Rabobank

Blueberry, grape and stone fruit prices higher as weather irregularities affect availability

In their North American Agribusiness Review, experts from the Rabobank have assessed strawberry shipping-point prices are around USD 10 per flat for non-organic product (-47% YOY) during the first half of October, as shipments from California continue steady. Blueberry production and exports out of Peru…

British Berry Growers launches campaign and policy board to ensure a sustainable future

British Berry Growers, the industry body representing 95% of the UK’s commercial soft fruit growers, has announced the formation of a Campaign and Policy board to advocate for the industry’s pressing needs. It is chaired by Anthea McIntyre CBE, a former member of European Parliament where she served on the…

Sweet Karoline blackberries arriving late December

Although smaller in size, Sweet Karoline® blackberries pack a big flavor punch. The variety is a little blackberry that is primed to put more blackberries in more households. With blackberries trailing their berry counterparts (raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries) in household penetration,…

Senasa Peru authorizes entry of 75,000 blueberry plants from Chile

The National Agrarian Health Service of Peru (Senasa) authorized the entry into the country of 75,000 blueberry plants of origin and origin from Chile. Three shipments will be made during December 2023 and under the responsibility of the company Agrícola Santa Azul SRL. For this purpose, shipments must…

"Limited supply drives strawberry prices up"

It is quiet on Brussels' early market. Groothandel Michel nv, specializing in strawberries, awaits December's larger volumes. "We can sell, but the summer crop has almost completely run out. The Sonatas from the winter crop are starting to trickle in, but there aren't large volumes yet," says Stefan…

"Weather extremes affect the whole supply chain"

The berry industry has seen rapid growth, but the future can be a fragile thing. With input costs for growers rising, weather extremes affecting the whole chain, and inflation impacting consumers' expenses, the market is challenging. However, with input costs stabilizing and the consumers' appetite not…

"Peruvian blueberry prices rebounded because of the low supply"

According to commercial consultant Aurora Bazán, the atypical weather, with temperatures of approximately five degrees Celsius above historical averages, had an impact on the…

In Israel, strawberries have surged to 29,3 euro per kilogram and above

In Israel, strawberries have surged to 29,3 euros per kilogram and above, prompting a notable supermarket chain owner, Rami Levi, to refuse to sell the beloved berries at such…

"The pandemic and inflation have made people realize that frozen fruit is a fully-fledged product"

In times when logistics chains are increasingly disrupted, but quality must remain high, frozen products are sometimes considered a good alternative to fresh produce. So says Pieter Delbaere of Crop's. "Especially since the pandemic, frozen fruit is increasingly seen as a full-fledged, affordable product…

“Berries are booming in Canada”

"Strawberries grown indoors are hot and trending in Canada. There's a lot of buzz around it, however, we still have to wait and see what is truly going to be realized in the end. Globally, there're a lot of new berry projects to stimulate local production of berries," says Alexandre van Deun, Co-founder of Vertiberry, a Belgian…

Climate change poses a direct threat to the Peruvian blueberry industry

Climate change poses a direct threat to the Peruvian blueberry industry and other countries' fruit markets globally. The industry has experienced adverse meteorological effects, leading to crop destruction, slowed production processes, and reduced yields. Intense rains, hail, and high radiation rates…

"Warm September created Belgian strawberry supply gap"

The Belgian strawberry supply is currently lagging slightly. Lit cultivation has yet to get well and truly underway, and the fall crops are genuinely coming to an end. Also at the Demedts - Demey nursery. "We still have some standing, but not as much as other years," begins Benoit Demedts. Benoit grows strawberries…

Like Peru, Chile will also see less blueberry volume this season

The supply of blueberries in North America is looking good with product coming right now from both Peru and Argentina. In addition to those countries, Chile is also getting started with its blueberry supply. “There is about 30 percent less volume from Peru this year vs last year,” says Katiana Valdes, marketing…

Top tier prices again for South African blueberries

“You get to know blueberry trends but this year I had to throw my blueberry marketing manual, with all the trends and the statistics, out the door,” says Tiaan Rossouw, managing director of Rainbow Superfood, a berry exporter.Exactly a year ago Tiaan told FreshPlaza that he didn’t know how farmers would…

USDA

US cranberry production down 5 percent in 2023 forecast

US cranberries are harvested in autumn, just in time for the holiday season. The 2023 US cranberry crop is forecast to be 7.62 million barrels, down 5.4 percent from the previous year, but equal to the 2020–22 average. The top-producing state, Wisconsin, typically harvests around 60 percent of the annual…

