Hans Leibbrandt, Monfrut:
Sector | Fruit (stone)
Sterling season buoys stone fruit grower's ambitions
Boris Manz - Fruit Growers Alianza:
"We are very pleased with how the season is ending as quality has remained very good"
Murcia's stone fruit sector anticipates higher quality and yields
Canadian research aims to reduce cherry breeding time to 10 years
“Bio4Life positioned for international growth as EU compostable label rules take effect”
Rain delays fruit and almond harvest in southern Australia
TR Turoni technology (Italy)
Assessing fruit quality to enhance revenue
California growers report pressure from imports, costs, and buyer consolidation
Chilean cherries in Vietnam fall to US$3.82/kg
Australia proposes stone fruit biosecurity levy from October 2026
New Zealand summerfruit harvest delayed as cooler weather trims yields
China’s fruit market: Quality demand grows as domestic competition rises
EAEU introduces temporary tariff exemptions for selected fruits
National Retail Report - Specialty Crops 27 Feb:
Retail produce ads dip 3% as grapes lead fruit promotions
Chile
El Maule opts for new routes and starts shipping its cherries from Puerto Coronel
Hortgro assesses stone fruit trade in Johannesburg informal market
Imperfect Australian plums processed into powders and drinks
Hazelnuts are an attractive alternative for Chilean cherry producers
U.S. winter storm causes crop and farm damage in Arkansas
Remaining Greek kiwifruit suitable only for the European market because of its size and firmness
Uzbekistan and Serbia sign agreements on horticulture and seed development
South Africa advances ARC-bred fruit cultivars to market
Genome B.C. funds cherry and carrot breeding projects in Canada
Sulaimani markets see US$500 p/kg for imported green plums
Uzbekistan becomes Russia’s largest supplier of fresh grapes and raisins in 2025
Canadian falcon drones tested for bird control in Australian orchards
NZ software platform expands into cherry packing sector
Charl Stander – Freshness First
Hot news from China offsets cold weather’s dampening effect on European stone fruit sales
South Africa ships first plums to China under new protocol
Stefan du Plessis, Wynand Hanekom – Icon Fruit
South African stone fruit gallops into the Year of the Horse
Chile cherry exports reach 113.8 million boxes as prices fall
Australian study shows solar shading lowers pear yield but cuts damage
Consortium for the Protection of the PGI Leonforte Peach
"From seasonal crop to year-round ambassador of Italian excellence"
South African zero tariffs to China hinge on phytosanitary protocols
Chilean cherry exports to China decline after early shipments
Tasmanian apricot output halves at Lowdina Orchard after light season
South African agricultural exports reach US$15.1bn in 2025
Uzbekistan expands intensive orchards and vineyards under 2024–2025 development programme
First reports after the passage of storm Nils
Week 7 Fruit Wholesale Market Report:
Prices rise ahead of the holiday, with cherries and cherry plums leading gains in the first half of the week
Central Otago cherries move to export for Chinese New Year
U.S. Central Valley rain threatens almond and stone fruit pollination
Positive Moldovan grape season concluded, stone fruit season is next
"We harvested the grapes before the heavy rains started"
Commencement of South African stonefruit exports to China
“We decided we could have the biggest impact in China with nectarines”
New Zealand cherry harvest delayed but export timing improves
Tomer Biran – 360 Argus
Protecting varietal IP using proactive prevention rather than purely reactive enforcement
New peach varieties from INTA hit the market
Biofach is a key event for operators specializing in organic products, such as Toñifruit
"Supplying tasty organic fruit is the best way to increase organic and biodynamic consumption in Europe"
EAEU approves zero import duties on selected fruits for Kazakhstan
FAO supports sustainable apricot production in Tajikistan
Week 6 Fruit Wholesale Market Report
Chilean plums hit the market while Australian green grapes prices remain high
Gary Bignell - Eden Orchards
Otago cherries doing it tough as rain wrecks harvest
Segrafruit opens new offices in Central America
Weather disrupts NZ cherry exports despite US$130 million forecast
South Africa’s cherry sector expands despite production and market constraints
Integration strengthens marketing position for German stone fruit
OGA / OGV Nordbaden takes over marketing and production operations from VOG Ingelheim
Australian cherries reach China via Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao bridge
Marianne De Maio - Riverbend Orchard:
"January volumes have been huge, around 60% more than previous years"
A closer look at winter fruit demand
China speeds up Chilean cherry imports ahead of peak season
Bulgarian fruit growers face pressure from rising imports
Central Otago fruit harvest delayed by cool summer
National Retail Report - Specialty Crops 30 January :
Retail ads reflect seasonal holidays and produce pricing trends
Flat nectarines are recording the biggest growth
"High prices in 2025 are currently driving up the demand for stone fruit plants"
Week 5 Fruit Wholesale Market Report:
Cherry market rebounds, while plum prices lower than previous years
Sébastien Rispe, French Fruit Lovers
"It is a record campaign for the Lovita plum!"
