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We will be back Tuesday 7th of April

Happy Easter from the FreshPlaza team

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW LIMES

Key takeaways from ChangeNOW Paris and Chapter Zero by Fatiha Charrat, Delassus

Agriculture cannot escape its paradox: both responsible and exposed

South African guava crop reaches 21 620 tons in 2026

"Egyptian orange prices are more stable compared to last year"

William Zirebwa - Takura

Zimbabwean grower-exporter takes the next step in its exporting journey

Aromatic and medicinal plants production in Morocco recovers from prolonged drought

Toubacouta fair in Senegal to bring together potato and onion growers

Kenya tightens avocado rules as macadamia seeks new markets

Ghana welcomes Burkina Faso tomato export resumption

Sector | Vegetables

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Samir Makssi - VBA Farming

Profitability remains elusive for Aussie asparagus
Brain Boost Beetroot Campaign

"This campaign is really about connecting the grower, the product and the consumer"
Ahmet Avzar of Fusa FrüchteExpress:

"Dutch greenhouse pak choi available starting in week 11"
Freshchoi launches Dutch season for Asian leafy vegetables

“With our import lines and Dutch production, we can offer a complete Asian range”
Ortofrutticola Egnathia - Miss Freschezza

Winter vegetables and new campaigns: A delicate balance between market and production
Vincenzo Ambrosio and Giorgio Donnarumma of Milan-based Nuovafrutta

“Behind every great product are exceptional people"
Switzerland:

"To meet the growing demand, we have once again expanded our asparagus cultivation"

Sector | Bananas

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Joe Manariti - Premier Fresh Australia

Diversity helps banana producer survive cyclone damage

Cameroon banana exports rise 7% in 2025
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"
A Better Choice

A new cultivation system doubles Cavendish banana yields in the Philippines
Pietro Cipriani of the Hame Group

Guatemala strengthens its position as a banana supplier in Europe
Software benefits banana importers:

“Thanks to FIPS, delayed cargo ships are immediately centrally displayed"

Cameroon banana exports up 36% in January

Sector | Potatoes and Onions

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'Early potato imports from Egypt and Morocco supplemented the range'

Rising energy and freight costs pressure global potato sector

Lebanon imports Egyptian potatoes to stabilise prices
Álvaro Adrián, Constantino Adrián:

"The Campolindo variety from Peru is possibly the best onion in the world at this time of the year"

UNECE standard aligns global seed potato certification systems

Moroccan onion prices rise to US$1.80/kg as supply tightens
Gerard Vos, Vos Onions:

"Sales of red onions more challenging than yellow onions"

Sector | Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables

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King of mangoes competes with other varieties from India

“Traditional Alphonso buyers hold on, but value‑for‑money is gaining ground”

Beninese pineapple exports to China grow with zero-tariff access

Tanzania grows mango sector with export focus

Challenging outlook for Mexico’s main mango growing regions
Laka Selatan 02 eyes expansion in Europe and Africa

"We will scale our MD2 pineapple yields from 1000 to 6000 MT by 2028”

"Strong mango season in some belts, but weaker in premium Alphonso-growing regions"

Tanzanian avocado exports grow as trade regulation improves

Sector | Company news

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Siropack Italia S.r.l. and Clearly Clean Products LLC

Agreement for the transfer of the Italian patent 'Respect' in the United States
Hydro Space founder, Abhi, speaks from India after being forced to leave Sweden

"I had to either sell my company or file for bankruptcy"
Partnership between Van den Berg Trading and Luwian Fresh meets market demand

“By selling our suppliers’ produce together, one and one becomes three”

Cartonpack acquires Agrypack business unit in Northern Italy

BayWa restructuring hit by U.S. policy shift

La Vie Claire expands into Belgium with the acquisition of 6 organic stores

Anecoop celebrated its 50th anniversary

Sector | Greenhouse

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Easter signifies the start of microgreens and edible flower seasons

Nigerian greenhouse farming grows to boost yields and exports
Taylor Farms acquires Equinox Growers

Largest mid-Atlantic commercial greenhouse acquired
Broader change in how CEA is viewed

"New UK Land Use Framework puts greenhouse sector on the map"
Martin McAdam - Shockingly Fresh

"We need to encourage more investment in this type of production to keep fresh produce on the shelves"

From snack packs to centerpieces: Evolving greenhouse varieties for changing consumer habits
Building propagation as infrastructure: Ontario Plants advances system-level control in CEA