Surprisingly, Zimbabwe becomes a global leader in blueberry export growth

EastFruit analysts draw attention to an unexpected fact – currently the world leader in the growth rate of blueberry exports is a country that is better known for its record breaking hyperinflation rates and poverty. However, this country was once very rich and had a highly developed agriculture, so its…

Ecuador’s blueberry industry is the 'new kid on the block' with 52 weeks supply advantage

In only its third season of blueberry exports to some world markets Ecuador’s industry is the proverbial 'new kid on the block', with the advantage of having 52 weeks supply available. According to Ing. Sebastian Muñoz, from the Ecuadorian Federation of Blueberry Producers and Exporters, (FEPEXA)…

New solution adds value and ease to machine-harvested blueberries

The global trend towards the machine harvesting of blueberries has brought challenges. Although machine harvesters are faster and less costly than manual picking, they also harvest debris and fruit clusters which cause disruption on packhouse production lines. Machines also harvest unwanted green and red…

Ukrainian berry growers must invest in cooling

The berry business in Ukraine continues to be a promising direction in the agricultural sector. Despite significant capital investments in recent years, producers have reaped substantial profits. Andriy Marushchak, the commercial director of "Van Dijk Technics," specializing in berry storage and…

"Clients are fighting over the first Egyptian strawberries"

Yesterday, the first shipment of Egyptian strawberries arrived at Bij LuBa Fresh in the Netherlands. "They barely touched the ground. Customers fought over them; I even had to turn some away, but fortunately, we got another load today," says Lucien de Wit. "The minimal Dutch supply contributes and demand…

"Up to 4,000 boxes of strawberries shipped weekly to domestic customers"

The high prices of strawberries in late fall have confirmed the predictions of Loris Gentile, managing director of the Gentile Group, who warned in one of our articles in early September that transplants of early varieties would be down by 50 percent. Current crop situation - bare root plants "After several years…

Strawberries are increasingly a greenhouse crop

Strawberry farming has noticeably shifted from open to covered cultivation in recent years. Along with tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers, strawberries are now a fully-fledged greenhouse crop. There are notable expansion projects with high-tech glass greenhouses. For several reasons, that is, however,…

South Africa's blueberry industry faces significant challenges

South Africa's burgeoning blueberry industry is encountering significant challenges due to weather disruptions, port delays, and power outages, while neighboring countries like Zimbabwe are rapidly expanding their blueberry production. Delays in ports are negatively impacting the industry, leading to…

South Korean Keumsil strawberries quite popular overseas

Keumsil is a strawberry variety developed by the Gyeongnam Agricultural Research & Extension Services in 2016. According to K-Berry, the organization for Korean strawberry exporters, the export value of strawberries in the first half of this year reached $49,970,680, accounting for 90% of the total…

Revised Chilean blueberry estimate issued

The Chilean Blueberry Committee, together with iQonsulting, have updated their export estimate for the 2023-2024 season, forecasting exports of 76,500 tons of fresh blueberries. This new figure reflects a decrease of 7% compared to the first estimate made in October, and a decrease of 13% from 2022-23.…

Moroccan blueberries will arrive in North America early December

For the very first time, US-based Frutta Group will be sourcing blueberries in Morocco this winter. “We’ve made a collaboration agreement with Grupo Cheers Portugal who is experienced in growing and importing blueberries from Morocco,” says Juan Eduardo Sainz of Frutta Group. “Morocco has quicky become…

“Blueberries are going through a transition in Mexico”

Former president of the National Association of Berry Exporters of Mexico (Aneberries), José Luis Bustamante, now serves as the executive responsible for Naturberry SA de CV, (subsidiary company of Naturipe Berry Growers) dedicated to the marketing of fresh strawberries. The fruit is destined both for…

Obstbau Blum

"There were many factors this year that were rather unusual"

Fruit producer Marcel Blum on marketing his redcurrants:"There were many factors this year that were rather unusual"This year's soft fruit season at Obsthof Blum in Zülpich ends with the processing and delivery of the last redcurrants from CA long-term storage in week 45. "We can look back on a strong…

Azerbaijan remains a key supplier of tomatoes, persimmons, apples, cherries, and berries to Russia

According to materials from the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), the head of the organization, Sergey Dankvert, visited Azerbaijan on a working visit from November 15 to 17. As of October 29, 2023, Azerbaijan's agricultural exports to Russia…

Deep Fake

Special cranberry beer for Thanksgiving

Cranberry beer is becoming an innovative addition to Thanksgiving tables in New Jersey, leveraging the state's status as a top cranberry producer. Craft breweries, focusing on local ingredients, are turning to cranberries, which flourish in the state's acidic, boggy soil. Toms River Brewing, prioritizing…

