Geographic advantage for homegrown-frisée

Following a successful year, Babé Farms has increased its plantings this year of Blonde Frisée™ and is now seeing plentiful supply. This year, Babé Farms has also introduced its new Platinum Blonde Frisée™ Salad which is a value-added item that’s trimmed, pre-washed and ready to eat. The bulk of the frisée…

95% of greenhouses in Turkmenistan specialize in tomato production

Turkmenistan boasts a total greenhouse area of around 800 hectares, with a remarkable 95% dedicated to tomato cultivation, according to entrepreneur Dovletgeldi Ballyev's article in Biznes Reklama. Simultaneously, new greenhouses covering approximately 600–650 hectares are under construction. The country…

Strong Mexico winter market expected due to water shortage

Water shortages down in Mexico have been a big issue this year. While the situation improved in recent weeks with more rainfall, the gap hasn’t been made up yet. “At the moment, water levels are still behind by 60 to 70 percent compared to normal levels,” says Frank Camera with Delta Fresh Produce. As a…

AI

The largest bunch of bananas ever counted, with 473 bananas, is still the largest after decades

Since 2001, the record for the world's largest bunch of bananas has remained unchallenged, making it an incredible feat in the world of oversized fruits and vegetables. Located at Finca Experimental de las Calmas in El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, the record-breaking bunch was grown by Kabana SA and…

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Thailand aims to export more bananas

Thailand has recently signed the deal to export 5,000 tons of bananas to Japan. Chantapun Bunjamanon, director of the International Trade Promotion Department in Tokyo, said the office had previously worked with the Nakhon Ratchasima provincial trade office to bring Japanese banana experts to the area…

Raiganj potato farmers told to clear their stocks from cold storage

Potato farmers in Raiganj of North Dinajpur district are in trouble as cold storage owners want them to clear their potato stocks. Agreements between both parties expired on November 30. The farmers have requested government intervention. This year, there was a very good potato yield in the district and…

Philippines to import onions to avert price surges

The Philippines is planning to import tons of onions to prevent another increase in prices. Import licenses will be issued to private firms to bring in 21,000 tons of onions before the end of the year, according to a statement from the Bureau of Plant Industry on Friday. The measure is to guarantee ample…

Four countries focus on China’s $20 billion durian market

China is the world’s largest durian market with expected value of $20 billion by 2025. There are four major rivals in the market and Vietnam is one. Members of Phu Quy Cooperative in Cai Lay district of Tien Giang province are busy these days harvesting durian to sell at the prices of VND97,000-125,000…

Good demand as Israel’s avocado harvest continues into main part of season

Israel’s avocado harvest is progressing well as it is now in the main part of the season with good demand from markets. According to Yonatan Meron, Export Manager of Granot Fresh, “We're now almost in full swing.” “For Greenskin we're finishing the Ettinger and moving to other varieties of Fuerte, Pinkerton…

Alfafood GmbH

"On opening day, we already sold over a truckful of vegetables"

On November 20, the first franchise branch of catering wholesaler Alfafood GmbH opened its doors in Ingolstadt. On a spacious area of approx. 1,500 square meters, the cash & carry market stocks a carefully selected range of products, including a wide variety of fresh vegetables specially tailored to the…

Tajikistan explores swift perishable goods delivery with Agroexpress integration

Tajikistan is set to join the "Agroexpress," a Russian specialized service aiming to expedite the delivery of perishable goods and mitigate risks affecting their quality. The Tajik Ministry of Transport revealed that the possibility of connecting to Agroexpress was outlined in the 2023-2025 roadmap…

Eqraft opens new headquarters in Netherlands

Following a period of continuous growth, Eqraft decided they needed a new headquarters. The Dutch tech company found a brand new property, big enough to match their ambitions and future plans. For the grand opening of their new headquarters in Emmeloord, Eqraft opens the doors of their new facility on 2…