“The propagation layer in North America remains fragmented”

Sector | Logistics

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Indian exporters face freight hikes of up to US$1,000 per container

Freight rate volatility rises but remains below Covid levels
Daniël Bosman – Werda Cargo

Freight forwarder foresees steady diesel supply as fruit exports ramp up in May

Airfreight rates surge up to 95% on capacity and fuel costs

Looking closer at fruit shipments and the war in the Middle East

Shipping fuel costs rise as Brent crude exceeds US$108 per barrel
Belgian carriers warn of bankruptcy wave amid Middle East unrest

“We simply don’t have the margin to absorb rising diesel costs”

Sector | Machinery

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"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
Calderoni launches a solution on which to apply different components

Weeding - more and more space for "precision" mechanics

Sector | General fresh produce

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Fairtrade merges fruit and vegetable standards for 2027

Ukrainian fruit imports increase in value amid logistics shifts

South Africa seeks alternative export markets as competition rises
Early spring arrivals drive Easter demand at Sebrechts

"Strong demand for soft fruit following winter quality issues in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco"
Tekin Güngör of GOG 2000 GmbH in Cologne:

"We welcome both fast food and fine dining"

Kenya expands cold-chain and cargo capacity at JKIA
Exporters hope for a return to pre-war normalcy

"West Asia conflicts disrupted India’s perishable cargo worth up to $1.5 billion”

Sector | Management

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South Africa cuts fuel levy by R3 per litre to ease agricultural costs

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

Agreement signed for companies from Italy and Uzbekistan

US trade court orders tariff refunds
John Kusters, NFO:

“To be sustainable, we must all make agreements”
Transportation and food workers at the strike forefront

Nationwide strike brings Greece to a standstill on Saturday

Brazil and India adopt electronic certificates for Mercosur trade

Sector | Miscellaneous

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South African farmers monitor rising fertiliser and fuel costs

Second-life batteries for irrigation in Yucatán
Conditioned warehouse with freezer space and 22 docks available from Q2 2026

For rent: Prismalaan West 3 in Bleiswijk - approx. 20,300 m² and part-letting from 4,500 m²

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

Sector | Fruit

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“India’s grape season wraps up with 10,000-15000 tonnes left to be harvested for exports”
A variety developed by Known-You Seed

New super-mini watermelon varieties

Egypt strawberry exports to Poland reach 62,200 tons in 2025

Strawberry market sees higher California supply and EU price pressure

"In many ways, the current situation resembles the first months of the war in Ukraine"

Belgian strawberry grower anticipates strong season despite variety shake-up

Unsuccessful early melon crop in Crete, Greece

Sector | Herbs

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Tom Amery - The Watercress Company:

"We are very proud that for the last 25 years we have not used any pesticides on our beds"
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
Mixed herb packets and baby leaves

Flexible solutions for changing demand
Kruiden Claus celebrates 125th anniversary

"Strong demand for ginger and turmeric plants as cultivation becomes more viable"

Sector | Agenda

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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

European importers and a large number of visitors on day 2 of Fruit Attraction São Paulo
Turkish exhibition postponed

Fresh Antalya sets new date for May 2027

Brazil draws North African fruit exporters to São Paulo fair

The third edition of Fruit Attraction São Paulo begins with hopes for regional growth

Speakers announced for Southeast Asia fresh produce meet-up in Bangkok

Sector | Citrus

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Nahuel Lavino, FAMA:

"It's going to be a tough year for those who only sell mandarins as a commodity"
Waldir Promícia, of Itacitrus:

"Brazil is the only country supplying limes to Europe all year round"
Mauricio Lopez, of Go Fresh Produce

Smaller volume from Mexico and more opportunities for Colombia in Tahiti lime market
François Moran, Tropibana

Lime price drop is "as sudden as it is inexplicable"

Chinese citrus output exceeds 70 million tons as exports expand
Paulov Sifuentes Fernández, Agroexportadora Sol de Olmos:

"We aim to export Peruvian lemons from November to April, when Mexico and Colombia have less fruit"

Russia rejects Moroccan citrus consignments over labeling issues and pest detection

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"
Organic carrots appear likely to become scarce early this season

Organic carrot prices rise by more than 160% in five months
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"
Organic shifts from niche retail to structured programs

“Organic success depends on agreements, not ideals”
Hugo Jacobs, Jacobs Fruit:

"Challenging organic apple season, but sales now picking up"

