVE!

The United Fresh Start Foundation’s annual School Foodservice Forum will be held during United Fresh LIVE! taking place online the week of June 15, 2020. The virtual forum…

Automated facilities stimulate export of Chinese honey pomelo

"Fujian recently suffered from hailstorms, but the extreme weather conditions only had a very limited impact on fruit production in the area. Honey pomelo farmers have already placed protective pouches around most of the fruit. The harvest of this production season will enter the Chinese market in the…

Pinghe honey pomelo will enter Chinese market in mid-August

The weather conditions in honey pomelo production areas in Fujian were quite regular in the last few weeks. Plantation activities are taking place as usual. Manager Wen of Pinghe County Flourish Fruits Co., Ltd., a company specialized in the export of honey pomelo, recently talked about current…

Funding boost for organic growing operations

Four organic fruit and vegetable growing operations are the beneficiaries of a million-dollars in grants and interest-free loans that will allow them to upgrade production systems and develop expansion plans, ensuring that they remain sustainable into the future.Woolworths has awarded $1 million in…

Experimental breast cancer drug uses compound found in broccoli

A new drug based on a natural compound found in broccoli, Brussels sprouts and other vegetables may be effective in reversing or even preventing resistance to breast cancer…

Sunway announces Malaysia's first urban farming innovation hub

In conjunction with World Environment Day, Sunway today has announced that it will build a 50,000 sq ft urban farming innovation hub, Sunway FutureX, which will be completed…

Eggs can be used as low-cost coating to protect fruits and vegetables

Rice University researchers say that eggs, that would otherwise be wasted, can be used as the base of an inexpensive coating to protect fruits and vegetables. The Brown School…

"Juicer sales have fallen by 90% in the horeca and 30% in the retail"

The hotel and restaurant sector has been one of the most affected by the emergence of COVID-19 and the global health crisis caused by it. Fruit juicers have a significant presence in the Horeca, which has been brought to a halt for more than two months. Sales of these machines have therefore suffered a…

Using barcoded microbes to track fruit

Food criss-crosses the world to reach people in a globalized economy, but how safely do apples, tomatoes, grapes and so much more make this journey? It's hard to track. Thanks…

"Important to pack fruit & vegetables in plastic foil, especially now"

The recent period has shown it is important to pack products, especially in the potato, fruit and vegetable sector. Unpacked products are less likely to be taken out of…

New RPC Mini Series launched to increase transport efficiency

IFCO Systems announced the launch of its new RPC Mini Series. The Mini Series RPCs are the smallest reusable containers on the market specifically designed for the transportation of fresh food. The size of the RPCs allows retailers, growers and suppliers to efficiently use the available space when…

Spain relies on European funds to adapt agriculture to climate change

The impact of global warming on the Iberian Peninsula is undeniable. According to different studies, by the end of the century, the proportion of warm days is expected to…

The Val Venosta Cauliflower will be available from the beginning of June

"Approximately 3,700 tons of cauliflower will be harvested this year by the growers who are members of the VIP Consortium," commented the sales manager for the vegetable sector Reinhard Ladurner.  "We are in line with last year's numbers. The cauliflower seedlings planted by the farmers and with whom we planned…

Asda launches 'Extra Special Tomatoes'

In recognition of British Tomato Fortnight, Asda is introducing two new varieties of tomatoes to its customers, grown sustainably right here in Britain. When Asda customers buy a pack of Extra Special Mixed Tomatoes, they will be able to sample the delights of the two new varieties of cherry tomatoes,…

Gourmet and organic mushrooms, now also home delivered

The Palencia-based startup EntreSetas is once again revolutionizing the market for organic gourmet products with a new initiative: the home delivery of freshly picked mushrooms. Customers can subscribe and receive a 1.5 kilogram box with a range of gourmet, organic fresh mushrooms once a month. After the…

National Crime Agency

Northern Ireland: Herbal cannabis worth £12 mln disguised as vegetable shipment

In Templepatrick, County Antrim, police found £12 mln worth of herbal cannabis Inside a vegetable delivery truck. It is the biggest drugs seizure on record in Northern Ireland. Officers searched the lorry in the early hours of Wednesday and found 600 kg of the Class B drug among a load of vegetables. In…

