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Health and demographics are key drivers

U.S. avocado imports from Mexico show 33 percent increase

Early start for Argentinian organic lemon crop

Strong start anticipated for Mexico’s grape season

Celebrating flavor with a new cherry tomato medley

Philippines targets U.S. market for mango and pineapple exports

Apple storage down three percent over April 2025

Costa Rica special

Corbana takes a fresh look at how it tells the Costa Rican banana story

New compound targets fire blight and Listeria in Washington

Showcasing specialty produce programs at Viva Fresh Expo

U.S. strawberry processors face pressure from costs and imports

Sector | Vegetables

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Christelle Guyonvarch, Bejo

"Resistance to Bremia is one of the main strengths of our lettuce range"

India develops pink oyster mushroom with 20–25 day cycle

New Street Corn Sides launches
The new green kabochas by Levantia Seed: Bombonera and Amamy

“Improved quality and adaptability for the pumpkin supply chain”
Max Marinello of the Engrosmarkt Zurich:

"Many top chefs in the region are German and specifically ask for products from their home regions"

Demand inconsistent for Brazilian young ginger
Seasonal perishable products weekly update - 8 April:

U.S. produce markets see tight supply and higher prices

Sector | Bananas

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Non-browning banana approved in Japan and Brazil

Cameroon deploys trainees to strengthen plantain value chain
95% of India’s banana shipments stay closed for over a month

“Even after the ceasefire announcement, freight rates have gone up, not down”
Joe Manariti - Premier Fresh Australia

Diversity helps banana producer survive cyclone damage
Searching for genetic gold: How Yelloway and Chiquita are tackling a global threat

"We want to develop new varieties that diversify production and address those threats"

Belize banana output rises while citrus declines in Q4 2025

Jamaican banana recovery under way as TR4 threat grows

Sector | Potatoes and Onions

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Rising prices in Brazil create opportunities for Argentine onions

Onion Tech Alliance partnership delivers automated Washington facility

Slow season for Egyptian onions

Canadian potato sector faces rising costs and export competition

Argentina launches new red bulb onion variety

New facility, technology and marketing behind 2026 Vidalia onion crop

Study links weather patterns to Colorado potato beetle outbreaks

Sector | Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables

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The Kenyan avocado export campaign is moving forward under difficult conditions

New Zealand kiwifruit orchard offered on 3.7 ha property

Indian Konkan mango crop drops sharply due to weather impacts
Jorge de Sousa, Abrafrutas:

Brazil aims to expand its presence in Asia while reinforcing its traditional markets
Derek Donkin – Subtrop

Mild, moist summer suits South African avocados to a tee
Carlos Leal, TropiFresh:

Colombian baby mango achieves a new milestone with its first maritime shipment to Europe

New class of avocado industry leaders graduates

Sector | Company news

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UNS Vertical Farms opens 10,000-square-metre tomato facility in Al Ain

"Food security today is about building a resilient, sustainable, and future-ready UAE food ecosystem"

Strong growth and global advocacy reported at CPMA's annual meeting
Advancing mango category innovation

Sun World International and Mission Produce announce collaboration

Capespan announces CEO change and leadership transition
DCS Tramaco has just begun operating at the Port of Rijeka

New office in Croatia facilitates exports of fruit and vegetables to Central and Eastern Europe

Yuksel Seeds launches Yuksel Experience Showcase at Delphy Bleiswijk

Vireo Health announces acquisition of The Hawthorne Gardening Company

Sector | Greenhouse

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"Monitoring and control can be done from Korea"

Korean smart farm technology drives hydroponic strawberry production in Uzbekistan

Organic English seedless cucumber supply picking up

New tomato facility in Al Ain designed to grow 150,000 kg tomatoes annually

New shareholders for SweetPoint

Easter signifies the start of microgreens and edible flower seasons

New CEA greens products designed to stand out on Ontario store shelves
Taylor Farms acquires Equinox Growers

Largest mid-Atlantic commercial greenhouse acquired

Sector | Logistics

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MSC transfers ownership to next generation of Aponte family

Intra-Asia Container Index falls 3% to US$839 per 40 ft container
World Container Index - 09 Apr:

World Container Index increased 1% to $2,309 per 40ft container

Global air freight disrupted as capacity tightens and rates rise

Egypt ends Suez Canal discount for large containerships

India's cold chain for fresh produce starts connecting the dots

“The Middle East crisis is not just testing produce, it's testing quality control too”