Sector | Health

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

Scientists develop vitamin A-enriched tomato

Moderate fruit and vegetable juice intake and its health effects

The consumption of superfoods continues to grow in France

Certain compounds found in garlic can increase the lifespan of mice

Italian study tests citrus and grape supplement for glucose control

Cranberry Institute updates health research guide

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

Satellite IoT trial supports data-driven farming in South Africa

"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

Sector | Innovations

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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

Extending shelf-life of blueberries and avocados by storing and shipping under low pressure

Sector | Processed fruit and vegetables

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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"

South African canned fruit sector explores cooperation with China

Brazilian orange juice inventories rise 75.4% by end of 2025
Simon Matthews - AgriCoat NatureSeal

Cost-effective sulphite-free anti-browning dip for peeled, sliced, and diced potatoes

Jordanian NGO grows and exports fresh produce

Sector | Cooling

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Rwanda to roll out 10 packhouse cold-chain network

Morocco expands airport cold storage for fresh produce exports
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

Ethiopia opens large fruit and vegetable cold storage facility

Year-round fruit supply in Australia depends on cold storage

Sector | Food safety

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Frozen strawberries from Egypt rejected in Poland due to banned pesticide

The European Commission updates the MRLs for various pesticides starting this year

“If Canada’s Destination Inspection Service closes, we destabilize the market and create long-term reputational damage”

Canadian Food Inspection Agency plans on discontinuing their produce inspection services
AVA-ASAJA

EU intercepts this year's first Egyptian oranges with banned residues and pesticides
La Unió

EU rejections of third-country fruit and vegetable imports with unauthorized active substances rose by 6.5% in 2025

Vietnam and Egypt tighten vegetable export standards

Sector | Nuts and dried fruits

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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

"The sector is shifting towards higher-value production"

Kenyan macadamia farmers push to lift raw export ban
Deon Steicke - Sunny Boy Nuts

Pistachio grower hits stride as demand grows

Sector | Packaging and Labelling

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EU to enforce new packaging rules from August 2026

Premium fruit range launched with new packaging concept
Pick & Place Octopus by GNA

The flexible end-of-line revolution
Ecocool launches an eco-friendly alternative to styrofoam:

"Jute packaging fits perfectly into the sustainable INNO packaging line"
Nearly 140 visitors attend demo day with Verbruggen Palletizing Solutions and partners

Photo report: Strong interest in Agro Duiveland’s new packing line
Dutch Graphic Group ready for new season

"Despite scarcity in the market, we have restored our inventory levels"

Italy fresh-cut supplier builds logistics around reusable packaging

Sector | Retail

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Fantastico Group opened its first store in Plovdiv

Jumbo Belgium: 4 new stores set to open
SPAR International has officially entered the North Macedonian market

Sainsbury’s: 15p British seasonal veggies this Easter

New study: Placing fruit and vegetable sections near supermarket entrances increases the amount purchased
Morrisons: Price of British farmed veg just 4p ahead of Easter

Free carrots to Asda customers across 581 stores on Good Friday

23,000 Lidl workers in Italy win predictable shifts and guaranteed hours
Colruyt will donate 11 tonnes of surplus potatoes every week to organisations in Brussels

French organic retail chain La Vie Claire is acquiring six Belgian stores
Co-op said it planned to cut £200mln of operating costs this year

Auchan Retail’s revenue driven by strong international performance

Sector | Global Market

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GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW BELL PEPPERS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GINGER

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW CUCUMBERS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW MANDARINS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW PEARS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GRAPES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW ONIONS

Sector | Climate

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Ernst Slabbekoorn, Swift International:

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

Kenyan research highlights climate benefits of fruit tree cultivation

Catastrophic losses in greenhouses and crops in Souss-Massa, Morocco, plastic shortage

Western Mediterranean flooding highlights climate risks to UK food imports

Irrigation infrastructure and crops in main agricultural valleys affected by heavy rains in Peru

Weekend blizzard stymies logistics in Northeast

Emergence from drought in Morocco restores growers' confidence

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 | Trade War

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

Produce industry reacts to Supreme Court tariff ruling

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

U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs, new 15% levy announced
Tensions have resulted in increased imports from Europe

Canada’s produce exports witness a boost due to limited supply and high prices in the U.S.

Importers to U.S. react to lifting of Brazilian tariff

Importers react to U.S. tariff reduction on Latin American countries

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 | Costa Rica

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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

Next weeks’ special: Costa Rica