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Asparagus shortage in South Africa

South Africa has exported less from its traditional asparagus suppliers and there is a shortage of asparagus. On the Johannesburg municipal market's website an extremely low level of asparagus is reported, today sold (in 200g punnets) at R140 (6.8 euros) per kilogram. The traditional asparagus import…

"If straw prices continue as they are now, they may become close to unviable for mushroom production"

One of the many consequences of the severe drought that Spain is suffering, which, fortunately, has been recently alleviated by some rainfall, is the reduction in the harvest of cereals and green fodder, which is having a direct impact on all sectors that need straw as a raw material, including…

Nice chanterelle harvest in the Balkans, increased demand for frozen goods

About six weeks ago, Bayerische Pilze & Waldfrüchte Uwe Niklas Ltd received the first chanterelles from the Balkans, as Lisa Niklas tells us on request. "The yield is very good. At the moment, we are obtaining fresh chanterelles from the Balkans, meaning Serbia, Bulgaria etc. Over the winter months, we get…

48 food and agri industry members urge Congress to pass the UNITED Act as new report shows U.S. trade stalling

Today, 48 food and agriculture industry members wrote Congress in support of S. 629 and H.R. 3653, the Undertaking Negotiations on Investment and Trade for Economic Dynamism…

Pennsylvania Senators introduce legislation to protect mushroom farmers

Pennsylvania U.S. Senators John Fetterman and Bob Casey, along with a bipartisan group of colleagues in the House, introduced the Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act requiring the…

U.S. exporter sends lower volumes of Mexican grown asparagus to Hong Kong and Australia

Exports of asparagus, grown in Mexico, by a U.S. exporter and sent to Hong Kong and Australia have seen lower volumes thus far, compared to previous years. According to Dan Miller, Worldwide Production Manager of Jacobs, Malcolm & Burtt (JMB): “Demand has been fair in both countries. It is all based on…

Will there be a future for mature green tomatoes in California?

At the moment, California's production of mature green tomatoes is centered in the Coachella Valley, in the very southern part of the state. "The season saw a bit of a late start," says Todd Giardina with family-owned DiMare Company. "May 18 was our first picking day." Given that the season is only a…

Special white corn variety back on the shelves

Over 10,000 variations of corn were tasted during a time frame of 22 years before George Crookham and Bruce Hobdey were happy with the results. Their variety is called Amaize™, an all-white, non-GMO sweet corn variety that was bred through traditional methods of hybridization. “Amaize has a distinct pop,…

European button mushrooms producers formed a group

The GEPC (European mushroom producer group) promotional campaign is starting. With a budget of €5 million - 675,000 of which to be invested in Italy - the aim is to increase consumption in those European areas where there is still scope to do so due to their inhabitants and potential. An innovative campaign…

Lynders GbR.

"The shift to the new cabbage harvest should work out"

On the Lynders farm in Niederkrüchten in the Lower Rhine region, the first early cabbages of this year's season were harvested a few days ago. "This is a first very early batch, because normally, the early white cabbages would not be ready for harvest until the beginning of July. We also don't really…

Tomatoes from Albania are suspected to have high levels of hormones

Tomatoes entering Kosovo from Albania are being scrutinized, as some sources claim that these tomatoes may contain high levels of hormones. The Food and Veterinary Agency in…

GRoW Harvesting Robot picking tomatoes at Axia Vegetable Seeds

The GRoW Harvesting Robot, a collaborative effort by Ridder and MetoMotion, is picking XR ToBRFV-resistant tomatoes in Axia Vegetable Seeds' demo greenhouses in the Netherlands. This demonstration provides growers with the opportunity to witness the GRoW robot's performance in a high-tech greenhouse…

Chat GPT creates robot gripper for harvesting tomatoes

Poems, essays, and even books – is there anything the open AI platform ChatGPT can't handle? These new AI developments have inspired researchers at TU Delft and the Swiss technical university EPFL to dig a little deeper: For instance, can ChatGPT also design a robot? And is this a good thing for the…

Rain and heat delayed Ontario spinach

Harvest is underway of overwintered organic spinach in Ontario. “We had a fairly mild winter which helped the spinach survive really well. However, it was then subjected to impacts of the inconsistent weather we had this spring,” says Markus Pfenning of Pfenning’s Organic Vegetables Inc., noting that…

Two weeks left for Michigan asparagus

Michigan asparagus looks to have two more weeks left of its season. “We’re on the wind-down,” says Trish Taylor, marketing manager for Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc. “Particularly with the temperatures right now. It’s pretty warm and Southwest Michigan has already wrapped. We are done to maybe two…