Peru’s blueberry industry already wondering about El Niño effect for next season

The peak of Peru’s blueberry harvest has started, according to an exporter, as the latest statistics up to week 45 (6-12 November 2023) shows conventional volumes down by 51% and organic 61% lower compared to last season. Their saving grace this year are higher prices that will help to cushion the…

USDA

Movement of blueberries from Peru expected to remain about the same

This year, consumers are expected to pay a little more for their Thanksgiving dinner when compared to last year. Although 2023 estimates are not yet available, the Consumer Price Index shows food at home prices up 2.4% this year. A year ago, the average cost for 10 people was around $64.05. Labor and…

"We have a shift system in place between customers"

For the OP Zuccarella cooperative, the new strawberry season has been underway for about two weeks now. Supply and demand are currently unbalanced. There is a strong demand for the product from both Italian and foreign operators, according to sales manager Luca Zuccarella. "The quantities are gradually increasing.…

Favourable market for South African blueberries

“Blueberries in Europe are expensive, and that’s a good thing: there is limited availability, with Peru being down by as much as 40%, and they’ve passed their seasonal peak,” says Elzette Schutte, operations manager at BerriesZA, the South African berry industry organization.“From our side, we’ve ended…

Raspberry demand benefits from shorter category supplies

Raspberry supply has been steady for the last few weeks and is about to pick up. “At North Bay, we’re expecting our supply to increase over the next two to three weeks. We’re looking at promotional type volume from now through the month of December,” says Sarah Quackenbush of North Bay Produce. Right now,…

Zimbabwe's horticultural sector is seeing recovery due to investment

Zimbabwe's horticultural sector, severely affected by violent land seizures two decades ago, is experiencing a recovery driven by increased investment. The industry is aiming to achieve $1 billion in exports by 2030, according to the Horticultural Development Council (HDC). In 1999, Zimbabwe's…

"Italian blueberry production up in 2023 and to increase in 2024"

In these days of mid-autumn, at the Sant'Orsola cooperative, the evaluation of the 2023 harvest and the forecasts for 2024 are overlapping. The focus is on the blueberry that the cooperative produces from the north to the south of Italy, on the farms of its 800 members. The strategies adopted will allow…

Defining the sensory profiles of fresh berries

This case study highlights strawberries, but a similar approach can be applied to other berry types (e.g., blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc.). The experimentOver five sessions in June and July 2023, we created a descriptive lexicon for fresh strawberries, including a list of sensory…

Brexit boosts Moroccan blueberry sales to the UK, leaving Spain behind

Morocco continues to conquer the UK market at an accelerated pace. According to EastFruit, a record volume of Moroccan blueberries was delivered to the UK market in the current season. Moreover, Morocco managed to surpass one of the largest exporters of this product – Spain – in terms of blueberry…

Weathering El Niño with new berry varieties

Due to El Niño, the yearly warm ocean current appearing along the Peruvian coast around December, Peruvian blueberry production is down by more than 50%, leaving a gap in the world markets, leading to higher prices in general. Since the phenomenon occurs on a yearly basis, finding the right way to deal with…

Stronger domestic blueberry season anticipated for 2024

Blueberries are top of mind given the shortages the retail shelves have seen this fall, though that’s largely to do with the shorter supply from import countries such as Peru. Kasey Cronquist, president of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council and the North American Blueberry Council, shares what lies…

250,000 packs of frozen berries and smoothies recalled due to hepatitis A contamination

More than a quarter of a million packages of frozen berries and smoothies are under recall by the Oregon Potato Company because of hepatitis A contamination. About half of the products were distributed to Walmart stores under the chain’s Great Value brand label. All of the products have best-by dates in…

"Prices have more than doubled at times"

Due to considerable bottlenecks, the supply situation on the global blueberry market is currently quite tense. "The quantities in Peru are not available, which is due to the massive harvest losses caused by El Niño. To make matters worse, the majority of available blueberries are shipped to the USA,…

Smooth progression of strawberry production in Larache

Moroccan strawberry growers are gearing up for the harvest soon, in December. Zniker Omar, owner of Souir Berry and soft fruit producer based in Larache, comments on the progress of production. Zniker says, "We're getting ready to harvest and start exporting in December. Everything's going well so far,…

"This blueberry season has been an eye-opener"

The past few weeks have been very challenging for blueberry suppliers, traders and packers because the volumes from both Peru and South Africa simply weren't there. "Blueberries remained very much in demand in the market, so there has been a bizarre price situation for quite some time," said Robbert…