Correction: False report regarding delivery issues of frutal GmbH & Co. KG

On June 2nd, FreshPlaza published a press release about issues with the supply of goods by the German company frutal GmbH & Co. KG. We have been informed that this was a false…

Belgian coop, VBT's, supply value tops 1 billion euros for the first time

For VBT and its members, 2019 was a year of which to be proud. This Belgian growers cooperative has a turnover of €982 million. That was in the fresh fruit and vegetable market. In the frozen foods sector, it was more than €100 million. It was, without a doubt, a record year. "All the producer…

Westfalia Fruit appoints Johnathan Sutton to head up Group Safety and Environment role

Westfalia Fruit International Ltd announced this week that industry veteran Johnathan Sutton has been appointed to fill the newly created role of Executive of Safety &…

Total Produce launches 2020 sustainability report

Total Produce is pleased to mark World Environment Day 2020 by launching its first, Group wide Sustainability Report. The report details Total Produce’s strategic approach to…

California Table Grape Commission promotes Karen Hearn to VP of Domestic Marketing

Karen Hearn is the new Vice President of Domestic Marketing for the California Table Grape Commission. Hearn’s responsibilities include leading the domestic retail team,…

Greenyard USA/Seald Sweet partners with Food Lion to donate meals

Greenyard USA/Seald Sweet is extremely proud to be participating in Food Lion’s “Summers Without Hunger” Campaign. Food Lion customers will now have the opportunity to make a…

“We will need to be creative with drawing people to our booth”

This is the first year that Gold Coast Packing will exhibit at the United Fresh show. While the format of the show has been changed, the company continues to look forward to their participation. Crystal Chavez, the company’s marketing coordinator, says: “We were disappointed when the show was moved to a…

"Online platform for booking containers makes shipping more sustainable"

Where previously intermediaries were required, exporters can now arrange the entire container transport themselves. From A to Z, within a few clicks and with more sustainable choices. After all, Dutch shipping causes more CO2 emissions than all the cars in our country combined. For this reason,…

US protests create hurdles for some shippers in moving product

Days of protests and civil unrest across several U.S. cities have led to new logistical challenges for produce shippers in moving product. “The first direct business interruption was this past Monday. We had three containers that we couldn’t get out of the Port of Miami,” says Peter Leifermann with…

Delhi Airport has emerged as hub for export of agri goods

After facilitating massive cargo movements, consisting of essential supplies, the Delhi International Airport Ltd-run IGIA has emerged as an hub for agricultural perishables.…

"Not a normal situation" at Cape Town Harbour as Covid cases rise in the Western Cape

A press release from South Africa’s state-owned port company Transnet today denied reports that the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) was closed and assured clients that the CTCT and the Cape Town Multi-Purpose Terminal were operational, amid serious concerns regarding ongoing operations at the port.…

Q&A with the Wonderful Company on the upcoming United Fresh show

Could you elaborate on Wonderful’s decision to exhibit at United Fresh’ virtual trade show? “The United Fresh Expo has always been a good show for us – particularly for Wonderful Citrus from a timing perspective,” says Adam Cooper with The Wonderful Company. “The show gives us a good opportunity to…

Del Monte Fresh

Del Monte Fresh introduced new campaign to highlight its workforce

Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. Inc. is one of North America’s leading marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables. It’s new 'Can Do Done Daily' campaign showcases the exemplary work Del Monte Fresh Produce’s staff has remained committed to executing throughout the…

Dubai shoppers glad to see prices of fruits and vegetables remain stable

The prices of most fruits and vegetables in Dubai have remained stable over the past few weeks. With most families and individuals limiting the majority of their expenditure…

Ontario crops recovering from unwelcome frost

The hard frost that struck southern Ontario in early May caused some damage, but farmers in the region believe vulnerable crops should be alright, provided there are no…

Locust invasion of Pakistan adds to pandemic misery

The locust problem in Pakistan escalated last week, as the nation already struggled to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic which has infected over 85,000 people across the south…

Freezers filling up all over Europe as COVID-19 hampers food sales

Demand for cold-storage space in Europe has surged after the hospitality industry and sports venues closed, leaving their suppliers on the lookout for new customers or…