“Losses in garlic cultivation are incalculable”

According to the Executive Committee of ASAJA Cuenca, the latest storms have caused losses in garlic plantations. As detailed by the Secretary General of ASAJA Cuenca, Manuel…

“We plan to develop our production of green asparagus in photovoltaic greenhouses”

The Planasa - Darbonne nursery finished its white asparagus campaign two weeks ago, and this 2023 season has been very positive for the company. "In total, we have harvested 750 tons of asparagus on 112 hectares. We have reduced our surfaces but produced as much as last year. We can say that this white…

Gamper & Co. Gemüsekulturen

"Chicory sales have returned to pre-Corona levels this year"

"In the past season, chicory sales have returned to pre-Corona levels," says Fabian Etter of Gamper & Co. Gemüsekulturen, one of the leading chicory producers and marketers in Switzerland. "After the above-average root crop in 2021, we had a moderate root yield last fall. However, we struggled…

Vegetable ice cream, featuring pumpkin and cauliflower combats waste

Ice cream featuring pumpkin and cauliflower was served to more than 3000 people at the nation’s annual Hort Connections event in Adelaide. The two gelato flavors -…

Urgent recall of Fruit Perfections and KO Food Australia Enoki mushrooms

Enoki mushrooms are being recalled from stores in three states due to fears they have been contaminated with listeria. The mushrooms from brands Fruit Perfections and KO Food Australia are being recalled over incorrect use by dates that increase the risk of the dangerous disease. “Listeria monocytogenes…

Lack of rain is affecting strawberry and sweet corn farms in Northeast Ohio

With 16 days of no rain and a late frost this spring, strawberry and sweet corn crops have had their challenges in Northeast Ohio. Some farms have already said that they won’t…

"A box of 6 cauliflower pieces has reached prices of up to 15 and 16 Euro"

The cauliflower harvest is in full swing in the province of Granada. "Cauliflower prices are usually subject to many oscillations, but this year has been quite good," says Serafín Reina, of the Granada-based company Lecar. "A box of 6 pieces has come to cost up to 15 and 16 Euro, which is significantly…

Tighter supplies likely ahead for California carrots

The supply of carrots over the next couple of months out of California is going to be a little tighter than normal. The transition from the Imperial Valley to Bakersfield, California is underway, though slightly later than normal, leaving carrot supplies decent for now. “The weather during our planting window…

Despite record vegetable shipments, Pakistan bags just $235 million

As a result of falling vegetable prices on world markets, despite exporting a record volume of 1,04 billion tons in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, Pakistani…

Cauliflower supplies steady again post-California flooding

Supplies of cauliflower look to be steady going into the summer months. “The supply compared to last year is comparable. We have recovered nicely from the flooding that plagued our region over the winter months, and products are looking great and keeping up with forecast volumes,” says Lori Bigras,…

Video series features Michigan asparagus growing families

The Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board (MAAB) announces the release of its 2023 video series that celebrates the flavor and benefits of Michigan asparagus. Designed to appeal…

Germany purchased more tomatoes from Morocco and fewer from Spain and the Netherlands

According to data prepared by Horotinfo, in the last five years, Germany has increased its tomato purchases from Morocco by 73.16% and reduced its purchases from Spain by…

A complicated start to the French tomato campaign

Many summer products are weather sensitive, including tomatoes, for which the demand was not particularly strong in May. "The last few weeks have been difficult, with rather average prices, but we have still managed to sell our products," explains Christophe Rousse, president of the Solarenn cooperative.…

Hort Connections delegates get a taste of South Aussie exotic mushrooms

A tour of the Epicurean Food Group’s exotic mushroom facility north of Adelaide has given 50 Hort Connections delegates a taste of the newly established farm’s potential to achieve its goal of reversing Australia’s reliance on imported Oyster, Shiitake, Enoki, Lion’s Mane and other exotic mushrooms. Since…

Tomato yield losses in the Munich area due to cold spring and continuous rain in April

With 70 hectares of open ground and ten hectares of greenhouse space, the Böck nursery can draw on a wide range of products. We spoke to farmer and managing director Florian Böck, who now represents the fifth generation to run the company, about the current tomato season as well as his own business. The…

Belgian organic grower expands cautiously: "There was only slightly more, but it was hard to sell”