Western Australia blueberry farm plans big expansion

Western Berry a blueberry farm in Western Australia is gearing up for substantial growth, aiming to quadruple in size over the next five years due to rising demand for larger blueberries. Initially an olive farm, the family-owned Western Berry company, founded in 2012 by Derek Fisher, shifted its focus…

"The strawberry campaign will be delayed in Huelva and the raspberry volumes won't recover until January"

The start of the strawberry campaign is still a few weeks away in Huelva, where unusually high temperatures during the fall caused a significant delay in the planting. Meanwhile, raspberry sales are underway, with prices that remain high due to the reduction in the supply caused by the wind storms of…

Blackberry supplies to increase as raspberries tighten up in near future

Raspberry and blackberry supplies are about to shift in the marketplace. Blackberries: “We were seeing a short supply of blackberries because of Central Mexico rains a few weeks ago impacting quality. So while some blackberries were available, some weren’t the right quality,” says Carlos Madariaga of Berries…

Sri Lanka to grow strawberries for export

The Agriculture Ministry has given approval for a strawberry cultivation project presented by a group of local investors with the intention of exporting the produce. Despite the high global demand for strawberries, there is currently minimal demand for locally grown strawberries due to the absence of…

HANS KUFFER Fruchthandel GmbH

"High demand for first Greek strawberries in England and Germany"

The Greek strawberry season is starting slightly late this year. "Fewer potted plants were planted this year. In general, it was possible to plant later this year because the young plants arrived later, and there were also quality problems with the late varieties. This, in turn, meant that these plants…

Climate change is affecting Egyptian fruit production, moving production windows

This summer in Egypt, extreme heat prompted the managers of a 40-hectare orchard in the Nile Delta to take extraordinary measures, such as wrapping each mango with paper and applying kaolin clay to oranges as a protective shield against the scorching temperatures. This summer has been declared the…

Strawberry and cucumber prices continue to rise

With the first cucumbers grown under lights on the market, the cucumber price continued to rise. The VBT average price for week 45 came to 81.7 euro cents each. A price almost…

"Egypt's strawberry production model is resilient to rising costs"

The general increase in strawberry production costs worldwide will strengthen the position of Egyptian growers, although production costs have doubled in Egypt too. This is according to Emad Mahdy, owner of Al Fayruz Nurseries, who recently embarked on the adventure of duplicating the Egyptian model in…

Much-needed blueberry supply coming on

After a tough few months, blueberry volume from Peru is increasing. “El Nino played a huge factor. In just our programs, we lost a significant amount of the fruit that we would typically see in the October early November window,” says Michael Giordano of Consalo Family Farms. On top of that, adding to…

Major damage to Brittany farms after Storm Ciaran

Thomas le Bot of EARL Le Bot gives an update on the damage to farms in Plougastel after storm Ciaran hit Brittany on the night of November 2nd to 3rd. Last Wednesday, Plougastel producers met with their municipality to begin the process of taking stock of the damage and compiling compensation claims.…

New Zealand's strawberry prices take unexpected dive

New Zealand's strawberry growers are facing unexpected challenges this season as prices have taken an earlier than usual dive, impacting profitability. Despite a promising start to the season with favorable weather conditions encouraging early ripening, aggressive pricing in the market has led to a race…

Tight availability for North American strawberries

Strawberry supply is tight right now in North America. “We have been picking out of the northern regions such as Salinas-Watsonville and Santa Maria but that’s coming to an end and we’re planting for next spring,” says Trent Etchandy with GEM Pack Berries. A newly planted strawberry field in Santa Maria…

British berry growers voice concerns over unsustainable supermarket practices

In a recent survey conducted by British Berry Growers, the organisation representing 95% of the UK's berry sales, it has emerged that a significant 80% of berry producers in Britain no longer perceive their relationship with UK supermarkets as a partnership.The survey revealed a stark absence of a…

Zimbabwe's blueberry producers eye Chinese market

After successfully exporting fresh citrus to China, Zimbabwean blueberry producers are now eyeing the expansive Chinese market for their berries. Clarence Mwale, the CEO of Fair-Mark, a company that supports exporters in meeting international sourcing requirements, emphasized the lucrative opportunities…

"Demand for strawberries is very high while volumes remain limited"

It's already time for strawberries in Basilicata. The abnormally mild fall weather has accelerated plant growth and the ripening of the fruits, hastening harvesting operations by two weeks. NSG 203 strawberries (Marimbella®) Sales manager Maria Ferrara from wholesaler Fe.Vi Frutta commented, "We started…

