Volume down on PEI potatoes

Supplies of Prince Edward Island, Canada potatoes are low. “It’s still early in the season —harvest, for some, just finished this month. I don’t think we have a full handle on the supplies nationwide, but right now, supplies on PEI are down approximately 15 percent overall. We initially thought it would be down 20-30 percent,”…

Ample supplies of California celery

Supplies of celery out of California are strong. “There’s been a lot of celery around and certainly plenty enough for the holiday pull,” says John Chobanian of Ocean Mist based in Castroville, CA. “We’re going to be on the lighter side for the next two weeks and then we’re back to good numbers for winter…

Mexican raspberry production up again

Raspberries from Mexico look to be following last year’s production trends. “The volume of raspberries is really close to last year and has been following 2019’s pace. Week 47 volumes saw a little increase from last year same week,” says Jose Saca of Wish Farms based in Plant City, FL. Last year and this…

North America: demand for garlic spikes significantly

“There’s essentially a giant black hole of demand worldwide for garlic that I don’t think can be fulfilled.” These are the words of Ken Christopher of Christopher Ranch in Gilroy, CA who sees demand for garlic hitting extreme highs. “Over the last four weeks, we’ve seen demand approaching 50, 60 and even…

Vegpro International issues a recall of Fresh Attitude Baby Spinach

Vegpro International of Sherrington, QC CAN is recalling Fresh Attitude baby spinach (5oz and 11oz) with Best before dates of Dec 4th (for 11oz) and Dec 4th & 5th (for the 5oz), because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal…

Okanagan fruit growers will face another tough year if labour issues are not sorted

The BC Fruit Growers Association has stated that this season’s lower cherry crops may have disguised the true impact of an ongoing agricultural issue in the Okanagan. General…

New onion variety claims: ‘No tears, no bad breath’

Japanese breeders have spent two decades developing Goldies onions. Now, the variety is presented as a product that will guarantee ‘no tears, no bad breath’. They will be…

Opal and Accu-Label announce exclusive agreement to distribute paper labels in Australia and New Zealand

Opal and Accu-Label are pleased to announce they have signed an agreement continuing Opal’s exclusive distribution rights for Accu-Label’s internationally patented automatic high-speed labelling system, across Australia and New Zealand. Accu-Label, headquartered in Canada, specialises in…

Chilean blueberry season continues at a slower pace than usual

The Chilean season continues to advance with a slower pace than normal and with volumes from the northern zone that is already in the final third of its season. The central zone is progressing at a moderate pace due to the slow ripening of the fruit, mainly because of the temperatures effect of,…

Kansas State researchers to combat foodborne illness in Cambodia

Researchers from Kansas State university have received a $760,000 grant from the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Safety to help combat foodborne diseases and increase…

New sales record for 2020 Ecuadorian bananas

Ecuador has been doing relatively well when it comes to banana exports. Although the second half of 2020 quantities have dropped compared to last year, the first half of the season saw an increase in exports of both conventional and organic bananas. Naturally, the statement made by Aldi regarding lower…

"Onions are being sold for lower prices than they were bought for"

The decline in the onion production in Castile-La Mancha as a result of adverse weather conditions during the growing phase caused Spanish onion prices to soar at first. The impact of the pandemic has been reflected in considerable fluctuations throughout this season, which kicked off in late July. "The campaign…

“Record -breaking Dutch onion exports in 2020, but it could go any way in 2021”

‘Huge’ is how Piet van Liere describes the recent Dutch export weeks. "Just a few years ago, we thought we'd reached maximum sorting capacity in the Netherlands. That was 35,000 tons/week. This season we're breaking one record after another. We had a record quantity of 46,000 tons in week 45. That was…

Volume down on PEI potatoes

Supplies of Prince Edward Island, Canada potatoes are low. “It’s still early in the season —harvest, for some, just finished this month. I don’t think we have a full handle on the supplies nationwide, but right now, supplies on PEI are down approximately 15 percent overall. We initially thought it would be down 20-30 percent,”…

New onion variety claims: ‘No tears, no bad breath’

Japanese breeders have spent two decades developing Goldies onions. Now, the variety is presented as a product that will guarantee ‘no tears, no bad breath’. They will be…

Container shortages on the market, how does this happen?