"There's always more demand for organic cucumbers than we can supply," organic grower Koen van Hauteghem of Vitaetom stated last fall. During a visit - at the invitation of VLAM, Flanders' Agricultural and FIsheries Marketing Board - to his family farm in Belgium last Friday morning, he referred back to…

"As a team, we consistently focus on the right products for the right conditions"

Since 1938, Enza Zaden has been expanding the reach of its seed-breeding innovation to include countries all over the world. Eighty-five years later, the company employs 2000+ people and reinvests 30% of sales into R&D annually. In the US, Mexico, and Canada, Enza Zaden is best known for protected…

"New players are parasitizing Egypt's garlic exports"

The Egyptian garlic export campaign is progressing well, according to statements from several exporters, including Anthony Mina, CEO of E2M. Anthony said: "The season is going well so far. The quality is still very good and demand is still strong. We're taking advantage of a time of year when there isn't…

Foldable bins cause 75% reduction in return trips, cost savings and lower emissions for broccoli exports

Agromark, a Spanish export company specialising in fruits and vegetables, has enhanced its return on investment (ROI) and minimised its carbon footprint through the implementation of Tosca's innovative foldable bin solution. Tosca, who provide reusable packaging and performance pooling solutions for food…

“We must continue to support French production”

In 2023, Kultive embarked on an ambitious project: growing French mushrooms to meet a real demand in a sector mainly represented by imported products. Despite a few necessary adaptations common to all new projects, this first campaign has gone rather smoothly so far, thanks to a fine collaboration…

USDA

Mexico’s 2023 fresh tomato production forecast at 3.87 million metric tons

Assuming normal growing conditions for open-field and shade house cultivation, as well continued greenhouse technology use, the USDA forecasts Mexico’s 2023 fresh tomato production at 3.87 million metric tons (MMT), a marginal increase over the Government of Mexico’s (GOM) official 2022 production…

"Business with greenhouse cucumbers is currently disastrous"

"There are currently still 14 to 15 pallets standing around with us that we cannot sell. We had similar problems in the weeks before. While the catering trade is looking for the cheapest possible goods, sales in the retail trade also leave much to be desired. Even the customers who supply the weekly…

"This year we sold three tons of tomatoes we produced ourselves"

Organic farmer Michael Boyer produces organic vegetables at three locations in and around Göttingen, most of which he markets in his own specialty store in Göttingen's…

"The demand usually falls in June, but asparagus prices remain at a good level"

Many eagerly await the asparagus season every year. For them, the moment when these seasonal vegetables can start to be harvested is always a highlight, but "the white gold"…

"Slow supply of peppers results in good prices"

"The bell pepper season has gotten off to a great start in terms of quality and price," says Marco Bergman of Harvest House. "The demand has generally been good since the first day of harvesting, partly due to shortages in Spain caused by the weather conditions and also because we ourselves came into the…

"Removing pathogens from tomato storage is crucial for shelf-life"

The Hungarian company Nemeskert Kft. operates greenhouses encompassing 13 hectares, powered by geothermal energy. With 9 hectares dedicated to tomato cultivation, the company yields an impressive annual harvest of 4,000 to 4,500 metric tons. Additionally, Nemeskert Kft. cultivates secondary products such…

Moroccan bell pepper exports to EU and UK rapidly growing

Bell peppers are one of the most exported categories from Morocco and the second in revenues from exports after tomatoes. Morocco, thanks to its favorable climate and…

U.S. officials seize $38 million worth of methamphetamine in kale shipment

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility seized $38 million worth of methamphetamine within a shipment of kale. On Saturday,…

No delay and sufficient volumes for Polish white cabbage

As the cauliflower harvest arrives in Poland, the Polish white cabbage season is also running. According to Kornelia Lewikowska, purchasing manager for Polish vegetable…

"The price of new garlic is not expected to drop in the short term."

The new season of garlic has started, but due to the reduced production, the price in the production area is currently rising, and the overseas customers are not active, while…

Hand-picked green beans from Mexico available year-round

While Peakopia brings many different fruit and vegetable varieties to market, green beans are the company’s main product. “We offer two types, light and dark, and they are grown year-round in three different regions of Mexico. We’ve been working with the same grower for years,” says Cindy Delgado with…

"Asparagus season was great, price-wise, but with very erratic supply"

The last month of the Dutch asparagus season is here again. "We're not dissatisfied. Price-wise, it was definitely a good season, with no lows," says Will Teeuwen of Teboza. "However, this season's erratic weather made planning particularly difficult." "We have no control over that but have to,…