UK: Aeroponics cuts 5-month strawberry plant cultivation period to 5 weeks

"Many strawberry plant seedlings are unfortunately lost before they reach the planting out stage, this will help fruit growers reduce waste in the very early stages of plant growth," says Lily Manzoni, Head of R&D at LettUs Grow. A large portion of LettUs Grow's work is dedicated to exploring the…

Mixed emotions for Hawkes Bay fruit growers

Hawke's Bay, known as the fruit bowl of New Zealand, is gearing up for the summer berry season and the stone fruit harvest. However, this season holds mixed emotions for growers as they recover from a challenging 2022/23 season, which included the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle and unusually wet conditions.…

Blueberries Consulting

High prices for blueberry might remain until Christmas in the US

The sharp drop in production and export volume of the Peruvian blueberry industry in the current campaign has had a notable impact on the US market. As a consequence of this prices of the product have gone up sharply, almost doubling its value compared to the same date of the previous year. According to…

Blueberry shortage in US supermarkets

The El Niño weather pattern has really affected Peruvian blueberries, cutting the US supply roughly in half. Nearly half as many blueberries from Peru reached American stores last week, compared to the same week last year. The supply has dropped as much as 70% in the past month. Kasey Cronquist, the…

Early start to Florida strawberry season

The first flat of Florida strawberries was harvested in Plant City on Tuesday of this week. “We’ve never started this early,” says Matthew Giddings with Always Fresh Farms. It is a good window as volume from California has slowed down, and Mexico is slower to start up. Additionally, imports from Mexico…

"Today we are still replanting all the plants that were not doing well enough"

In the first week of November, some companies in Huelva had not yet finished planting strawberries on their farms. "Some nurseries have really delayed the start of the planting this year, in some cases, to mid-October, which is late for us," says Manuel Alfaro, manager of El Pilonar. "Moreover, we have again…

The most technologically advanced berry farm in Ukraine

During the war, entrepreneurs from Zaporizhzhia moved to Zakarpattia and opened Ukraine's most technologically advanced berry farm, where they grow strawberries and…

Florida may see more strawberry acreage this season

The Florida strawberry season will look to get underway around Thanksgiving. “We planted not too long ago, so we’ll get started around then with harvesting fruit,” says Justin Ennis of Ennis Farms Inc. “As far as the growing season, so far, everything’s going well. It’s not been too hot. We have also…

Poland imports less blueberries and are higher prices

The local blueberry season in Poland is nearly over, marked by a clear decrease in local berry availability compared to the same period last year. This scarcity is reflected…

From open-air to greenhouse: The strawberry story of the Low Countries

The Dutch area of covered strawberry cultivation in greenhouses and permanent tunnel greenhouses has almost doubled in 10 years. A steady increase in acreage can also be seen in Flanders. In recent years, Flemish statisticians consistently point to a shift in cultivation from open-air to covered…

"Strawberry market tide turned in early October"

In recent weeks, the Dutch soft fruit market has been characterized by strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry price fluctuations. The redcurrant market is far more stable, and blueberry prices, though falling, are still high. Sjraar Hulsman, Business Development Manager at Frankort&Koning, gives an overview of the market situation. Fall cultivation is done"The strawbe…

Georgia imported large volumes of blueberries from Ukraine

EastFruit analysts draw attention to an interesting and rather suspicious trend of a sharp increase in exports of Ukrainian blueberries to Georgia in 2023. The fact is that Georgia itself is rapidly increasing blueberry exports, and once again updated export records this year, increasing it four times…

Complex Peruvian blueberry campaign generates much debate

The future development of the Peruvian blueberry season will surely be a complex process, probably with some disagreements, but it will be very attractive and enriching for the entire global blueberry industry. These statements not only point to production volumes or export shipments but also to the…

How growers and shippers can tap into “Friendsgiving”

Is “Friendsgiving” emerging as a new holiday-related opportunity for producers and shippers? Absolutely, says Anne-Marie Roerink of 210 Analytics, LLC. While the concept of gathering friends around a Thanksgiving table could potentially be traced back to the idea being featured on shows such as Friends,…

Supply of jumbo blueberries will grow in coming weeks

Naturipe Farms, a farmer-owned berry producer and marketer, is excited to announce promotable volumes of its fresh, firm and flavorful jumbo blueberries, aptly named “Mighty Blues™.” Supplies will double and even triple over the coming weeks, which is great news for retailers who want to promote them and…

Hybrid farm harvests 500kg strawberries daily, triple that in 2024

"We've noticed a large demand from the market for strawberries, especially during the summer season. Unfortunately, the prices of imported strawberries have been incredibly volatile in the past five years, meaning that customers never know what they will pay for it on a weekly or even daily basis. This…

© Ruud Morijn | Dreamstime.com

Are seed-propagated strawberries the future?

