Texas: Hurricane Hanna hits citrus industry, most other fresh produce crops spared

Texas was hit with their first hurricane in over a decade at the end of July. Dante Galeazzi of the Texas International Produce Association shares: “The typical rule of thumb is that we’ll get a hurricane here in Texas once every 10 years, so Hurricane Hanna was roughly on schedule. Unfortunately,…

2020 Pacific Northwest pear harvest kicks off

Pear production began last week in the Pacific Northwest with Bartletts being the first variety off the trees. Following Bartlett harvest, Sage Fruit Co. in Yakima, WA will continue the season with Red Anjou harvest beginning in late August, followed by Bosc and Green Anjou in mid-September. Kaci…

Good volumes and strong market for Rocky Ford melons

The melon season in Rocky Ford, Colorado, started mid-July with low volumes. Now, the volumes have picked up and the region is seeing good supplies and a strong market for their melons. Slow start to season, good volumes nowThe region produces cantaloupe, seeded and seedless watermelons, personal watermelons,…

Anti-microbial technology incorporated into produce packaging

Veg-Fresh Farms has recently incorporated anti-microbial technology by Smart Plastic™, into film packaging used for their organic and conventional Brussels sprouts, with the hopes of incorporating the technology into future items such as lidding film, clamshells, and more. This leading-edge technology is…

New technology to protect apple quality in cold storage available this season

Hazel Technologies Inc. announced the launch of Hazel® CA, a new technology designed for growers and packers of apples to protect quality in cold storage following harvest. The technology will be available to apple packers this coming season, following positive initial results last season. Fresh apples…

'Maintaining the fresh qualities of cut strawberries'

While the vast array of shelf life extension technology for fresh cut produce has grown exponentially over the last decade, strawberries had been absent from the list until…

'Natural fungicide and bactericide poised to save the banana'

A natural fungicide and bactericide is motivating the multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry with promises of ending one of the most serious fungi on bananas plants,…

The coronavirus puts Latino farmworkers in the US at risk

The expansion of the coronavirus in the US is strongly affecting the farmworker's safety in the country. The workers, mostly Latino, live in closed quarters, sleep in bunk beds, and share bathrooms and kitchens. They travel to the fields in crowded buses and often work in groups. Even though farm…

‘Global kiwifruit demand will rise to 300 million trays by 2028’

According to a new Rabobank report, global demand for Zespri kiwifruit is forecast to rise to 300 million trays by 2028. To keep up with demand, the report said significant…

Georgia vegetable growers succeed in avoiding disaster

Experts say state and federal purchase programs, gradual re-openings of restaurants and increased grocery store sales saved the day in Georgia. That might mean Georgia’s…

A new shipment of Paraguayan bananas leaves for Argentina

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) stated that, on Sunday, August 9, a shipment of 1,050 boxes of bananas produced in the district of Tembiaporã, in the…

Banana imports in Bermuda underway again

Recently, Roland Hill of J&J Produce, joined Walter Roban, the Home Affairs minister, with staff at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources headquarters as they…

'Natural fungicide and bactericide poised to save the banana'

A natural fungicide and bactericide is motivating the multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry with promises of ending one of the most serious fungi on bananas plants,…

Chinese onions from Gansu are in high demand in overseas markets

Onion production areas are widely distributed across China and the overall surface area devoted to onion plantation is still growing. China is already the largest onion producer among the four main onion producers (China, India, USA, and Japan) in the world. The main export markets for Chinese onions are…

Export price of Chinese potatoes was expected to drop, but is rising instead

The global market for agricultural products suffered from the outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020. The pandemic created obstacles for distribution, a shortage of workers, and severely weakened consumer power. Many agricultural products encountered sales difficulties and the prices went down. Many farmers…

Goertz, Nature's Pride and PLUS join forces for sweet potatoes from Dutch soil

A grower of asparagus and blueberries looking for additional cultivation, an importer who is investigating whether the cultivation of exotic crops is closer to home is possible due to the changing climate, and a retailer who works with home-grown products as much as possible. This brought grower Franc…

"Oversized Austrian potatoes for the export market"

The price of oversized potatoes on the Austrian domestic market reached a new low last week. Until a few weeks ago, 0.07 Euro/kg was paid for large tubers, but in the meantime the price has fallen to 0.05 Euro/kg. The catastrophic price drop is causing problems for Lower Austrian producer Detter as well:…

Bem Brasil teams up with Key Technology on new potato processing line

Key Technology, a member of the Duravant family of operating companies, announced they are teaming up with Bem Brasil, a potato processor in Brazil, to add a new state-of-the-art potato strip processing line to Bem’s Perdizes facility. This multimillion dollar purchase includes six VERYX® digital…