“It’s time to interrupt the North American mushroom industry”

Degrees of innovation in the mushroom industry vary greatly around the world. In North America for instance, selling mushrooms in a blue container is the standard and product containing dirt is completely acceptable. “Mushroom growers in this part of the world have been able to get away with it,” says…

"The season's last refrigerated leeks mostly suitable for processors"

The Belgian leek season is genuinely reaching its end. Unlike last year, this season was characterized by good prices for both traders and growers, something Calsa's Pol…

Resistant varieties defeat New Delhi virus in Almeria's zucchini campaign

Almeria's zucchini export campaign is coming to an end. The season was characterized by a significant decrease in production compared to last season, stated Jose Luis Escobar, from Berdea, the agricultural society (SAT) behind the King Courgette zucchini brand. “This decrease has been due to a set of…

"I am now the only one offering asparagus in the Munich Gärtnerhalle"

The season for Schrobenhausen asparagus has been going well so far, but is now slowly coming to an end. "We have heard from some farms in the area that they will stop harvesting in the course of the next two weeks. This is due to the fact that here in Bavaria after Whitsun the two-week vacations start…

Prominent boosts sales with insights from neuromarketing

To get a complete picture of what drives consumers and also take their unconscious choices into account, Prominent has established a partnership with Unravel Research; a professional party focusing on neuromarketing. On May 16th, co-founder Tim Zuidgeest presented several fascinating insights at the…

Agreement reached for the price of processing tomatoes in northern Italy

An agreement has been reached for the price of processing tomatoes in northern Italy for the 2023 growing season. Representatives of the agricultural sector expressed content…

Bhutan’s declining chili production sparks concerns

Bhutan’s plan to halt chili import if domestic production reaches self-sufficiency is facing a potential setback; recent data reveals a significant decline in chili harvests.…

Zimbabwean smallholder farmers take up the baton to export peas

Smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe benefit from the space that opened up in the export pea sector as large-scale commercial farmers in Zimbabwe switched to blueberries. Right: Memory Gonye, a smallholder farmer who now also grows export peasZimbabwean pea exporters are unable to meet the demand for peas…

Ministry of Food and Agriculture urges Ghanaian growers to opt for newly-released tomato varieties

Dennis Abugri Amenga, the Bono Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), has urged tomato growers to opt for and cultivate the “raja and cobra,” new…

"Open ground vegetables ready a lot later across the board"

The Dutch open ground vegetable season is getting off to a delayed start this year. "We have started slowly, but we are still a week to ten days later than other years," Robert Vogel of AGF-Direct from Zwaagdijk says. "The real numbers are not there yet, I hope we can offer them from June 10. For…

Tomatoes - the challenges starting with the next campaign

The energy crisis that started with the war in Ukraine has had many repercussions on vegetable crops using artificial light in central/northern Europe. The gap was not filled by other producer countries and resulted in an imbalance on the international markets. In addition, in the tomato segment,…

Declining cultivation of carrots and organic onions

The domestic food retail trade is in the midst of a product range restructuring process. The marketing of domestic alternative edible potatoes has been completed. To bridge…

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Kenya: Tomato growers use traps to tame pests chewing into leafage

Tomato farmers in Subukia have been confronting the menace of a pest that has mostly been chewing into the leafage of the crop. The resultant effect has been the possibility of a massive drop in the quality of the produce and obvious losses. The pest, Tuta absoluta, which crept into the country around…

Salatrio: Rijk Zwaan demo reveals five insights

The Salatrio concept – a single, colorful head of ‘living lettuce’ made up of three different types – has been around for years and continues to gain popularity worldwide. At the Salatrio Client Demo in early May 2023, Rijk Zwaan showcased 40 innovative combinations of leafies: more robust, more…

Importance of climate and context alongside yield prediction in tomato production

Tomato growers face the challenge of predicting yields accurately, which is crucial for their business operations and forecasting. However, traditional yield prediction models often fail to account for sudden spikes or dips in actual yield, known as yield swings. These unpredictable variations can be…

Indoor grower Local Bounti unveils salad kits with chicken

Local Bounti Corporation has unveiled the expansion of its Grab & Go Salad Kit line to include premium, antibiotic-free white meat chicken in two new recipes. Beginning in June, consumers in the Pacific Northwest will be able to find Local Bounti's Artisanal Chicken Caesar and Memphis Style BBQ Chicken…

Red chilis drying between railway lines create a pretty picture

At the Thakurgaon Sadar county Ruhia railway station, local farmers have left their ripe chili peppers to dry near the railway lines. This leads to a pretty picture worth…