170th anniversary for Bonduelle

2023 marks the 170th anniversary of an adventure born in 1853. The history of the family and the Bonduelle company are inseparable. The torch of the family business has already passed through seven generations, with a vocation that remains intact over time: placing plant based at the heart of food. Christophe Bonduelle gives us…

Sanlucar expands its business to Asia

The multinational company SanLucar continues its international expansion plan, with its sights set on Asia. The fruit and vegetable brand has launched its products in Singapore. As part of its strategy to open up to Asian markets, the company's CEO, Armin Rehberg, accompanied by Bilal Issa, Commercial Director…

Dreamstime

Maersk settles lawsuit over blockage Suez Canal in 2021

A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S settled a Danish lawsuit against the companies behind a ship that blocked the Suez canal in 2021. The Ever Given was stuck for six days in March 2021. However, the event disrupted global shipping for months. Maersk controls about 15% of the world’s container fleet, while Evergreen…

Oasis Grower Solutions introduces precision propagation media

To succeed in today's market, commercial growers need every competitive advantage, including a precision propagation substrate that channels success. To address that, Oasis Grower Solutions (OGS) is launching OASIS® RhizoPlug™ Sheet, a new engineered foam growing media designed especially for precision…

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Walvis Bay is Namibian grape growers' answer to Cape Town Port

At the International Table Grape Symposium commercial director of Capespan, Charl du Bois, told attendees that the port of Cape Town really challenging at the moment. Namibian grape growers have realised an alternative which, although not closer than Cape Town, lies within their own borders. "This week…

DP World announces start of Air Cargo Hub Operations in Punta Cana

DP World, a global leader in end-to-end supply chain solutions, announces its first export operations at its new air cargo logistics hub in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The new facility, which was announced earlier this year, enhances the Dominican Republic’s position as the largest trade and…

Drewry's

Drewry’s World Container Index stable at $1,382 per 40ft container this week

Drewry’s World Container Index remained stable at $1,382 per 40ft container this week. The composite index remained stable and has dropped by 40% when compared with the same week last year. The latest Drewry WCI composite index of $1,382 per 40-foot container is now 3% less than average 2019 (pre-pandemic) rates of…

Bradley Urion

New Durban pier 2 operator in conversation with South Africa’s fruit industry

Symposium attendees were keen to hear from Hans-Ole Madsen from Philippine-based International Container Terminal Services, Inc which is the preferred bidder to operate pier 2 of the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) over the next 25 years. Hans-Ole Madsen from Philippine-based International Container…

Automation should alleviate harvest labor shortages in Australia

Engineering consultancy start-up Vision AI has clinched an $8 million deal that could revolutionize the labor-intensive task of growing fruit and vegetables. The company will use new technology to introduce labor efficiencies into operations at Victorian glasshouse fruit and vegetable grower Flavorite.…

"You can source more from Belgium"

Last year, high energy prices meant there was little supply from those countries' greenhouses, so supermarkets had to switch to imports from Southern Europe. How are things looking this year? We approached Belgium retailer Carrefour for more insight into their supplies and strategies for the upcoming…

Crop damage caused by unseasonal rains climbs to 390,000 hectares in India

According to new estimates, the crop damage caused by the unseasonal rains over the last few days has climbed to 390,000 hectares. The maximum damage has been in Yavatmal, where 130,000 hectares of crops have been affected. In total, the damage is spread over 22 districts. The crops affected include…

Malawi sends agricultural workers to Israel

On November 25, a group of 221 laborers departed Malawi for Tel Aviv. According to Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the war with Hamas has significantly affected the country’s agricultural sector as thousands of foreign workers left the country. Workers from Malawi, the fourth…

USDA

Post-Covid, Chinese buyers and US exporters want to rebuild connections

As travel resumes following the end of Zero Covid in China, marked by the elimination of quarantine restrictions on January 8th , 2023, FAS has already assisted with four reverse trade missions to the United States to rebuild connections between Chinese buyers and US exporters. In 2023, FAS…