Western Australia's processed potato sales hit by COVID-19 lockdowns

The Western Australian French fry processing industry is bouncing back, according to the state's peak industry body, after suffering "a dramatic effect" from COVID-19, with sales crashing when lockdown restrictions were implemented. However, WA Potatoes CEO Simon Moltoni says since WA has reopened,…

Roosters will enter the supermarkets in the coming days

According to this week’s Potato Market Report published by the Irish Farmers’ Association, the average potato prices have remained unchanged from last week. New-season Queens are averaging at €7 per 10-kg bag (ex-farm), while Roosters (old season) remain unchanged. New-season Roosters will be lifted this…

New discoveries could provide strategy to increase yields

Researchers from the James Hutton Institute have discovered that a specific protein, encoded by the potato genome, is a key component of tuberization. Tuberization is the…

Kenya: Agrico East Africa goes digital

The Agrico East Africa team has been working hard the past few months to produce video tutorials on ‘Profitable Potato Farming in Kenya’. They did this in an effort to…

Onion growers still packing in Bakersfield

MARKETCentral California:Robert Bell with Western Onion in Camarillo, CA, brought us up to speed with the deal in California’s Central Valley. “Still packing in Bakersfield,”…

Caledonia Potatoes created by former group members

The Caithness Group of companies successfully completed a demerger on 30th June 2020. From 1st July 2020, a new company, Caledonia Potatoes Ltd, has been created by former…

Fluence

Exploring the impact of light on tomato plants and yield

It's time for another Fluence research webinar, August 27 at 3 PM CEST, 8 AM CST. In this episode, Fluence experts from the Horticulture Service and Research teams will discuss two crucial experiments - conducted in collaboration with Wageningen University in the Netherlands - that improve our collective…

Europe sets new limits for perchlorate in some vegetables and fruits

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established via Regulation (UE) 2020/685 new limits for perchlorate in some foods. This compound derived from chlorine is a…

"If you are the first one to detect a virus, you will be the first one to develop a fighting strategy"

Abiopep, the Murcian biotechnology and plant health company - a spin-off that emerged in 2013 from CEBAS (Center for Soil Science and Applied Biology of Segura) - focused on…

“We have retained around 25% of the home delivery business”

As things are slowly getting back to normal, companies are having to again change gear to service previous clients while still taking things day by day. Back in March Dundee wholesaler Les Turriff had to deal with the lockdown which saw their normal client base of food service providers suddenly close,…

'Turkish and French apricots more dominant than Spanish and Italian goods'

Turkish and French apricots dominated over Spanish and Italian goods. Native and Polish offers were only found sporadically. The supply was limited. The unimpressive demand could be satisfied without any difficulties. Only Berlin reported quick turnovers. In the capital, Turkish sugar apricots were now offered…

Fruit prices in Hungary are one and a half times higher than last year

Hungarian fruit is currently one and a half times more expensive than last year. The prices of apricots, peaches, plums and melons have risen the most, in some cases by as…

Horticulture NZ wants government to allow independent fruit and vegetable retailers to remain open

Grower organisation Horticulture NZ has written to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to express concerns about independent fruit and vegetable retailers not being classified as…

Do promotions contribute to food waste?

With global supply chains being threatened by a combination of extreme climate events and transport restrictions, it is increasingly important to tackle the global problem of…

Costa Rica: Top ten key factors for successful agricultural exports

The agricultural sector has a high participation in Costa Rican exports, in 2019 alone, it reached 24% of the total (that is, $ 2,764 million, + 3% average variation…

Raspberry prices on the rise in Ukraine, despite good harvest

Despite the fact that the domestic raspberry season is currently at its peak in Ukraine, prices for this berry remain at fairly high levels. According to the weekly price…

Oscar Espinosa Villegas

Rwanda: Fruit farming is still an untapped business potential

In Rwanda, the demand for fruits outpaces the supply, forcing the country to rely on imports especially for mangos, apples, and oranges. Despite the shortage on the local market, Rwanda exported 8,667 tonnes of fruits between July 2019 and June 2020, generating over $7.5 million, according to figures…

One week left for virtual conference PMA Fresh Connections: Southern Africa

The Fresh Connections: Southern Africa conference hosted by the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) is the largest gathering of the fresh produce industry in southern Africa. For the last decade, this event has connected the entire fresh produce supply chain, from growers, distributors and processors to…

Social media driving the popularity of a picturesque niche vegetable line in Australia

Demand for the specialised winter vegetable Romanesco has been slightly impacted due to the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions placed upon the foodservice industry, according to wholesale company Simon George and Sons. "Romanesco is certainly a unique line," Group Procurement, Matt George said. "It is…

Malaysian Black Thorn durian makes an appearance on the Chinese market

Malay King Durian and City Super recently organized a durian festival together. During this festival, the Malaysian Black Thorn durian made its first appearance. Durians are not new in the Chinese market. The Golden Pillow durian from Thailand is available in nearly every supermarket. However, since…