In November, 2023, Sakata Seed Corporation will start an activity to commercialize F1 seed strawberry varieties suitable for greenhouse cultivation in the near future. Japanese strawberry varieties are highly praised internationally for their delicious flavor. However, Japanese strawberry varieties are…

'Emerging competitors altered the market dynamics, necessitating adaptation on Chile’s part'

The favorable climate and soil conditions in Chile have enabled the production of an array of blueberry species during the counter-season to Northern Hemisphere markets, which means it is a significant seasonal advantage. In the past, Chile found itself as a virtually solitary provider of counter-season…

Nine new soilless strawberry crops in southern Italy

New soilless strawberry crops that can be adjusted up to three levels have been completed in Basilicata, Calabria, and Puglia by Combimetal Carrera, the company that designs and manufactures such innovative systems that help workers during operations. Installation of a double-row system in Metaponto…

AMA

Satisfactory 2022 fruit harvest, previous year's level exceeded

The Austrian fruit harvest from commercial orchards in 2022 was far more satisfactory than in previous years despite periods of drought. After two smaller harvests, an above-average harvest of 244,300 tonnes and +26% compared to the previous year was recorded for the first time again. Most of the fruit…

Sakata fully enters the F1 strawberry seed business

Japanese strawberry varieties are highly appreciated internationally for their delicious taste. However, they are quite soft, which poses problems in storage and transportation. They can also affected by diseases, which vary from region to region. Sakata Seed Corporation started planning a strawberry…

“Generally this has been a bad 2023 season for Serbian blueberry growers”

Serbian blueberry growers lament a bad season of late spring rain and cooler summer weather that led to quality issues for the open field production during the 2023 harvest. Sladjana Vuković, CEO of the Serbian exporting company Srbovoće: “Generally, this has been a bad year for Serbian blueberry…

Blueberry cultivation advances in the region where the driest desert in the world is located

The Bioinnovation Center of the Faculty of Marine Sciences of the University of Antofagasta (CBIA), together with a group of farmers, was able to consolidate the blueberry…

Strawberry consumption may reduce dementia risk for middle-aged people

New research from the University of Cincinnati found that daily strawberry consumption could help reduce the risk of dementia for certain middle-aged populations. In 2022,…

Egypt's strawberry industry is recovering, but still suffers from rising costs

With the Egyptian strawberry campaign fast approaching, growers are gearing up in high spirits, while expecting a few complications. Abdullah ElRehiewy, CEO of Royal Foods, gives a behind-the-scenes account of the pre-campaign. Weather and phytosanitary conditions The climate was the culprit of last year's…

Last week’s rain slowed down Wisconsin growers, but not the cranberry harvest

Rain kept Wisconsin farmers out of the fields for much of the week, but it did help replenish soil moisture levels. Most of Wisconsin received at least one inch of rain last…

Blackcurrant and citrus extracts might help prevent type 2 diabetes

A team of European researchers has looked into the role of blackcurrant extracts in reducing blood sugar or glycemic levels after meals and investigated whether fruit fiber…

FreshPlaza Special on Blueberries

This month FreshPlaza will focus on blueberries. It has been said that blueberries are the new superfood. Production is continuing to grow worldwide and exports are increasing. Are you a grower, importer or exporter of blueberries then let us know what you think of the market just now. You can send us in…

Unusually high demand for fresh Egyptian strawberries ahead of the season opening

The eagerly awaited Egyptian strawberry season is about to begin. Elsayed Elgohary, strawberry producer and owner of Marvel Farm, shares his insights on the season kick-off. Elgohary told FreshPlaza, "The campaign should start soon. The first harvests are already made, but the quality is not yet at its…

Celebrating 20 years of cranberry partnership

Oppy and Ocean Spray® marked two decades of partnership in the U.S. this year, honoring their shared commitment to delivering cranberries to families across North America. The companies are seeing a very healthy growing season throughout the Pacific Northwest and Wisconsin, with volume increases expected…

Prices are "barbaric" for fresh berries in Belarus at the end of October

Despite autumn having long crossed its equator, Belarusian market stalls are still piled with fresh berries. While cranberries and grapes remain the main seasonal berries in…

"Our company will be an outstanding participant in the Morocco Berry Conference 2023"

"Sanjorge will participate at the Morocco Berries Conference 2023, which will be held in Agadir on November 9, 2023. Our company will be one of the outstanding participants in…