Sector | Machinery

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Norman Nieder-Heitmann – Gossamer:

"The constraint in most packhouses isn't people, it's flow"

"Growing interest in blueberry sorting machines is not random; it reflects global trends"
Boost your fruit processing capacity immediately

Complete sorting, weighing, and packaging line for frozen fruit

AGVs gain ground in the fresh produce sector: “It brings greater control to production”

Manufacturer expands automation range with three new machines
Avocado processing line from Apeel Sciences available at Industrial Auctions online auction

Keep fruit fresh for longer and process vegetables more efficiently

Robotic hand developed to handle fragile items such as fruit

Sector | General fresh produce

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Week 15 Fruit Wholesale Market Report

Chilean Sweet Mary plum and New Zealand apple prices rise, while durian supply increases

Indian fruit supplier launches QR traceability system
Piet de Jager – Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF)

Figurehead of South Africa’s fruit exports
Farmers prosecuted for protests against scandal

Increasing number of Greek ruling party MPs probed over €1bn farm subsidies scandal

IFPA launches 2026 EU policy agenda

Peruvian produce exports reach US$904 million in January

Brazilian fruit exports grow 62% in volume over decade

Sector | Management

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Oil prices fall after US-Iran's conditional two-week ceasefire agreement

U.S. budget proposes 20% cut to USDA spending

Texas establishes Mexican fruit fly quarantine in Zapata County

CBP seizes $17.7 million meth hidden in blackberry shipment

U.S. farmers face water shortfall as Mexico misses treaty targets

WTO talks stall as Brazil blocks e-commerce moratorium extension
Cermac, Promos, and the Ministry

Agreement signed for companies from Italy and Uzbekistan

Sector | Miscellaneous

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Currency markets react to U.S.-Iran ceasefire uncertainty

Second-life batteries for irrigation in Yucatán

South African rand hits 3.5-year high

For sale: Poortcamp 10, De Lier

For lease: New distribution centre at Nieuw-Reijerwaard, Ridderkerk

Fresh produce honored on Syria's new currency

$336,560 awarded by USDA through Arkansas Department of Agriculture

Sector | Fruit

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"The Turkish cherry has a very unique position"
Teun van Zuilen (BerryBrothers):

"Customers eager to return to day-fresh Dutch greenhouse produce after import season"

Helping Andalusia's blueberry growers close the water loop
Grapes face competition, cherries recover, kiwi demand rises

Chile faces mixed export season
National Retail Report - Specialty Crops:

US produce ads decline 10% on the back of strong fruit promotions
Northern Hemisphere apple and pear stocks - March 2026:

European apple stocks up 14.5 per cent to 2.74 million tons
Cherry-specific automation

Maf Roda extends its AI algorithms across its entire range of solutions for fruits and vegetables

Sector | Herbs

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Aromatic and medicinal plants production in Morocco recovers from prolonged drought
Tom Amery - The Watercress Company:

"We are very proud that for the last 25 years we have not used any pesticides on our beds"

Demand jumps in 2026 for fresh herbs
Herb merchant Ahmed Bouklata on the current market situation:

"Year after year, we offer more cut herbs of Italian origin"

War, rain and flight cancellations disrupt basil supply to Europe

“Uzbek herbs take on Turkey and Egypt in EU markets”

Koppert Cress understands chefs' constant demand for new flavors and surprising products

Sector | Agenda

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Baldor BITE 2026 line up announced

Hort Connections 2026 to take place in Adelaide in June

Full program announced for Fresh Produce India
Key takeaways from ChangeNOW Paris and Chapter Zero by Fatiha Charrat, Delassus

Agriculture cannot escape its paradox: both responsible and exposed
We will be back Tuesday 7th of April

Happy Easter from the FreshPlaza team
Photo report of Fruit Attraction São Paulo

Fruit Attraction São Paulo reinforces its position as a major event in the fruit trade industry
Including the photo report

Fruit Attraction São Paulo trade fair ends with less activity, but positive results for Brazil

Sector | Citrus

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Bruna Brasileiro, from Happy Fruit (Brazil):

"Limes are increasing their market share in Europe at the expense of lemons"

Brazilian orange crop reaches 292.94 million boxes

Port terminals prepare for 2026 South Africa citrus exports
Pietro Buongiorno, president of the Rocca Imperiale Consortium of Member Lemon Producers:

"We expect the campaign to conclude early, by mid-May"

U.S. citrus forecast lifts orange and lemon volumes

Suspension of Iranian exports to Gulf markets is an opportunity for Egyptian citrus