Guard Agricultural Research & Services completes successful trial of Chinese hybrid chili varieties

Guard Agricultural Research & Services has claimed to have secured three-fold more yield from Chinese hybrid chilies varieties than indigenous varieties in successful…

Mendoza will produce 20% to 25% less garlic

The Ministry of Economy, the ProMendoza Foundation, and Asocamen (the Association of Producers, Packers, and Exporters of Garlic, Onions, and Similar Products from Mendoza)…

End of tomato campaign in Morocco, renewed hopes for next season

The Moroccan export tomato season is drawing to a close, with the exception of a few varieties. Mustapha Aouragh, a grower located in the Souss Massa region, said, "Most producers have finished their export calendars, with the exception of a few producers who are growing elongated tomato and cherry…

End of a good season for Egyptian carrots

The carrot growing season in Egypt ended on a high note, while the export campaign is still underway. The season was marked by good volumes and quality despite phytosanitary problems, according to Ahmad Mokhtar Abu Zaid, from the Egyptian grower Agris. Ahmad said: "The carrot season in Egypt ended in…

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Russia: Shipment of lettuce destroyed as western flower thrip was identified

The Primorsky Interregional Department of Rosselkhoznadzor prevented the import of a batch of fresh lettuce, a quarantine pest for the EAEU was identified. According to the test protocol dated May 26, 2023, in a batch of lettuce with a total weight of 0.6 tons, a pest quarantined for the EAEU - western…

“We want to share our love for the vegetables we create"

Bringing together bright, healthy, and inspiring vegetables, along with a deeper understanding of the foods we eat and why, is Rijk Zwaan's focus at this year's Hort Connections. In an innovative move to help stimulate vegetable consumption, the vegetable seed breeding company has teamed up with the…

Uneven pricing for field tomatoes

This is the time of year to especially watch the quality on tomatoes says Roger Riehm of Blue Creek Produce LLC. “The concern is always that it’s the tail end of a season and the beginning of a new season and you’re also watching to see how much the rain is affecting local crops in different areas of the…

Flipped pricing on California and Mexican broccoli

More broccoli supplies are coming out of Salinas, California. “They were delayed by the rain but they have now gotten to the point where they can harvest and the quality on…

Labor costs are the big caveat to high asparagus prices

The asparagus season in the northwest usually starts mid-April, but this year the crop was almost a month late due to a really cold spring. “When Mexico stopped shipping the third week of April, we weren’t even packing asparagus in Idaho,” says Shay Myers with Owyhee Produce. The late start created a…

The garlic harvest starts with a 15% drop in production but with good quality Spring garlic

According to forecasts, this season's garlic production will decrease by 15%; however, the quality of the Spring garlic variety is quite good, stated Julio Bacete, sector…

Egyptian garlic is more competitive this season despite higher prices

The Egyptian garlic campaign is ongoing, with demand outstripping supply and prices rising, but it's in a more competitive position than other origins, according to Ralph Nakhal of Egyptian producer Tomna. Ralph said, "We are currently in the midst of the cured fresh garlic export season, fulfilling all orders…

"Prices are no longer a reference to determine whether a campaign is good or not"

Last winter, the leafy vegetable production suffered from the impact of climate change, "which is increasingly noticeable in our sector," said Géraldine Cuadras, commercial director of Cuadraspania. "In November and December, the temperature was very high and caused the harvests to start earlier, which…

The bad weather has affected vegetable yields

This is truly a bad year for Emilia-Romagna: first there was the drought, then the frost followed by the excessive rain and hail and, finally, the flood. "The bad weather that hit the heart of our region as far as the Riviera Romagnola caused serious damage to the agricultural sector," reads a Sipo note.…

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Counts of e-coli in vegetables from retailers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

A new study by Ihab Habib, Rami H Al-Rifai, Mohamed-Yousif Ibrahim Mohamed, Akela Ghazawi, Afra Abdalla, Glindya Lakshmi, Neveen Agamy and Mushtaq Khan investigates the counts, antimicrobial resistance profile, and genome-based characterization of Escherichia coli in 11 different types of fresh salad…

Increase of Albanian greenhouse vegetable exports insignificant in period Jan-Apr

The weather has favored Albanian agricultural production this season. The warm winter enabled uninterrupted production of cucumbers, while tomatoes hit the market almost a…