A shortage of reefer containers is a big problem at the moment in the global trade. But how does this happen? The video below explains exactly what has happens since the…

Evergreen to run Cherry Express from mid-December

From the second week of December to the second week of January, the Taiwanese shipping company Evergreen will provide its Cherry Express service connecting San Antonio and…

Smart ports and their ability to curb drug trafficking

The seizures of large quantities of drugs at seaports have been on the rise worldwide. The increase in shipping operations, coupled with large container ships doubling in size…

Spain imports 32% more cucumber and 29% more tomato from Morocco

Spanish imports of Moroccan fruits and vegetables have registered a notable increase in the first nine months of the year. According to data from the statistical service ESTACOM (ICEX-Tax Agency), Spain purchased a total of 428.64 million kilos of fruits and vegetables from Morocco in those months, i.e.…

USDA restricts PACA violators in California, Florida and Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on five produce businesses for failing to meet contractual obligations to the sellers of produce they purchased…

Okanagan fruit growers will face another tough year if labour issues are not sorted

The BC Fruit Growers Association has stated that this season’s lower cherry crops may have disguised the true impact of an ongoing agricultural issue in the Okanagan. General…

Transplanter device for clay soils

Nitro Power Shock (NPS) is the device developed by Checchi&Magli to adapt transplanters working on clay, hard or compact soils. Clay soils are usually fertile, although they tend to compact making soil preparation harder. Nitro Power Shock (NPS) has the objective of guaranteeing an increased pressure on…

Fire devastates a hydroponic greenhouse in Neuquen

A fire has completely destroyed the facilities of a hydroponic greenhouse in Neuquen. As reported by its owner Ignacio Iranzi, the firefighters quickly put out the fire, but…

"Closure of hospitality industry affects unusual herb varieties more than anything"

Over the years, freshly cut domestic herbs have gained a high status in the German specialized trade. Parsley, chives, basil, etc. are becoming more and more popular both in the wholesale and the retail trade. However, the current closure of the hospitality industry has a noticeable effect on wholesale…

Second annual Washington Apple Week to span nineteen countries

The Washington Apple Commission announced that Nov. 28 through Dec. 6th will be the second annual celebration of Washington Apple Week. The global event will span nineteen…

Peak shipping season for large banpeiyu citrus

The banpeiyu is one of the world’s largest citrus fruits. At this point in time, farms in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, are busy sending the fruits nationwide as it is its peak shipping season. The local specialty is a type of pomelo, a member of the mandarin orange family, and each citrus weighs…

North America: demand for garlic spikes significantly

“There’s essentially a giant black hole of demand worldwide for garlic that I don’t think can be fulfilled.” These are the words of Ken Christopher of Christopher Ranch in Gilroy, CA who sees demand for garlic hitting extreme highs. “Over the last four weeks, we’ve seen demand approaching 50, 60 and even…

New Christmas pomegranate packaging

Masseria Fruttirossi, a company specializing in the production of pomegranates with orchards covering over 300 hectares, has introduced the Melagrana Magnum packet for the upcoming Christmas season. "It is a 13x13.5 cm box containing one sustainable pomegranate. Supermarkets will receive the first…

The Chilean Organic Producers Cooperative is born

The Chilean Organic Producers Cooperative, Organicoop, whose mission is to be recognized as Chile's most reputable producer and supplier cooperative of organic products, was…

Orange capsicums on the menu for long-term eye health

A five-year cross-industry project, Naturally Nutritious is researching the development of innovative food products and varieties that are nutritious, delicious and visually appealing. Project Lead Dr Tim O’Hare provides an update, with the focus on developing orange capsicums. First it was carrots; now…