Berry grower invests in renewable energy

Wish Farms has completed a large solar project at its Plant City headquarters. “In many ways, farmers were the first environmentalists. They had to take care of the land so it would take care of them,” said PR manager Nick Wishnatzki. “We are proud to continue that tradition by utilizing 21st-century…

Wim de Weert has been growing strawberries in Portugal for the Dutch and French markets for 15 years

Fifteen years ago, Wim de Weert moved from the Netherlands to Portugal to run a strawberry farm (Rei de Morangos) ten kilometers north of Faro. "Originally, we grew the plants and sold them to Portuguese growers, but not much came of our advice. So, we started cultivating strawberries ourselves," he…

Approximately 2,000 hectares of berries hit by storm Bernard

Storm Bernard, which hit the Spanish province of Huelva last Sunday, has caused significant damage to the berry sector, with raspberries being the most affected product. The Association of Producers and Exporters of Strawberries and Berries from Huelva (Freshuelva) estimates that about 2,000 hectares of…

Videos show impact of storm Bernard on red fruits and berries in Morocco

Violent, sand-laden winds reaching speeds of up to 106 km hit Morocco's Atlantic coast, affecting crops, especially arboriculture and soft fruit. In Larache, the hardest-hit location, the winds swept away greenhouses and fruit. Zouhir Daissoria, from red fruit producer Rika, reviews the damage to red…

Peru's fresh blueberry campaign continues to lag far behind

The Peruvian fresh blueberry campaign is still well behind last season. "By this time last year, Peru was already exporting more than 20,000 tons of blueberry a week, a volume…

Rain and wind storm causes damage to berries, citrus and subtropical fruits in western Andalusia

Agroseguro has reported that storm Bernard, which hit Andalusia on October 22 with heavy rains and winds that reached 100 kilometers per hour in some municipalities in the…

Peruvian company commits to more resilient varieties of blueberries

In a context of reduced volumes of blueberries Peruvians impacted by climatic factors, the president and co-founder of Agrovisión, Steve Magami, maintained that his company…

Cranberry Marketing Committee applauds regional agricultural promotion program announcement

The U.S. cranberry industry celebrates the announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). RAPP will…

Strawberry prices may go up in India as acreage is dropping

Strawberries might be costlier this season starting from November, mainly because of a reduced acreage in the Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani hill stations of Satara. Babasaheb…

South African berry industry knows irrigation should be among its first considerations

The South African berry industry exports berries to the value of around R3 billion annually. Blueberries are one of the berries in high demand. Every year, blueberry farmers…

Income from the export of fruit and berry products from Ukraine decreased

The income from Ukraine's fruit and berry export has decreased for the first time in 2023. The total revenue declined by 30%, reaching 167 million dollars. The highest sales…

Berries Australia pushes back on proposed mandatory biosecurity levy

Berries Australia supports the basic premise that there should be significantly more consultation as to how the current biosecurity system could be improved and how industry can best contribute. This includes discussion on how to improve efficiency within the department, how costs are distributed across…

Study suggests that strawberries might mitigate risk of Alzheimer's

In a recent study published in the Nutrients Journal, researchers investigated whether strawberry supplementation mitigates the risk for late-life dementia in middle-aged…

Stronger pricing on Wisconsin fresh cranberries

Wisconsin is close to finishing harvesting what looks to be a good to normal-sized crop of cranberries. “Habelman Bros., the grower we’re representing, will be done in eight to 10 days. That might be an early end, though we usually finish at the end of October or early November,” says Claus Von Bauer of…

Chilean Blueberry Committee forecast: 6% drop in the season

The global supply situation has influenced the start of Chilean blueberry exports, with significant growth compared to last season in all markets. In a projection carried out…

"September heat wave brought fall crops forward; we'll have pay for that in November"

Last week marked a supply turnabout in the Dutch and Belgian strawberry markets. "The generally cold nights and low temperatures mean early fall crops are entering their final phase, so volumes are decreasing significantly. That could lead to trade and price pressure in November," begins Michiel…

Serbia's berry fruit sector has potential

News from the Berry Business Forum; Serbian trade relations in the region and in the world; food control law to be introduced; the weight of the mushroom trade and the new agriculture budget - Our weekly briefing on agriculture, food, and nature news in Serbia. Serbia has great potential in the production…

Licensing and supply chain agreement make blueberry varieties available for Indian growers

Global Plant Genetics and FD Berries have concluded a blueberry licensing and supply chain agreement for India. The new agreement will allow FD Berries to grow and license to third-party growers under contract some of the world's very best evergreen and low-chill blueberry genetics. FD berries have made…

