Pacific Trellis Fruit recalls Malichita Brand cantaloupes due to possible health risk

Pacific Trellis Fruit, LLC dba Dulcinea is initiating a voluntary recall of 4,872 cases of Malichita brand whole cantaloupe. The voluntary recall is due to the FDAs ongoing investigation of an outbreak involving Malichita brand cantaloupe. The cantaloupes are potentially contaminated with Salmonella. The…

"Delayed bell pepper plantings this season could lead to less watermelon being planted in spring"

We are currently in the middle of the vegetable season in Almeria, but the watermelon planting is going to start in some areas of Almeria in just a matter of weeks, and those plantings will determine the size of the supply which will start reaching the European markets in mid-April. "Besides bell…

Queensland bananas and melons make groundbreaking voyage to Japan market

Queensland-grown bananas and melons have been shipped to Japan, in an Australia-first trial aimed at breaking into the potentially lucrative Japanese market. The red-wax-tipped Ecoganic® bananas, grown in north Queensland by Pacific Coast Produce, have been sent to a banana tasting and promotion event in…

CF Dallas, LLC, recalls select Fresh-Cut Fruit products due to possible Salmonella contamination

CF Dallas, LLC is voluntarily recalling select fresh-cut products made from whole cantaloupe subject to a previously announced product recall initiated by Sofia Produce, LLC dba Trufresh due to potential Salmonella contamination. All CF Dallas fresh-cut fruit products associated with the recalled whole…

Sofia Produce expands fresh cantaloupe recall because of possible Salmonella risk

Sofia Produce, LLC of Nogales, Arizona, which does business under the name “Trufresh” has expanded its recall of all sizes of fresh cantaloupes packaged in cardboard containers labeled with the “Malichita” label, and also labeled with the “Rudy” label to include all cantaloupes sold between the dates of…

USDA announces appointments to the National Watermelon Promotion Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the appointment of nine members to serve on the National Watermelon Promotion Board. The appointees from District 1, Importers and Public Member will serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2024, and expires on Dec. 31, 2026. The newly appointed members are: District…

Various brands of Fresh Cut Fruit recalled due to Salmonella

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says whole and pre-cut cantaloupes have caused dozens of cases of salmonella infection, including 17 hospitalizations, in 15 states and in Canada. The most recent illnesses in the outbreak began November 6. A total of 43 cases have been reported, the…

Weakening Shilling leads to increase in fruit prices

The weakening of the Kenyan shilling has led to an increase in fruit prices along the Kenya-Uganda border. The fluctuating supply of fruits from Uganda has also played a role in the rising costs. Various fruits, including watermelon, bananas, pawpaws, and pineapples, have seen price hikes. For instance,…

Trufresh expands recall of all sizes of fresh cantaloupes

Trufresh has expanded its recall of all sizes of fresh cantaloupes packaged in cardboard containers labeled with the “Malichita” label, to include the following additional sales order numbers distributed between October 16, 2023 and October 23, 2023 because they have the potential to be contaminated with…

Vinyard Fruit and Vegetable Company recalls fresh-cut cantaloupe

Vinyard Fruit and Vegetable Company, located in Oklahoma City, OK, has initiated a voluntary recall of all fresh-cut cantaloupe products listed below because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Due to the 11/8/2023 recall of fresh, whole cantaloupes by Sophia Foods, LLC (DBA…

Moroccan Government further restricts watermelon production

The government of Morocco is taking further measures to restrict watermelon production in an effort to conserve dwindling water resources. In the province of Zagora, a key area for watermelon cultivation, the governor has issued a decision limiting the maximum areas allowed for watermelon cultivation to…

Devastating losses after a hailstorm caused an estimated $30 million in crop damage

Farmers in south-east Queensland's Lockyer Valley are facing devastating losses after a hailstorm caused an estimated $30 million in crop damage and an additional $20 million in infrastructure damage. The storm, with hail and wind described as "intense" and covering about five kilometers, wreaked havoc…

Japan proves to be a lucrative market for Queensland melon grower

Queensland grower Shaun Jackson has found success in Japan with his unique melon varieties, sending 250,000 melons to the country this year. Focusing on niche varieties like golden emperor and golden pearl, which are recognized as honeydews, Jackson has cultivated a growing demand for these fruits in…

Krasnoyarsk Territory imported more than 20.000 tons of imported fruits and vegetables

In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, more than 20 thousand tons of imported fruits and vegetables have been imported since the beginning of this year, according to specialists from…