U.S. growers plant CRISPR citrus trees against greening

Sector | Organic

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How BioOrganic supports organic farmers in a risky, uncertain market

Climate change and retailer pressure squeeze European organic growers
Luciana Zamora of Zamora Citrus:

"Organic lemon supply falls short of European demand"

U.S. Northwest organic sector grows, but processing capacity lags

Ireland sees growth in organic vegetable sales

U.S. organic produce sales reach $22.7 billion in 2025
Long-term strategy outweighs short-term economics

Dutch sauerkraut producer converts entire cabbage cultivation to organic
Gerard Kenens, VerKen Bio Deli-Vers:

"Earlier start for Natyra due to higher volumes, but you do not leave a good apple unsold"

Sector | Health

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Flavonoid-rich foods associated with happiness in U.S. women

Scientists develop vitamin A-enriched tomato

Apple fiber helps fend off colon cancer and more

Moderate fruit and vegetable juice intake and its health effects

The consumption of superfoods continues to grow in France

New dietary guidelines reinforce essential role of fresh produce

Produce industry shows support of new Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Sector | IT

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Siddharth Jadhav - Polybee:

“We can tell growers exactly when to harvest for maximum in-spec yield"
Dr Sivam Krish - GoMicro AI

AI removing the "subjectivity tax" on the supply chain
"ULogs4A is more resistant to humidity and suited for long transits"

Newly launched data logger operates autonomously for up to 300 days without power

"We develop AI-based solutions for growers and nurseries"
BerryWorld live with QC app from FreshControl

“It took a next-level effort to incorporate all requirements into the inspection report”

Robotic apple harvesting

Indonesia advances digital agriculture with new farm-app deal

Sector | Innovations

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USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Charleston, South Carolina

“From tissue culture to field trials, container farms allow us to control every step of plant development”
UAE FoodTech Challenge win

Akorn Technology readies for expansion in Africa and South Asia

Monitoring more than one million citrus trees with the help of AI

Pop Its snack cucumbers tap into demand for true bite-sized convenience

Fruit quality meters help manage harvest timing, lot segregation, and shelf-life performance

When efficiency in blueberry harvesting becomes a necessity

Custom LED gains ground as Italian nurseries push for efficiency

Sector | Processed fruit and vegetables

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New ZERO line meets consumer needs for food attributes
AFHORFRESH

The global geopolitical landscape has raised production costs for prepared fruits and vegetables by 5%
The SM2 pomegranate deseeder by PND (Italy)

Advanced technology for extracting arils and optimizing production space

"We're expanding our corn exports to new markets with new flavours in the pipeline"

Four new flavors for value-added salad lineup

Brazilian orange juice inventories rise 75.4% by end of 2025

Brazilian processor installs 30-ton-per-hour frozen potato line

Sector | Cooling

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Airclima expands in the fresh produce sector with refrigeration projects

"Cooling quality has a direct impact on product quality"
Cool Control expands to four cold stores with 12,000 pallet spaces in 30 years

"By offering a total package, we have grown with the foreign growers' organisations"

New 3,000-tonne freezing complex to be built in Ak-Suu, Kyrgyzstan

Year-round fruit supply in Australia depends on cold storage

“Bringing cold storage costs back to the levels of ten years ago is our principal aim”
Isolcell's vision for the future of fresh produce

"Controlled atmosphere, tailored ripening, and new global balances"

One Frio launches European cold storage platform after seven acquisitions

Sector | Food safety

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Canada recalls Fresh Start Foods salads over Listeria risk

Canada recalls Freshprep cucumber dill salad over Listeria risk

U.S. cucumber Salmonella outbreaks hit 69 cases in 2025,

U.S. recalls peeled garlic over botulism risk in three states

U.S. Tops recalls peeled garlic over storage temperature issue

Mexico and U.S. strengthen food safety cooperation as trade grows
Update:

Canada recalls macadamia nut products over Salmonella risk

Sector | Nuts and dried fruits

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Australian macadamia program targets Asian markets

U.S. pecan receipts fall 35% to 23.45 million kg in February

U.S. pistachio sector faces heat, water, and market pressures

South African nut exports rise 13.3% as global demand grows

"Dried mangoes have a strong potential in the European market"
Noix Notenatelier explores opportunities in the Belgian market

"Nut market under pressure as consumers place growing emphasis on quality"