South African stone fruit compliance remains high in 2025/26
Central Otago apricot harvest begins as cherry exports fall
Deciduous fruit saplings sent from Greece to Morocco for the first time
Indians turn to Greek nurseries to build their apple orchards
New optical sorting and AI systems demonstrated for blueberries and fruit
Pascal Bassols Pot, COT International
"Fruit Logistica will provide us with an opportunity to expand on the American market"
Chile sends 90 per cent of cherries to China
Laurie Suhr, Bondev
"Our Plastoflex 71 anti-freeze candle has become a benchmark in the face of climate uncertainty"
Christian Hencke on the South African stone fruit campaign:
"Force majeure at the logistics level is affecting business"
Peter Woodhouse - Kings Rock Cherries:
“Our harvest should be hitting Asian countries around Lunar New Year"
Nicolás Yavar, UPAC Fruit:
"The situation is very complex, mainly because Chile ships over 90% of its cherry exports to China"
Georgia’s plum exports decline while imports increase in 2025
Baden Ribbon - Hansen Orchards:
“Demand has been strong from day one in all markets and stronger than we had expected"
Chilean stone fruit export volume seems more evenly distributed compared to last season
National Retail Report - Specialty Crops:
Cold weather lifts U.S. produce ads 5% week on week
10 years of Chilean blueberries at Früchte Widmann
Increase in volume expected for Chilean cherries
Week 4 Fruit Wholesale Market Report
Cherry prices continue to decline as blueberry supply tightens and prices rise
Sam Vasala - Sai World:
"Australian fruit was selling well even when there were big volumes from Chile available"
Spain farmer arrested over 5,000 patented nectarine trees
Fires in southern Chile do not directly affect fruit production
Vietnamese cherry prices fall after import volumes rise
Michigan fruit crops face cold temperatures in January
César Claramonte, CEO of Grupo Clasol, on the mandarin and orange campaign:
"Prices at the source are rising above acceptable levels for the market"
Independent quality control becomes key differentiator
“Uncertain Dutch business climate affects logistics companies”
The Spanish company will be present at Fruit Logistica 2026
El Ciruelo produced a record-breaking 2,700,000 units of its New Year's Eve Grapes clock
A Chinese delegation visits Mendoza to advance a phytosanitary agreement for stone fruit
Chile fruit and nut exports reach record US$8.63 billion in 2025
Vietnam–U.S. fruit trade gap widens as imports hit US$900m
South Africa hopes to add cherries to its stonefruit access
South Africa’s plums and nectarines stand best chance in competitive Chinese market
Moldovan grape, apple, plum, and cherry quotas to EU still open
Vietnamese cherry prices fall as imports outpace demand
U.S. Modesto fruit cannery closure impacts growers and workers
Week 3 Fruit Wholesale Market Report
Cherry prices under pressure, while green grape prices higher than last year
New Zealand air freight supports seasonal fruit exports
"The stone fruit industry anticipates a more balanced season"
National Retail Report - Specialty Crops 16 January:
Retail ads rise 3 per cent with citrus in focus
United States apple growers face rising labour costs under H-2A
Online retail partnership supports expansion of imported fruit in China
South Korean fruit imports adjust as mandarins rise 161%
India–New Zealand FTA cuts tariffs on cherries and apricots
"5kg large boxes are more popular this year."
"Current cherry prices are low; pre-holiday market performance will depend on inventory levels."
Argentina:
Mendoza forecasts 72,879 tons of plums and 110,685 tons of peaches
Chile kicks off cherry season with uneven yields and quality
New Zealand cherry harvest delayed by weather in Central Otago
Early automation supports long term packhouse planning
France decree has no impact on South African pome and stone fruit
Chilean cherry exports to China spread beyond holiday peak
Tajikistan grape exports to Kazakhstan fall 9.7%
Fruit and nut supplies from China to Kyrgyzstan increase by 22% in 2025
Johan Vlok – Kasteelberg:
Push and pull on South African grapes as summer heat meets port delays
Alexi Bois, new president of Peaches and Apricots of France
Carl van der Merwe & David Bodkin – Boplaas 1743 Estate
“Trip to China opened our eyes”
National Retail Report - Specialty Crops 9 January:
Retail produce ads rise 5% week on week to 268,213 listings
South African stone fruit exports hit by port disruptions
New Zealand cherry season delayed by weather in Central Otago
South Africa quantifies carbon and life cycle impacts in deciduous fruit
Kazakhstan exports melons, stone fruits, and grapes, with exotic varieties down
South African cherry output reaches record 3,006 tons
Strong movement of Chilean cherries in the U.S. due to improved logistics and quality
Chinese cherry prices drop over 30% on higher Chile supply
Tasmanian cherry export season to be launched in Taiwan