Sofia Produce, LLC DBA Trufresh recalls fresh cantaloupe

Sofia produce LLC, of Nogales, Arizona which does business under the name “Trufresh” is recalling all sizes of fresh cantaloupes packaged in cardboard containers labeled with the “Malichita” label, sold under the following sales order numbers between October 16, 2023 and October 23, 2023 because they…

“We will be looking at the market, evolution of household consumption, and research projects in production"

On December 7th, 2023, the French melon sector will gather at the CTIFL center in Balandran for the French National Melon Day. Operators have not met at CTIFL since 2006, when the last melon day was held. This year, 150 participants are expected to attend “the large-scale national meeting,” from both…

New Red Label melon

A new melon has just been awarded the Red Label certification, “following publication of the approval by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty and the French Ministry of Economy, on October 21st, 2023,” as announced by INAO on October 25th. This is the second melon to be awarded the Red Label. © Vendée Qualité…

Egypt’s skyrocketing exports to Saudi Arabia in 2023

Egypt has already managed to double its export volumes of melons to the Saudi Arabian market in just the first eight months of this year, reports EastFruit. This increase in shipments includes both watermelons and melons, with the latter expected to continue rising until the end of the year. From January…

Melon pricing becoming more movement-friendly

Supply of cantaloupe and honeydew melons is improving out of Yuma, Arizona. “We’re getting into some better supply,” says Tom Conrado of Classic Fruit Company. “We had some pest issues that put a lot of pressure on harvest in the first 10 days two weeks of the beginning of the fall program. Right now…

Bayer and Capogreco Farms partner with OrangeCandy melon

Bayer has chosen Capogreco Farms as its new exclusive partner for the Australian production and sale of OrangeCandy® melons, for domestic and export markets. OrangeCandy is an…

Spanish melon exports have been decreasing for 5 campaigns in a row

According to an analysis carried out by Hortoinfo based on data from the Estacom statistical service (Icex-Tax Agency), Spanish melon exports have decreased by 29.2% from the…

Hami melon alliance to advance its development in China

On Monday, a Hami melon industry alliance was established at a conference in Beijing, focusing on ways to drive the high-quality development of the fruit. The melon is a…

Muskmelons from Japan seized at Taiwanese border due to pesticide residues

Shipments of muskmelons from Japan have been seized at Taiwan's border, after being found to contain excessive pesticide residues. The 56 kilograms of muskmelons, imported by…

Weather increases watermelon consumption, sales also in the Middle East

"The high quality and durability of the melons have allowed us to manage the fruit well in this generally good campaign, although in our country we have been affected by periods of oversupply, coinciding with the drop in consumption in the north of the country, due to the wet weather and the consequent…

“The watermelon market has become more polarized this year.”

In the past two years, watermelon prices have become increasingly unstable, which is reflected in the high price increase in spring and the rapid price decline from July to September, showing an unprecedented degree of polarization. Shanxi Yurun Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. is a service provider…

Melon prices in Uzbekistan continue to grow rapidly

A week ago, on October 10, 2023, EastFruit wrote about a sharp increase in wholesale prices for melon, which was the largest weekly change and a sharp increase in prices for this product over the past two and a half months. Over the past week, prices for these products continued to rise even faster.…

Tropical Storm Hilary delays start on Mexican squash and watermelon

Hard squash and watermelon supply out of Mexico have gotten a late start this fall. “Our fall season on these items is about two weeks behind normal,” says Lesley Sykes of The Sykes Co. “That’s mostly due to the high winds brought by Tropical Storm Hilary this summer.” The Sykes Co.’s supply of hard…

“We want to offer our European partners a continuous supply of Galia with consistent flavor and quality”

Takii Europe is presenting a new concept in the Galia melon segment with the Kameleon brand. "With Kameleon, we wanted to bring back the flavor and aroma of the traditional Galia, which has been gradually lost as the long-life type, which has a longer shelf life, has been gaining ground on the supermarket shelves," explains Jaime Dols. "What the varieties marketed under this n…

Last season’s demand means great supply of melons this winter

Super Starr International, a papaya and melon grower, shipper and processor, announces promotable volumes available for cantaloupe, honeydew and Hami melons starting in January. “We had a great season last year and based on retailer demand, we’ve planted to ensure an even better season this winter,” said…