Launch of the Fruitobox digital marketplace

The numerous players and operators in the fruit and vegetable sector and the dynamism of this industry make having a reliable platform the concentrates the supply and provides quick and effective solutions an essential tool. According to Sebastián Cuesta, CEO of the project, this is the idea behind…

Chinese retail industry rapidly develops innovative sales methods

The outbreak of Covid-19 posed significant challenges to the Chinese fruit industry this year. Retail became particularly difficult. At the same time, consumer behavior patterns subtly changed. Fewer customers visited the shops in person and more people chose to buy their products online or in other ways…

Isolcell equips existing cooling cells with ethylene absorption machine

For Isolcell, innovation is more than just the introduction of new products. It is also about improving and further developing already existing solutions. The company, which is based in the South Tyrol region, is specialized in modified and controlled atmosphere for the storage of fruit and vegetables.…

Ukrainian walnut exporters affected by pandemic

Analysts say the revenue from the export of Ukrainian walnuts in 2020 decreased by 19% in the first 9 months of this year. During this period, the export of nuts in shell and…

Opal and Accu-Label announce exclusive agreement to distribute paper labels in Australia and New Zealand

Opal and Accu-Label are pleased to announce they have signed an agreement continuing Opal’s exclusive distribution rights for Accu-Label’s internationally patented automatic high-speed labelling system, across Australia and New Zealand. Accu-Label, headquartered in Canada, specialises in…

Fresh-cut Venetian radicchio PGI to Italian and European markets

The five new varieties of PGI Venetian radicchio are now available to consumers in fresh-cut packs. L'Insalata dell'Orto wants to increase the value of typical local products and their distribution domestically and abroad.  "We have teamed up with the Consortia to work as processors to promote and bring out…

Ample supplies of California celery

Supplies of celery out of California are strong. “There’s been a lot of celery around and certainly plenty enough for the holiday pull,” says John Chobanian of Ocean Mist based in Castroville, CA. “We’re going to be on the lighter side for the next two weeks and then we’re back to good numbers for winter…

El Hierro has the biggest pineapple production area in the Canary Islands

The island of El Hierro has the biggest area dedicated to the production of pineapples in the entire Canary archipelago. El Hierro produces about 1.3 million kilos of…

Chinese fruit chain Pagoda to launch IPO in China

Pagoda, a Chinese fresh-fruit chain, plans to launch their IPO in the Chinese stock exchange market. The company has received pre-listing tutoring under Minsheng Securities…

Simply Fresh receives ‘Telangana Best Brand Award’ from CMO Asia

Indian greenhouse growers Simply Fresh, has been awarded the ‘Telangana Best Brand’ award by CMO Asia ‘2020. The award was presented at a virtual ceremony. The awards recognize, identify, and celebrate outstanding brand building & marketing initiatives by organizations, individuals, and teams for their…

John Deere

Looking at the high-tech future of farming

Electric cars and renewable power plants are all the rage within the climate change debate. But in the agri sector, we are currently looking at autonomous tractors, weed-stomping robots and robotic pickers. The climate argument for ag-bots is simple, said David Zilberman, an agricultural economist at the…

Ripe Robotics

Fruit-picking robot might cover Goulburn Valley seasonal worker gap

Robot fruit picker ‘Clive’ will be working on two Goulburn Valley properties to see if it is a commercially viable alternative to human labour. The machine was built by Australian company Ripe Robotics. It will be put to the test in the orchards of Turnbull Brothers and HV McNab and Son, near Shepparton,…

Chilean blueberry season continues at a slower pace than usual

The Chilean season continues to advance with a slower pace than normal and with volumes from the northern zone that is already in the final third of its season. The central zone is progressing at a moderate pace due to the slow ripening of the fruit, mainly because of the temperatures effect of,…

Mexican raspberry production up again

Raspberries from Mexico look to be following last year’s production trends. “The volume of raspberries is really close to last year and has been following 2019’s pace. Week 47 volumes saw a little increase from last year same week,” says Jose Saca of Wish Farms based in Plant City, FL. Last year and this…