Pineapple dream season comes to an end

Pineapple growers never expected to be a big beneficiary of the alcohol ban as South Africans turned to brewing pineapple beer but now it is widely speculated that South Africa's alcohol ban will be coming to an end soon. Right: R45.99 (2.24 euros) for a single pineapple at a Gauteng retailer yesterday…

“We expect strong demand for both mangoes and pomegranates this season”

The Egyptian mango and pomegranate season are about to fully kick off. One exporter feels there is a big opportunity to increase the volumes he’s exporting, as demand is at an all time high as lockdowns are ended. Garlico Company commercial manager Mohamed Shaaban is looking forward to the mango and…

Fig production numbers in Croatia drop

While the demand for figs on the global and European market is growing and more than 80% of figs are produced in the Mediterranean, Croatia cannot keep up sufficient…

‘Global kiwifruit demand will rise to 300 million trays by 2028’

According to a new Rabobank report, global demand for Zespri kiwifruit is forecast to rise to 300 million trays by 2028. To keep up with demand, the report said significant…

Frozen food sees growth despite the coronavirus

The increase in the consumption of frozen vegetables is going on even now, at the height of summer and despite the lockdown. So said Maurizio Zappatore, commercial director of Orogel, commenting on the data for the first 6 months of 2020 compared to 2019. "Organizing production, processing and marketing…

Kazakhstan introduces temporary ban on the import of plums from Uzbekistan

On August 6, 2020, the State Inspection Committee for Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan introduced temporary quarantine phytosanitary measures in the…

Anti-microbial technology incorporated into produce packaging

Veg-Fresh Farms has recently incorporated anti-microbial technology by Smart Plastic™, into film packaging used for their organic and conventional Brussels sprouts, with the hopes of incorporating the technology into future items such as lidding film, clamshells, and more. This leading-edge technology is…

Okra production expands in southern Honduras

The area devoted to producing okra in southern Honduras has increased to 3,000 hectares. According to the leader of okra growers, Rony Mendez, "more small producers are…

West Bengal to flag off first lot of vegetables to Kolkata Airport

The West Bengal Agriculture Department has completed all preparation to export the first lot of vegetables of the state, likely this Friday.  Federal Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal…

Australian imports ban: Prices for zucchini and cucumbers up

As imports from Australia continue to be banned due to a plant virus, the price of zucchini and cucumbers rose more than 30 per cent in July. According to Stats NZ data,…

Georgia vegetable growers succeed in avoiding disaster

Experts say state and federal purchase programs, gradual re-openings of restaurants and increased grocery store sales saved the day in Georgia. That might mean Georgia’s…

"The first nursery for avocado plant clonal propagation in Mexico"

The exponential growth of the avocado market, whose production is expanding as the world demand increases, has led to clonal propagation becoming one of the most effective techniques to maintain the characteristics and quality of the multiplied varieties, ensuring the homogeneity of the plantations…

Venezuela exports pineapple and mango to Iran

Despite the complex international scenario caused by the pandemic, the Venezuelan company Casa Fresca has successfully exported more than 200,000 kilograms of Spanish Red…

Legitimising illegal durian farms in Raub district can boost exports to China

On August 9, all illegal durian growers in the district of Raub are able to come forward and accept the legalisation scheme undertaken by the Royal Pahang Durian Group. This…

Week 32 South African avo shipments to Europe at 512,000 cartons

In week 32, there was a small contribution to the avocado supplies into Europe by Kenya, at 34,000 cartons of Greenskins and 280,000 units of Hass avocados. A much larger influx remains from the orchards in Peru, at 98,000 cartons of Greenskin avocados, 2,094,000 units of Hass avocados, totalling…

"It still puzzles me that auctions remain such a crucial reference point for price formations"

There's a section in ZON magazine called 'The client has the floor'. For a recent edition, this Dutch publication interviewed Dirk Willem Blijleven. He was appointed as the new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Total Produce (TP) Haluco on 1 February. Dirk Willem was born and bred in Barendrecht, the…

"We're excellent at stocially plotting our own course"

For over 90 years, P. Smets & Zn have been active as a fruit and vegetable wholesaler in Geleen in the Dutch province of Limburg. "We're heading toward the Royal predicate," laughs Loek Smets. He and his brother, Richard, run the company. When asked how the wholesalers lasted so long, Loek answers, "With…

Mitolo’s acquisition of Thomas Foods International’s potato business not opposed

The ACCC will not oppose Mitolo’s proposed acquisition of Thomas Foods International’s (TFI) potato business. Mitolo and the TFI potato business grow potatoes and operate…

“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…

ASYAD Cooperates with Indian Agricultural Authorities

ASYAD is a new integrated logistics provider in Oman. The company’s Business Development Team, in partnership with the departments concerned in the Sultanate, has collaborated…