Peru reels from impact El Niño as blueberry prices soar

High temperatures caused by the El Niño phenomenon are suffocating the supply of Peruvian blueberries. Abnormally high temperatures in Peru's producing regions have delayed…

Farms in Indiana implicated in recent cantaloupe outbreak, but FDA has not named them

The FDA says the outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections linked to three farms in Indiana is over, but the agency has not named the farms. The melon farms were also linked…

Less acreage but clean fall melon crop in Yuma

The transition on cantaloupes and honeydew melons has begun from northern California to Yuma, Arizona. “Monday was our first harvest on fall cantaloupes and we just finished up northern California watermelons last week and started in Mexico this week as well,” says Daren Van Dyke of Brawley, CA-based…

"This year's low prices do not respond to the quality of the product, which has been excellent"

"The campaign began with good prospects due to the rains in May, the reduced harvest in Murcia and Almeria, and the high prices at the beginning of the campaign. The prices…

"With this weather, melons sell well even without promotions"

The beautiful fall weather is boosting melon sales. "That just goes to show how weather-dependent melon consumption is. It's boosted sales throughout Europe," says Leon van den Hombergh of the Dutch company Frankort&Koning. "The Southern European product was off the market quickly due to good demand, and…

Sweden switching to European origins on fruit and veg as 2023 winter season looms

The Swedish market is busy switching to European supply origins as it readies for winter for a range of fruits and vegetables that include citrus while switching to South…

Hungarian watermelons ended well, but mixed 2023 season

Hungary's 2023 watermelon season, which has just ended, was mixed for growers around the country but overall described as good. "The season started late, while a mixture of colder weather and rain in some parts of the country dampened demand," says László Sándor, a melon expert from BASF Vegetable Seeds…

“We had a great start to the Brazilian melon season with a 35% volume increase”

The Brazilian melon export season started really well for Agricola Famosa with a 35% volume increase compared to the same time last season. Carlo Porro, CEO of Agricola Famosa: “We had a great start of the Brazilian season, quality and productiveness are fantastic. Famosa volumes have increased by 35% in…

Okanagan company adds ‘watermelon smash’ activity to corn maze

Kelowna Fruit-N-Veggies has reopened the largest corn maze in the Okanagan Valley at the end of August. Junior partner Dominique Coulombe: "Last year we just had the one path, which was about an hour and a half. This year we have the standard path that we added. It's like other corn mazes in the area.…

Australian melon industry presents facts after 'uncalled' for hype on prices

The Australian melon industry is calling for a stop to the media scaremongering of consumers about the current price of watermelon. In recent days watermelon prices have been…

The watermelon season has ended in Ukraine

Most Ukrainian producers completed the watermelon sales season this week, EastFruit project analysts report. At the same time, key market players note that this year the…

Lipman appoints new head of watermelon sales

Lipman is thrilled to announce the appointment of Doug Miller as the new head of watermelon sales. With 22 years of experience in the produce sales sector and a deep-rooted history with Lipman, Miller is set to lead the charge in amplifying the company's watermelon distribution across the East Coast.…

DataLiner

Brazilian melon exports surge in August, driven by European demand

Brazilian melon exports for the 2023/24 season kicked off at a brisk pace in August, resulting in a notable increase in shipments compared to the same month last year. According to data released by the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex), the volume exported in August reached approximately 5,910 tonnes,…

Prices of watermelons in Australia skyrocket as summer approaches

The cost of watermelons has skyrocketed in Australia. Coles and Woolworths are selling whole watermelons for $36 and $34.32 respectively, pointing to weather patterns in the…

Time, color and flavor are the three defining points of the new varieties

"A solar system where time has no limits? Pallets of vegetables with multiple colors? A trip to Japan to discover their flavors? Sakata will be attending Fruit Attraction, aiming to surprise everyone through the senses with its latest innovations in plant breeding. Under the slogan 'Seeds to feed your…

Positive watermelon campaign coming to an end

The volumes of watermelons handled this year by Agrieuropa, a company located in Terracina (Latina), reached 35 thousand tons. The campaign is now coming to an end. "It has been a good campaign from a commercial point of view, with a lively market and satisfactory prices. We cannot say the same from a production…

Pests detected in melons and tomatoes from Uzbekistan

During a quarantine phytosanitary control on September 18 and 19, Rosselkhoznadzor officials for the Orenburg region found quarantine pests in four batches of fresh melons…

Watermelons still quite expensive in Australia

Watermelons are being sold at Coles for $4.50 a kilo. Woolworths is selling the fruit for $3.90 per kilo, with prices varying slightly from state to state. Domestic suppliers…