NZ farmers worried as destructive fall armyworms spread

The fall armyworm has been referred to as the world's number one corn-killing pest; it was first detected in Tauranga in March of 2022. Now it has already travelled south,…

New unheated French greenhouse tomato launched

Générose, the new tomato developed by ProNatura in collaboration with the MédiTerraBio growers' group, is a variety that “combines all the characteristics of heirloom tomatoes, with its generous flesh, melting texture, juiciness and sweet flavor.” It is grown exclusively in the southeast of France in…

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Nigeria: Tomato price crashes as supplies from Ghana, Cameroon hit the market

The price of tomatoes has crashed in most Nigerian markets as supplies from Ghana and Cameroon have arrived the county’s markets. Daily Trust findings revealed that due to the recent tomato scarcity that hit the nation as a result of the Tuta Absoluta pest attack on tomato plantations, tomato merchants…

"The first chanterelles are okay in terms of price, but demand is very modest"

The arrival of the first Bulgarian chanterelles marks the start of this year's wild mushroom season. "We obtain our chanterelles mainly through partners at the Munich wholesale market, where the first batches of the season have already been offered for one to two weeks now. The price of the first, early…

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US (CA): Monterey County still dealing with flood damage

The summer vegetable crop in California’s Salinas Valley may be a little shorter than normal as farmers work through issues surrounding this winter’s floods. Not all the early-season leafy greens typically planted in the Salinas Valley could be, because of the significant flooding that took place on the…

"Many customers travel long distances, just for the assortment and quality at the Munich wholesale market"

For several years, Munich-based company Herbafrucht Ltd, which specializes in herbs, has been working with a wild garlic producer from Hungary and another from Romania. "The season usually starts earlier for both origins than German production," says managing director of Herbafrucht, Phillippe Kahn. Managing…

Xiaohongshu

Chinese are bringing cucumbers to music festivals

China festival goers are turning to alternative forms of hydration, choosing to bring cucumbers so they will not be forced to pay exorbitant prices for a bottle of water. Recently, someone posted a picture of a half-eaten cucumber to Xiaohongshu, a social media platform similar to Instagram. The caption…

Later starts in bell pepper growing regions

There’s no shortage of supply of bell peppers in the market currently. “Right now, players are getting up and running in the Coachella desert and we also have Mexico finishing up its deal,” says Prescott Leyba, vice president–pepper sales with Live Oak Farms. “Mexico should finish in the next seven to 10…

Collaboration with Spanish company allows flexibility to extend or shorten seasons

Lincolnshire grower Peloton Produce is looking towards a bright future as they lay the foundations for a 3.5 acre extension to the current premises, the extension will include a new 1000 pallet high humidity cold store complex and additional loading bays, thus doubling their current cold storage…

BLE

Vegetable cultivation trend in Germany seems to decline

In Germany, vegetables were grown on around 126,000 hectares in 2022 - a decline of around four percent compared to the previous year. This is according to the report of the "National Dialogue on Food Systems". Asparagus, onions, lettuces and carrots grew on more than half of the land. Organic with varying…

In 2022, Morocco exported more tomatoes than Spain

Morocco has exported more tomatoes than Spain for the first time ever. According to data prepared by Hortoinfo, 10 years ago Spain exported 124.74% more tomatoes than Morocco,…

"Scandinavian organic greenhouse vegetable growers are switching back to conventional"

In Europe, high energy prices delayed the start of this year's organic greenhouse vegetable season. "Also, organic greenhouse vegetable acreage is as much as 20 to 30% lower,"…

The first fully purple sprouting broccoli

Sakata Seed Ibérica presents Tyrian, the first sprouting broccoli variety on the market that is completely purple in its florets and stems. “Once again, Sakata, a leading brassica company, continues to lead the way in innovation with the addition of Tyrian.” This new variety stands out for its color, which…

Bayer inaugurates new facility for ToBRFV resistance testing

Bayer has cut the ribbon of a new quarantine facility dedicated to testing resistance to Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) virus in tomatoes. The facility, located in Wageningen, The Netherlands, will help strengthen and accelerate Bayer's search for resistant varieties. "This new infrastructure…

Kurdistan region bans imports of agricultural products to support local farmers

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is implementing a comprehensive reform plan to develop the agricultural sector in the Kurdish region of Iraq and expand the market for…

The market of vegetables in Ukraine decreased by 30% in 2023

The Ukrainian vegetable industry will not soon return to pre-war production levels. The total market decline is estimated at 25-30%, according to Ivo Kyumyurdzhiev, the…