Atibaia growers start cultivating a new strawberry cultivar

Strawberry producers in Atibaia have started growing a new cultivar of the fruit; the Phoenix strawberry is a new type of fruit, that emerged after more than five years of…

Together with The Greenery, GPG hosted two Von Blackberry open days

Blackberries are generally recognised as the smallest player of the four main berry segments. In fact, statistics bear this out and despite there having been almost a doubling in global production of fresh blackberries over the past two decades, the crop still has significant growth opportunities. In…

‘Climate change responsible for delayed Cape Cod cranberry harvests’

According to Hilary Sandler, Director at UMass Cranberry Station in Wareham, the effects of climate change have delayed the cranberry harvest at local bogs. Sandler said warm…

Blueberries seeing triple the pricing of 2022

FOB pricing on imported blueberries is approximately triple what it was last year at this time. “It’s been $58-$60 FOB so pricing has been very high. I see it holding for the foreseeable future,” says Ricky Armata of C&J Brothers. The spike in pricing is of course due to an inventory of blueberries from…

New berry products get premium treatment

Naturipe Farms, a producer of fresh berries, returns to IFPA’s Global Produce & Floral Show this year with a slate of new products. For the first time, Naturipe will showcase…

Morocco Berry Conference and Blueberry Course held on 9, 10, and 11 November

The Morocco Berry Conference and the Blueberry Course, two dynamic and interconnected events, are set to unfold in Agadir this year. Morocco Berry Conference (Date: November…

Ukrainian blueberry exports have significantly increased

President of the Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association Taras Bashtannik, shared positive news about the Ukrainian blueberry market. According to him, blueberry exports…

Summer-quality, Canadian-grown strawberries in January

When it comes to buying fresh fruit like strawberries, Canadians are largely vulnerable to global food supply chains, which can break down in a matter of weeks. This became very clear to families trying to keep fresh food on the table during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ceragen, a company at Velocity, University…

"We are looking forward to the Peruvian season, despite the challenges"

US supplier and importer of organic fruit, Awe Sum Organics is looking forward to the start of the Peruvian import season. Awe Sum Organic blueberries are arriving this week and Awe Sum Organic seedless grapes will be begin arriving in early December. The weather in Peru has made for very challenging growing…

Ukrainian blueberries continue their expansion in the EU

Ukrainian blueberries increased their presence on European shelves and maintained a better price than last year in the domestic market of Ukraine. The President of the…

Wisconsin expects large cranberry harvest

Wisconsin leads the nation in cranberry production, supplying 60% of the nation’s cranberry crop. According to stats from WSCGA, cranberries are grown on 21,000 acres across…

Big drop in Peru’s blueberry volumes balanced by higher prices

As Peru’s blueberry industry, with its significantly lower blueberry volumes due to the weather effects, will not recover lost production sufficiently, the higher prices will likely remain for the rest of the season. “A trend is also emerging of producers with newer proprietary varieties who can…

“This year we don't expect a loss of strawberry plants like the one we had last season”

According to initial forecasts, about 330 million strawberry plants will be planted throughout October, an average of about 9 million seedlings per day. These will be the plants yielding the fruit that will be supplied in the coming months in the European market. "The planting has begun, with the added…

Tasmanian strawberry season in full swing

As the harvest of the 2023-24 crop gets underway, locally grown strawberries are set to appear in Tasmanian supermarkets and other outlets soon. Berryworld, which operates a…

"We believe our orchard is carrying the volume we expected or slightly more, it is just delayed"

At Pahoia orchards in New Zealand the season is running roughly four to six weeks behind what is considered normal, this true for most growers. "We were expecting to start harvesting early to mid-August with our new variety Eureka Sunrise and our Eureka to kick off about four to six weeks later. The…

Pricing picked up on California strawberries

Strawberry supplies from Santa Maria-Oxnard, California are just getting into peak harvest. “These are planted in late May and the volume is not that heavy for the crop but it is peaking. It’ll continue through the first of the year, barring any rains that come in. Our rainy season usually starts in…

“It’s a dream come true”

Frutura recently announced it has signed agreements to acquire Giddings Fruit and Sun Belle, two companies that play a significant role in the berry industry. "We consider these to be pinnacle transactions for Frutura in terms of scale and a unique opportunity to strengthen our presence in the berry business in a meaningful…

Blueberry prices are historically high

“As the South American blueberry season unfolds, an intriguing set of factors are driving prices to historic highs in the global market,” says Luciano Fiszman with Gourmet Trading Company. “As a result of El Niño, Peru’s volumes are significantly lower this season, causing ripple effects throughout the…