In-basket cleaning: Cutting produce loss to the maximum

After the Covid-19 crisis, consumers are paying more attention to food safety, making higher demands on fruit and vegetable processing enterprises. Cleaning is an important step in possessing fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. Efficient and convenient cleaning equipment not only helps to improve a…

"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…

The coronavirus puts Latino farmworkers in the US at risk

The expansion of the coronavirus in the US is strongly affecting the farmworker's safety in the country. The workers, mostly Latino, live in closed quarters, sleep in bunk beds, and share bathrooms and kitchens. They travel to the fields in crowded buses and often work in groups. Even though farm…

"Microorganisms can be a great tool to achieve more efficient agriculture"

A research project developed by Ideagro to reduce the application of fertilizers in agriculture through the contribution of microorganisms is obtaining important results in melon, tomato, broccoli, apricot, and citrus crops in an experimental farm located in the Murcian district of Yechar. The Minister…

Tanzania: Kilimo Fresh wins $50,000 equity funding at MEST Africa Challenge

Tanzanian start-up Kilimo Fresh is a digital distributor of fresh produce to hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, institutions, wholesalers and export markets. The young company…

"Basil production from Colombia is quite unique"

Since 2017 Verbos Business Development and Nvest have been involved in bridging the gap between Colombia and the Netherlands. They are involved in matchmaking, market research…

"Expected lemon price hike after Argentina's export freeze hasn't yet happened"

"After a few bad months, the lime market's picked up again," says René Bouman of FMI International in the Netherlands. "There's currently good demand throughout Europe. Volumes have decreased too. There's also high demand on the local Brazilian market for limes at the moment. Supply's declining and the…

Argentinian lemons arrived in China for the first time

San Miguel, a citrus company from the Southern Hemisphere, arrived this Friday at the Hong Kong port with 24 tons of Argentinian fruit. The lemons that had left from Buenos Aires on June 30th will be transported to Guangzhou. In this first season, the company will be exporting a total amount of 139,2 tons…

Ukraine has increased imports of fruits and berries by 23%

In the first half of 2020, Ukraine imported fruits and berries worth US$341 million. This is 23% more than in the same period last year, said experts from the National…

Virtual event with Costco’s Frank Padilla and Category Partners' Steve Lutz

The Organic Produce Network has announced a virtual online event featuring Frank Padilla, Costco’s vice president & gmm, produce and meat, and Steve Lutz, Category Partners’ senior vice president of insights & innovation, discussing sales and consumer purchasing behavior of organic fresh produce through…

UK: COVID-19 outbreak on Herefordshire farm 'successfully contained'

According to UK health officials, a COVID-19 outbreak among farm workers in Herefordshire has been successfully contained with no more cases, or spread to the wider community.…

Software proves responsive to Covid-19 challenges

Advanced and flexible software from Nulogy, a provider of supply chain solutions, has enabled Marsden Packaging to remain responsive to the changing needs of brand owners throughout the volatility of the COVID-19 pandemic. Marsden Packaging, based in Blackburn, specialises in primary and secondary…

New technology to increase production and profit for table grape industry and beyond

California startup Vinergy, Inc. is powering change in industry, beginning with new technology applications that could improve the profitability of table grape farms nearly 40 percent. The Vinergy Cart and Vinergy Wheelbarrow from Bakersfield, California startup Vinergy, Inc. are rechargeable electric…

Fresh-key shows the way for innovation in the cold supply chain industry

The "10th Global Cold Supply Chain Summit" took place in Shanghai on the 6th of August, 2020. The summit was attended by JD Distribution, Carrier, Haier, and Thermo King, as…

Dried fruit consumption on the up at the expense of shelled mixes

The health crisis redefined the habits of Italian consumers. It will be interesting to see how things will evolve in the fall, when people tend to buy more dried fruit. "Looking at market developments, in the future, people will focus more on products with a higher added value linked to both the nutritional…

Texas: Hurricane Hanna hits citrus industry, most other fresh produce crops spared

Texas was hit with their first hurricane in over a decade at the end of July. Dante Galeazzi of the Texas International Produce Association shares: “The typical rule of thumb is that we’ll get a hurricane here in Texas once every 10 years, so Hurricane Hanna was roughly on schedule. Unfortunately,…

DIA is launching its largest warehouse in Spain

UK: Retail sales recovering but concerns remainRetail sales in the UK rose again last month as more shoppers returned to the high street. However, the latest data suggests many shops are still struggling to make up lost ground and face an uncertain future. The figures from the British Retail Consortium…

Walmart Canada and Condor Properties broke ground on state-of-the-art distribution centre

US: Consumers say grocers' shelves are getting fuller, FMI research showsThe percentage of consumers who report that grocery stores are typically fully stocked reached 27% in mid-July, its highest level since late March, when it was 13%, according to research published by the Food Industry Association…

Water love