Africans go online for groceries

In many African countries, measures put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 have made it harder for people to access affordable, nutritious foods, sparking warnings from aid groups that the…

The value of fruit imports in China increases during the first quarter of 2020

According to data recently published by the China Chamber of Commerce, during the first quarter of 2020, the Asian country imported more than 1.61 million tons of fruit for a total value of 3.010 billion dollars, reflecting a 12 % year-on-year drop in volume and a 7% increase in value. During that…

"Less competition from goods from overseas and hardly any price pressure on Italia grapes"

A large part of the imported goods at the Vienna wholesale market in Inzersdorf traditionally comes from neighbouring Italy. Even in these difficult times of Corona, Italian products arrive in large quantities at the trading area. Despite the exceptional situation, cherries, grapes and the like are available…

Fotokon

Prices for fruit rise to unprecedented highs in Ukraine

Due to the negative impact of recent weather conditions, prices for fruit and berries have risen to historic highs in Ukraine. Wholesale prices for garden strawberries grew the most, by 61.5% on average as of early June. "Despite the decline in consumer income as a result of the coronavirus-related…

Vietnam fruit exporters hampered by rising air freight costs

Vietnamese fruit exporters are struggling with the high air freight costs, that have surged due to the limited number of flights amid the pandemic. Global Fresh Fruit Company…

High temperatures benefit Chinese Goji berry production in Ningxia

The Goji berries in Zhongning, Ningxia, generally begin to ripen in the middle of June. This year, however, the harvest season already began in early June. The export season usually begins in the middle of September. The weather conditions in Ningxia are ideal this year. The high temperatures benefit…

"Strong ginger purchase demand from South East Asia and Americas"

“Over the past few months, the ginger market has been volatile. In April and May, the volume being shipped to the Russian market was very large, but now there are very few orders from this country. In addition, the purchase demand from the European market from May has weakened significantly, mainly due…

"Government promotion drove smooth Hainan lychee season in China"

"This year's Hainan lychee production season is coming to an end. Looking back at the season, the market performance of different varieties has been variable, but overall sales have been smooth and the market has been stable,” says Wang Zhiqiang of Yongxing E-commerce Poverty Alleviation Center (Yongxing…

New Zealand: High prices for gold kiwifruit licences

Each year Zespri releases new gold licences, and this year 700 hectares were available. Successful bidders have been told the lowest price paid for a gold licence was $378,000…

Plus Retail selects Relex solutions to optimize operations

Plus Retail, a Dutch co-operative with around 270 supermarkets operated by independent entrepreneurs offering fresh goods, has chosen to partner with Relex Solutions to integrate Plus Retail’s space planning with forecasting and replenishment. Powered by pragmatic Artificial Intelligence (AI) and…

Energy efficiency in labor-saving IQF berry processing line

The covid-19 pandemic has forced the frozen food industry in overcoming new challenges and seizing new opportunities. Consumers’ buying habits have changed and their perception of frozen food and there is an increasing demand for ‘no hand touch’ processing lines. During off seasons specifically, the…

Positioning dates as a snack continues to pay off

The Bard Valley, located in a 150-square-mile radius of the intersection of Arizona, California, and Mexico, grows about 60 percent of all dates grown in the United States. The fruit is typically harvested in September through part of October and fruit from the Bard Valley Date Growers Association is…

"Ozone as an alternative for CIPC in transport"

The ban on the sprout inhibitor CIPC is getting closer. For those in Belgium it will be a reality on June 30 this year and in the Netherlands, the substance can still be used until October 8. Many industry associations warn that the ban will have a major impact on potatoes and onions. There are…

C&S Wholesale Grocers and Instacart have teamed up

US: Rosie CEO sees local retailers and customers embracing digital toolsLaunched in 2012 - and cleverly named after the robot housekeeper on “The Jetsons” - online grocery app Rosie allows customers to shop online from their favorite local stores for same-day delivery or in-store pickup. In addition to…

7-Eleven: First store in China's Hunan registered global sales record on opening day

Australia: Charter Hall bags ALDI logistics portfolio for $648mln at the checkoutCharter Hall Group and its joint venture (JV) partner Allianz Real Estate have acquired supermarket group ALDI's $648mln Australian logistics portfolio. Located in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, the distribution centres…

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