Dreamstime.com

Pakistani rupee set to end the year as Asia’s worst-performing currency

The Pakistani rupee will probably end the year as Asia’s worst-performing currency. It has fallen about 20% against the dollar this year and financial experts say its troubles are far from over. BMI analysts say the currency will fall to 350 rupees by the end of next year, while Karachi-based brokerage…

"The grape season was predicted to be eventful and promising until last week"

At the moment, the export of grapes from India is mostly going to markets in Asia. Sagar Deore, director for Indian produce exporter Janki Freshyard Private Limited expects that trade to Europe will start after the New Year: “This year's Indian table grape season got underway early, and fruit is already…

Rosselkhoznadzor noted a sharp increase in shipments of fruit and vegetable products with pests from Armenia

Russia's agricultural watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, has raised concerns about a significant surge in shipments of plant products with pests from Armenia. This year alone, harmful organisms were found in Armenian floral and fruit-vegetable products in 72 instances, with a sharp increase in violations noted…

"Increase in demand for Turkish apples may start after New Year"

For one Turkish apple exporter, the Gala is already out of stock, as there was a lot of demand for this apple variety according to Mehmet Çakmak, sales and marketing manager for Turkish fresh produce exporter Ani Tarim: “Our apple season has started in August with the Gala variety. Due to high demand,…

"Late planting of winter strawberry plants meant that earlier volumes were lower"

A dry spring allowed the winter strawberry season in south-east Queensland to extended until November. This differs from a normal season that would usually see excessively hot and humid days put an end to the winter season in October. The above average temperatures seen in late winter and early spring…

Blueberries from Jalisco exported to US, Canada and Japan

Jalisco is the main Mexican blueberry producer of and many of the fruits harvested there will be exported to the US, Canada and Japan. Its sales abroad reached a value of 490 million dollars and an average annual growth rate of 15.5%, with the United States being the main destination for Mexican exports…

University of Maryland scientists work on heat resistant apples

University of Maryland scientists have developed red and yellow varieties of apples that are heat resistant, which will become increasingly important as the planet continues to warm. Professor Emeritus Chris Walsh, who helped to develop the apples: “These apples were bred for direct-to-consumer sales.…

Blueberries are likely to remain expensive for a while yet

According to EastFruit analysts, on the sidelines of the Global Berry Congress held in the Netherlands on November 28, 2023, the prospects for blueberry pricing were actively discussed, given the unprecedentedly high level of prices in the current season. Let us recall that the main reason for high…

"Our fresh, organic herbs are 100% Belgian, year-round"

Last year, high energy prices meant there was little supply from those countries' greenhouses, so supermarkets had to switch to imports from Southern Europe. How are things looking this year? We approached ALDI Belgium for more insight into their supplies and strategies for the upcoming winter season. Aldi…

Photo report: Global Berry Congress

Despite a significant surge in input costs, particularly in labor, the pricing of berries has not kept pace, placing substantial pressure on profit margins in the global berry industry. Further complicated by climate challenges and extreme weather conditions, the industry is actively seeking a more…

“The rate of high-quality Sichuan Anyue lemons has increased, but the current price is not as good as expected.”

Lemons from Anyue in Sichuan, China started to be harvested in October. The weather was ideal and it is now the golden harvesting period. China Sichuan BonThai Lemon Co., Ltd. is mainly engaged in the cultivation, processing, storage and export trade of Anyue lemons. According to Mr. Liao Chengjun, the…

Dreamstime

Save Foods continues to yield good results with its solution for Cuties in third consecutive season

Save Foods, Inc., an agri-food tech leader, is proud to announce, as reported before, that its solution was recently chosen, once again, by Sun Pacific for use on Cuties® clementines, marking the third consecutive season that Sun Pacific has chosen Save Foods’ solution to treat its clementines. Sun…

