FreshPlaza: Global Fresh Produce and Banana News

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We will be back Tuesday 7th of April

Happy Easter from the FreshPlaza team

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW LIMES

King of mangoes competes with other varieties from India

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

“India’s grape season wraps up with 10,000-15000 tonnes left to be harvested for exports”

Bangladeshi vegetable exports hit by freight at US$3.50 per kg

Vietnam's Dong Thap durian prices fall to US$2.5 per kg

Bangladeshi potato exports rise to 45,400 tons as prices fall

South Korean agri-food exports rise 4% to US$2.56 billion

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

Rangpur potato output hits 28,56,065 tons as prices fall

Sector | Vegetables

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William Zirebwa - Takura

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

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”

Vincenzo Ambrosio and Giorgio Donnarumma of Milan-based Nuovafrutta

“Behind every great product are exceptional people"

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

Sector | Bananas

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Vietnam's Dong Nai exports 220 tons of bananas

Indian FPC exports bananas to Dubai under SMART project

Joe Manariti - Premier Fresh Australia

Diversity helps banana producer survive cyclone damage

Andhra Pradesh banana prices drop to US$48 per ton

Philippine banana and pineapple exports at risk from higher freight costs

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"

Philippine banana exporters shift volumes to Asia

Sector | Potatoes and Onions

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Toubacouta fair in Senegal to bring together potato and onion growers

Pakistani potato output to exceed 12 million tons in 2025–26

Bangladesh expands sweet potato exports to Japan

Hundreds of tons of onions risk spoiling in Azerbaijan due to low demand

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"

Sector | Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables

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Kenya tightens avocado rules as macadamia seeks new markets

Australian avocado exports rise as oversupply drives prices down

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"

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”

Driscoll’s names new chief financial officer

Cartonpack acquires Agrypack business unit in Northern Italy

BayWa restructuring hit by U.S. policy shift

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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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

Karachi transshipment volumes surge as cargo is rerouted to Pakistan

Shipping fuel costs rise as Brent crude exceeds US$108 per barrel

Brazil secures Turkey route to maintain agricultural exports

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

Ukraine advances access to Vietnamese market for agri exports

Uzbekistan records 14% increase in fruit and vegetable export volumes

Tekin Güngör of GOG 2000 GmbH in Cologne:

"We welcome both fast food and fine dining"

Pakistan exports fruit and vegetables to Kuwait for regional supply

Sector | Management

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WTO talks stall as Brazil blocks e-commerce moratorium extension

Italy to employ Uzbek seasonal workers in fruit and vegetable sector

Cermac, Promos, and the Ministry

Agreement signed for companies from Italy and Uzbekistan

HortNZ monitors Middle East impact on fuel, fertiliser, and labour supply

Hungary urges EU to lift fertilizer tariffs as costs rise

US trade court orders tariff refunds

John Kusters, NFO:

“To be sustainable, we must all make agreements”

Sector | Miscellaneous

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Malaysian fertiliser supply hit by Russian and Chinese export curbs

Israeli fertiliser and packaging costs surge due to supply disruptions

New Zealand fertiliser supply secure for autumn period

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

Sector | Fruit

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A variety developed by Known-You Seed

New super-mini watermelon varieties

Chilean cherries face oversupply at 625,000 tons

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

Chinese apple output falls 5% as concentrate stocks build

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"

Jammu and Kashmir apple output up 3.4% as exports fall 26%

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

Nepali herbal exports from Nepalgunj reach 1.3 million kg

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

Sector | Agenda

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

Agriculture cannot escape its paradox: both responsible and exposed

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

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

Interfresh Eurasia to take place between 8 and 10 September in Izmir

Sector | Citrus

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

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

Rene Bouman: "Fruit Attraction São Paulo offers potential for all of South America"

"Lime volumes exceed seasonal expectations"

Sector | Organic

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Tripura expands organic farming and export volumes

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"

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

Produce industry shows support of new Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Certain compounds found in garlic can increase the lifespan of mice

Italian study tests citrus and grape supplement for glucose control

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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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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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

Kyrgyzstan opens access for frozen fruit exports to China

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

South African canned fruit sector explores cooperation with China

New shipments recorded to Turkey, Serbia and EU markets

Kyrgyzstan triples frozen fruit exports to Russia in 2025

Brazilian orange juice inventories rise 75.4% by end of 2025

Sector | Cooling

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Pakistan targets cold chain to reduce produce losses

Airclima expands in the fresh produce sector with refrigeration projects

"Cooling quality has a direct impact on product quality"

Philippine cold storage facility to support over 200,000 farmers

Pakistan faces 40% post-harvest losses due to cold storage gap

South Korea expands CA storage and smart farms to stabilise supply

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

Sector | Food safety

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Russia detects quarantine pests in imported tomatoes from Turkey and Kazakhstan

Russia continues to import potatoes and vegetables

Russia rejects pomelo and pear shipments over labeling violations

Tomato virus cases rise as Russia blocks shipments and returns unlabeled produce

EU audits Thai residue controls for fruit and vegetable exports

Israel increases inspections on Palestinian Authority produce

Uzbekistan introduces stricter controls for fruit and vegetable exports

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"

Brazilian nut exports reach US$6.5 million in early 2026

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"

Dutch Graphic Group ready for new season

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

U.S. survey finds 81% of produce sold with plastic packaging

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"

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

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

There's a chance for more flooding in Portugal by the end of the month

"At first glance, the damage is extremely heartbreaking"

Truck rates strengthen in Texas following weekend cold

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

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

Removal of tariffs on tropical fruits is a relief but not for Brazil

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

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