Italy: Grape growers are switching to tomatoes

The grape crisis, or rather crises, taking place in Italy, as repeatedly reported, was not overcame by all producers. Those who have been able to, have tried to come up with new ideas and new entrepreneurial solutions. One of them is Giovanni Mangiapane, a long-established grape grower in the renowned…

Moroccan pumpkin exports to the UK are soaring

Morocco's pumpkin exports to the United Kingdom have expanded quite a lot, reaching an impressive 11,000 tons by the end of January 2023. Over the course of one year, from…

Tomato shortage looms as farmers lose N5.6 billion in one month

The scarcity of tomatoes seems to be coming for Nigerians as farmers in the five major tomato-producing states in the country are counting their losses of over N5.6 billion…

"Communicating that a virus has been detected is the responsible thing to do"

The tomato industry has undergone significant changes in recent years, particularly in terms of the variety of tomatoes available. There has been a focus on developing tomatoes with distinct characteristics, such as taste, which is highly desired by both growers and consumers. The CEO of Newen Europe…

Tomato open day for the mini and midi plum segments

After the appointment of Saro Tumino as the new general manager for Italy, international seed company Harmoniz - which was recently created from the merger of TomaTech and Nirit Seeds - continues to demonstrate the high strategic value of the Italian table tomato market. This time, the company is…

Thousands of tonnes of UK produce being destroyed every day

British cucumber growers have not had it easy in the last few years, and 2023 is not looking any better. “It is the perfect storm,” said Lea Stiles from Lea Valley Growers…

Simply Hot brand Thai Green Peppers recalled due to Salmonella

Thai Green Peppers from the Simply Hot brand have been recalled due to microbial contamination. The affected product is being recalled from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.  The recalled product has been sold in Alberta, Saskatchewan and may have been distributed in other provinces and…

Nigerian tech enthusiast invents system to preserve tomatoes

Tech enthusiast Daniel Oseni has invented a cooling system called PeriPES. It is designed to successfully preserve and store tomatoes for up to 3 to 4 months. PeriPES works by…

Italian greenhouse growers launch new premium tomato and expansion plans

On Wednesday, May 17, at the Vergani-Navarra Institute,  Fri-El Green House presented Strabena, the De Ruiter midi cherry truss variety for which it holds exclusive cultivation and distribution rights on a national level. The variety is grown all year round under controlled conditions so that it is available…

USDA

US lettuce production shifts regionally as seasons progress

In 2022, lettuce accounted for nearly one-fifth of the $21.8 billion that US growers received in cash receipts from sales of vegetables and melons. Romaine lettuce sales totaled $1.54 billion, iceberg lettuce sales were $1.33 billion, with leaf lettuce sales trailing at $1.25 billion. An estimated 85…

Dutch asparagus farm grows from 6 to 72 hectares in 11 years

"Anyone can buy asparagus from us," begins Willem van Gerven of the Dutch asparagus cultivation company of the same name. Van Gerven can count on broad sales to supermarkets, wholesalers, and the hospitality industry in the Benelux. It also has a few wholesalers from West Germany and northern France as…

Very good Memorial Day push for sweet corn

Sweet corn harvest in Bell Glade, Florida is wrapping up. “The spring deal here usually finishes up around Memorial Day,” says Geoff Taft, Sales Manager with Pioneer Growers. “Monday and Tuesday of this week were big shipping days for Memorial Day, and it has been a very good push for us,” he added.…

Move over burgers and sausages – here comes trendy new BBQ asparagus

A Herefordshire asparagus farmer has helped fixed a problem for BBQ fans who love grilling the vegetable, but find the regular spears can be too delicate for cooking on a…

bioFrische GmbH

"In terms of calculation, we are at the limit with organic mushrooms"

The cultivated mushroom sector is looking back on an eventful year due to inflation and cost increases since the start of the Ukraine war. "The harvest volume of organic mushrooms from our exclusive supplier Bio Pilzhof Leipzigerland has been stable and is still around 14 tons a week, but the cost…

‘Tomato production in Nigeria should be strengthened’

Currently, Nigerians are again struggling with the high cost of tomatoes in many parts of the country. Sources say the price of a basket of tomatoes in the producing states…

Market of vegetables in 2023 decreases by 30%, does not return to pre-war level

"Vegetable production in Ukraine in 2023 will not return to pre-war 2021 production volumes, and the overall market decline is estimated at 25-30%, although this percentage differs for different crops"- Ivo Kyumyurdjiev, director of Rijk Zwaan Ukraine. "Good prices for vegetables in 2022 encouraged many…