"Egyptian exporters must focus on quality this season"

Citrus volumes in Egypt this season are "very abundant, in sufficient quantities to privilege the export of high-quality fruit" says Muhammad Shaker, marketing manager of the grower and exporter Almansi. Shaker says, "The cultivated areas are very large and there will be no worries about quantity this year.…

6th Biofruit Congress confirms rebound in growth of organic market

The 6th international congress on organic demand, sustainability and innovation was hosted by Eurofresh Distribution and IFEMA during Fruit Attraction on October 3rd, 2023.…

Dreamstime

Leafy greens may decrease risk of bowel cancer

According to new research, co-led by Dr Konstantinos Tsilidis from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London. Increasing the amount of folate through our diet or taking supplements could help to reduce bowel cancer risk. It suggests that increasing the intake of folate – which can be found…

UK fresh produce POS data service provides exclusive in-store information

A comprehensive, regular, and reliable data service for sellers of fresh and frozen produce has been relaunched to enable access to images and information that can only be discovered in UK stores. British Growers Insights is the UK’s largest and most up to date fresh and frozen produce point of sale data…

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Self-driving technologies could revolutionize UK agriculture

By 2030, the government of the United Kingdom intends to invest a large sum of up to £150 million in order to improve the country's capacity for self-driving technology. The development of Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) is the focus of a large amount of this investment, which is expected to have…

Is apple juice replacing orange juice?

The drop in the production of oranges is leading to a significant increase in the price of concentrated juice. Over the past few weeks, as reported by investire.biz, the historic level of USD 4.19 per lb were reached, the highest since 1996 when the future contracts on frozen concentrated orange juice began to be traded in the New York Stock Exchange. This should lead to a hi…

Evergreen invests out over US$222 million on containers and reefer equipment

Taiwanese mainline operator Evergreen Marine Corporation will spend more than US$222 million on more equipment; it will buy 60,000 dry containers, 7,000 reefer containers, 7,000 reefer generators and 800 special containers. The company has stated it needs to replace older boxes and meet growing demand to…

FSAI recalls frozen vegetable product due to ‘possible foreign body contamination’

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has issued a notice that Tesco is recalling certain batches of Growers Harvest Garden Peas due to contamination fears. These products may contain an unknown type of berry which may make the product unsafe to eat. A notice read: "Tesco, on the advice of the Food Safety…

"Huge demand for Californian in-shell walnuts for Christmas"

The second Californian Diamond in-shell walnuts shipment has arrived at Tovano in the Netherlands. "The demand for these boxes grows annually and only increases towards Christmas," says Dillen Langenberg. Tovano gets these inshell walnuts in their familiar 25 kg boxes. "The Diamond stamp is often…

"Cellulose nets will also gain a foothold in the conventional sector"

In addition to trays and bags made from paper and cardboard, other packaging solutions made from alternative, resource-saving materials are also rapidly gaining in importance. At expoSE 2023, for example, the ecological, nature-based cellulose nets from NaturNetz GmbH were honored with the Innovation…

“Compostable plastic packaging can change the produce market and the world”

It is clear that plastic waste is damaging to our planet and to human health. Scientists have found plastic waste almost everywhere on earth, where it disrupts ecosystems, contributes to climate change and threatens human health. “But, how to reduce this waste continues to be a major challenge, including…

Brazilians who depend on the Amazon to make a living are faced with worst drought in region’s history

Everyone in Brazil who depends on the Amazon and its tributaries to make a living — from family farmers like Lira to owners of riverside restaurants and leaders of multinational firms — is reeling from the worst drought in the region’s history. It’s another stressor on the already fragile health of the…

Can chopping fruit help computers learn?

University of Maryland computer science researchers are addressing a challenge in machine learning: teaching AI systems to recognize objects as they change shape, like sliced fruits. Their project, Chop & Learn, creates a dataset that enables these systems to identify produce in various states, including…