Blue Reine® in the spotlight ahead of the holiday season

For the second year in a row, Blue Whale is putting the Blue Reine® apple in the spotlight ahead of the holiday season. This year, the Blue Reine® will be available in a dynamic store via a Christmas-themed consumer game. This initiative will run from 7/11 to 12/11 and allow consumers to win their…

"Little competition from imported strawberries for now"

“Strawberry supplies are a little slower at the moment. Production was delayed in October because of the overcast weather. So, we had decent quantities in November. We started planting a little later too. That also added to the large November volumes," says Marcel Biemans 0f Coöperatie Hoogstraten in…

Giant grapes at € 250 per bunch

How big can a grape be? According to images posted and shared on Vietnamese social media this week, giant grapes are larger than a chicken's egg. This variety of surprising proportions comes from the…

"Lively exchange between German apple-growing regions'

Despite the current exceptional global situation with its -partial- lockdowns, the domestic top fruit market seems to be able to get away without too much damage. "People are eating more sensibly, buying our local apples and sales are good. Moreover, the price margins we are achieving are gratifying at…

Contract farming as partnership model of the future

From this moment onwards, customers in the Edeka Südwest stores can look forward to a new apple variety on the shelves, scoring high with its taste, long shelf life and, apart from this, it is backed by the social and ecological commitment of Edeka Südwest and the producers of the fruit. MagicStar is one…

Chilean cherry season is about to hot up in Chinese market

The first Chilean cherries of this season already arrived in Shanghai and Guangzhou in October. The busy period of the Chilean cherry season is about to begin. December will see peak sales, just as in previous years. Another "red storm" is about to engulf the Chinese market. But why are Chilean cherries…

"We want to be ready to deal with global warming"

The recurring temperature and rainfall records each year confirm that global warming is becoming a very real problem to which the agricultural world will have to adapt. For several years now, the Perlim Meylim Alliance has wanted to get ready for climate change by implementing a number of adaptations in…

The third edition of Seminis Winter Melon Event

For two weeks Seminis (Bayer Vegetable Seed Division) organized individual and personalized meetings with several players in the melon industry with the objective to create more awareness of the taste, firmness, shelf life and sustainability (resistance packages) about the Seminis winter and summer Galia…

Workforce support is the cherry on top for farmers

Cherry picking is underway across Victoria on a bumper harvest of more than 4,500 tonnes of cherries thanks to help from the Andrews Labor Government – ensuring kitchen tables…

“Blanching fruits and vegetables is better for aesthetic, hygiene and convenience”

Demand for processed fruits and vegetables has gone up in the last few months. Consumers have been stocking up on non-perishables in case of a lockdown or quarantine. Hospitality-closures and working from home have increased home-cooking  which increased the need for fresh-cut or prepared meals. “There are…

Kansas State researchers to combat foodborne illness in Cambodia

Researchers from Kansas State university have received a $760,000 grant from the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Safety to help combat foodborne diseases and increase…

Vegpro International issues a recall of Fresh Attitude Baby Spinach

Vegpro International of Sherrington, QC CAN is recalling Fresh Attitude baby spinach (5oz and 11oz) with Best before dates of Dec 4th (for 11oz) and Dec 4th & 5th (for the 5oz), because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal…

Hurricane Iota causes shipping delays for produce out of Guatemala and Honduras

This week, Central America faced another hurricane only two weeks after Hurricane Eta raged through the region. Making landfall on Monday evening in Nicaragua, Hurricane Iota moved through Honduras and eventually dissipated in El Salvador. While Iota was downgraded to a tropical storm shortly after…

Sobeys: Bonuses to workers in lockdown areas

Canada: Sobeys to issue bonuses to workers in lockdown areasSobeys says it is bringing back pay premiums for staff in locations where COVID-19 lockdowns are in effect. Parent company Empire Company Limited says it has reinstated so-called hero pay in Manitoba, Toronto and Peel Region in Ontario as rising…

The floor is lava!!!!