The EU market is not very promising for Kirghiz exporters, according to an expert

Kyrgyzstan obtained GSP+ status from the European Union in January 2016. However, according to National Statistics Committee, Kyrgyzstan's exports to Europe amounted to only…

"Maintaining the same quality standards is a challenge in cherry tomatoes"

"The tomato and cherry tomato supply continues to increase in the European markets, not only from Spain but from many countries, so competition is greater, and prices are falling because there is more supply than demand," says Miguel Angel Perez Segura, owner of Quality Fresh, regarding the current…

Mendoza's garlic acreage is expected to decrease by 25%

Even though the Institute of Rural Development (IDR) still hasn't published the data of the survey carried out among producers each year, the Association of Producers,…

"Some countries in Europe have already stopped producing mushrooms due to lack of compost"

One of the consequences of the drought that affects areas in practically all of Spain is the shortage of straw, which is leading to a large increase in straw prices. This increase in prices enormously complicates maintaining mushroom production, which depends on straw for the preparation of compost,…

Broccoli consumption in Spain in 2023 already exceeds 2 kg per capita

Más Brócoli, the association for the promotion of broccoli consumption, held its XIV Assembly on Friday, May 19. The event was attended by partners and customers and involved the participation of experts, institutional personalities, and personalities from the Region of Murcia's agri-food sector. The assembly…

"Cucumber production in Almeria, and also in our case, has been the highest in recent years"

"Overall, the winter cucumber campaign has been good," says Antonio Escobar, manager of the Almeria-based Nature Choice SAT. "We have been able to successfully meet the demand of all our European customers. At the company, we work with great respect for the product at every step, from production to…

Sicilian elongated peppers reach European markets

It's an exceptional year for Sicilian Lamuyo elongated peppers - the season started in March, and quotations have been high. We talked to OP Albani, located in Vittoria, to better understand the 2023 trend.    Giovanni Albani "We have never seen such a brilliant campaign for peppers, especially considering that it…

Economy under so much strain “you can almost touch it”

Most of South Africa’s tomatoes are coming from Limpopo, followed by the Onderberg in Mpumalanga.Some tomato farmers on the West Coast are still cropping, while farmers on both sides of the Orange River are gearing up for their tomato season.Over the past two months tomato supply has been sufficient and…

Dominican Republic awaits word on vegetable pre-clearance program

Growers and shippers in the Dominican Republic are waiting optimistically for an action plan to help expand the USDA APHIS pre-clearance program and allow the country to ship…

Carrots are the most popular vegetable

Carrots are the most popular vegetable in Switzerland. The Swiss ate almost 7 kilos of them per person per year last year. Tomatoes are in second place. If cherry tomatoes…

Tuta Absoluta outbreak: Nigerians should consider alternatives, says nutritionist

A professor of nutrition and dietetics, Olivia Afam-Anene, has explained how consumers can manage the outbreak of Tuta Absoluta, also known as tomato ebola, a pest that has…

Two of Scotland’s longest established fresh produce organisations join forces to create Pease Bay Farms

Cupar-headquartered East of Scotland Growers Ltd (ESG) and R&K Drysdales Ltd (RKD) have joined forces to create Pease Bay Farms. This means that two of Scotland’s…

Turkish suppliers plan to increase tomato shipments to Russia

Turkish news agencies have reported on Russia's decision to increase imports of Turkish tomatoes, citing Hayrettin Uçak, president of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable…

Florida Democrat claims state won't have vegetable pickers due to new immigration law

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz claimed that the new law is 'going to devastate our economy, tourism, construction, agriculture'. According to her, the new law, which goes into…

Bell peppers are best seller at Sicilian Vittoria market

The trend for the main references at the Vittoria Fruit and Vegetable Market marks a slight but gradual decline in prices. Prices have been declining for about ten days now, but without discouraging the operators excessively because we have to consider that we are in mid to late May. A more detailed…

Farmers in Antique province urged to produce more vegetables

Farmers in Antique province are encouraged to produce more vegetables and other agricultural products. Yesterday, Antique Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA)…

Denmark: "Collaborating with chefs in Copenhagen boosts our image"

When possible, Danes prefer local, sustainably produced food. Add Copenhagen's luxury restaurants to that, and you have the ideal breeding ground for a company like Funga Farm: a small-scale urban farm that grows organic, fresh, high-quality specialty mushrooms and supplies them exclusively to about 20…