Vietnamese cashew exports disrupted by shipping constraints

Sector | Packaging and Labelling

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A new packaging approach for leafy greens is being tested

Brand refresh debuting at Viva Fresh Expo

Supply security drives packaging decisions in Egypt’s table grape export season

“With the right ecosystem, pomegranate aril exports become a more predictable proposition”

American Dream program expands in honor of America’s 250th anniversary

EU exempts wooden pallets from PPWR reuse requirements

Premium fruit range launched with new packaging concept

Sector | Retail

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Hannaford Supermarkets has named Tony Giunta Store Manager of the Year

Kowalski’s Markets has deployed EmpowerFresh’s AI-powered produce inventory
Instacart: A leading provider of fresh produce is partnering with Instacart Business

Empire has entered into an agreement to acquire Mayrand Food Group
Flashfood is now available at all 100+ Kroger stores in the Mid-Atlantic Division

FreshCo is launching in Atlantic Canada
DC 7088 Mississauga named Walmart Canada’s Facility of the Year

Northeast Grocery customers can now use SNAP/EBT for DoorDash

Walmart invests in Mexico and expands its distribution centre in Chile
SpartanNash takes role as a hometown grocer seriously

Walmart is closing a fulfillment center in Worcester, Massachusetts

Food Lion Feeds’ annual Orange Bag campaign: More than 13mln meals

Sector | Global Market

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GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW STRAWBERRIES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW LIMES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW BELL PEPPERS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GINGER

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW CUCUMBERS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW MANDARINS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW PEARS

Sector | Climate

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South Texas growers await word on Mexico’s water deliveries

Florida growers seek federal support after prolonged freeze

Possible El Niño returns raise concerns in Ecuador

U.S. grower tests drone use for frost protection in orchards

Strawberry crop gains expected from California’s heat wave

Georgia growers relieved following last week’s cold temperatures
Ernst Slabbekoorn, Swift International:

"Reliable night frost protection high on the agenda after recent erratic weather"

Sector | Cartoons

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Madhya Pradesh banana farmer protests low prices with half-naked vow

North Korean forest rangers fired for turning tree nurseries into vegetable gardens

TikTok-fueled fruit ice cream craze empties freezers across New Zealand

Cows wearing e-collars help boost potato yields in P.E.I. pilot project

Domino’s seeks Vatican forgiveness for pineapple pizza

Aomori’s ‘designer apples’ turn orchards into art

Fruity overdose: The bold new trend transforming perfumery

Sector | Rwanda

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Rwanda special (last part): Evergreen Holding

"With greenhouse conditions, we can produce strawberries all year round, even for export"
Rwanda special: Kinvest

Canadian capital, Rwandan fields: Building profitable farms with social impact
Rwanda special

Intercropping, outgrowers, and weekly flights: The operations model behind SOO Agro’s growth
Rwanda special: Kumwe Green Farms

"We have a lot to offer to European buyers"
Rwanda special: Virunga Biotech Limited

"We see a strong demand for chilies, ginger, and gherkins"
Rwanda special: Kotwidika

Promising trial for Valencia oranges
Rwanda special: Souk Farms

Rwanda advances steadily on the global fresh produce scene

Sector | Trade War

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New Zealand exporters assess U.S. tariff refunds after court ruling

U.S. court orders US$165bn tariff refunds as CBP develops CAPE system

Peruvian blueberry exporters have 180 days to claim US$ tariff refunds
Agexport, Guatemala

"Exports to the U.S. continue at 0% tariff after Supreme Court ruling"

Produce industry reacts to Supreme Court tariff ruling

South African agriculture welcomes possible 15% U.S. tariff cut

U.S. farmers divided after Supreme Court overturns Trump tariffs

Sector | Costa Rica

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Costa Rica special: Upala Agrícola

"Demand for crownless pineapple, which now accounts for 15% of our exports, still grows"
Costa Rica special: Grupo San Alberto, banana producer

“If you can't win on size, win on smarts”
Costa Rica special: CERyT

Costa Rican cassava exporters join forces to conquer the global market
Costa Rica special: Green Life

"Smaller than most, the Pococí papaya variety makes up for it in flavour"
Costa Rica special: Hacienda Ojo de Agua

Green on the outside, sweet on the inside: The art of balancing shelf life and flavor in pineapple
Costa Rica special: Melones del Sol

Costa Rican melons capitalise on the narrow trading window between Brazil and Spain
Costa Rica special: Manga Rica

Against the mango giants: How Costa Rica carves out a niche between Peru and Mexico