Pricing picking up on California melons

Supplies of cantaloupe and honeydew melons out of California look to be tightening up. “This week, there’s a change in the industry. We’re now getting a few more calls from other shippers asking if we have extra volume after covering our commitments and contracts to help them cover their commitments,”…

EastFruit

Uzbekistan to exceed 100,000 tons of watermelon exports for the first time

EastFruit experts have repeatedly drawn attention to Uzbekistan’s rapid increase fresh watermelon exports in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, the country exported 81.8 thousand tons of watermelons, which became a historical record, beating the previous one by 67%. In 2023 Uzbekistan has already exceeded this…

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Quarantine pests found in melon and tomato shipments from Uzbekistan in the Orenburg region

On September 18 and 19, officials of the territorial department of Rosselkhoznadzor, identified quarantine pests in four batches of fresh melons received from Uzbekistan. Namely: the polyphagous humpback fly (Megaselia scalaris) and the melon fly (Myiopardalis pardalina). The total volume of contaminated…

“Throughout September, we will continue supplying Spanish watermelons to all our customers ”

The demand for watermelons has been reactivated in Europe, as temperatures have reached over 30 degrees in much of the continent, giving a boost to the Spanish open ground watermelon campaign at this time when, despite the approaching end of the season, there is still a significant supply available.…

"Next season, we want to introduce Limelon to the French, Spanish, and Portuguese markets"

The 2023 melon season will make history as the most erratic, says Hans van den Heuvel of the Dutch company HillFresh International. That is due to the harsh weather conditions. "Despite that, we're delighted with how our Limelon performed this year," he begins. HillFresh introduced this surprisingly sweet-tasting…

"We sold out of everything."

Despite a lower average yield, a late start to the harvest and lower sales, the watermelon season in Sardinia seems to have been positive. Salvatore Lotta (pictured below), commercial director of Agricola Campidanese, a growers' organization under the L'Orto di Eleonora brand, shares his opinion on the past season. "There are…

Spain is no longer the EU's top melon supplier after sales plummeted by 45.96%

According to data compiled by Hortoinfo from the statistical services of Euroestacom (ICEX-Eurostat), Spain is no longer the leading supplier of melons to European Union…

World's most expensive melons still fetching high prices at auction

While melons in the market or supermarket should not break the bank, there's one variety that may leave you astounded by its price. This unique melon is exclusively grown in Japan and goes by the name "Yubari King." It's believed to be the world's priciest fruit, cultivated solely in Yubari city on…

Myanmar exported over 113,000 tons of watermelon to China in first eight months of 2023

According to the Fruit Commodity Exchange at Muse border post, watermelons exported from Myanmar to China via border trade route amounted to over 113,000 tons between January…

The Lebanese fresh produce sector will be in the spotlight in the coming weeks

Last September, Piet Schotel of the Center for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) and Fresh Publishers manager, Pieter Boekhout, took a work trip to Moldova. They visited some 15 fruit growers in this small European country, wedged between Ukraine and Romania. You can read all about…

Good prices for Peruvian blueberries in China

The early lower and delayed volumes of Peruvian blueberries is not all bad news as prices in the China market are trending higher. Following last week’s Asia Fruit Logistica, Alejandro Sanhueza, Director of blueberry sales and operational planning for Agrovision Peru, could visit markets and see prices…

Texas A&M University research suggests that watermelons may have the same properties as Viagra

Thanks to their vibrant colors and sweet flavor, watermelons are a symbol of the summer season. However, according to a study released by scientists at Texas A&M University,…

The exports of summer fruits and vegetables decreased by 9.3% in Greece

The harvest of summer fruits and vegetables in Greece proceeded at a faster pace compared to last year. The volumes of fresh produce exports decreased by 9.3% compared to the…

The incredibly priced watermelons from Japan

The Densuke watermelon, cultivated in Japan, is often referred to as the black watermelon. What sets these watermelons apart is their unique cultivation process. They are…

Xinjiang farmers enjoy bumper harvest of Hami melons

More than 2,600 hectares of Hami melons has recently entered harvest season in Naomaohu Town of Yiwu County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The town is…

Pecém's fresh fruit export season has started

Last Friday, the 2023/2024 season for exporting fresh fruit through the Pecém Port Terminal. The initial shipment was 2,500 tons and included melons, watermelons, mangoes and…