FreshPlaza: Global Fresh Produce and Banana News

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Sebastián Muñoz, FEPEXA:

Ecuador can grow blueberries year-round in its highlands

February and March will be the market’s true test

Exceptionally strong U.S. grape market, but pricing expected to normalize

Mission Produce acquires Calavo Growers

Fresh Del Monte selected as successful bidder in Del Monte Foods court-supervised sale

"Costa Rican melons on the way to global producers"

"After two seasons with late rainfall, good prospects for Costa Rican melons this year"

Peruvian garlic exports increased in 2025

Brazil carrot supply tightens in São Gotardo due to rainfall

Mendoza forecasts 72,879 tons of plums and 110,685 tons of peaches

EU-Mercosur deal may lift cargo volumes at Port of Santos

Peruvian blueberry prices higher, driven by low volume markets

Sector | Vegetables

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Tomato prices expected to level out with better supply

Markets shifting on field cucumbers and zucchini

Jamaican vegetable prices ease after hurricane disruptions

Azerbaijan begins importing peppers from Argentina

Limited supply of brassicas, lettuce and artichokes in south-eastern Spain due to constant rains

Vegetable farmer Christian Zeiler on the 2025 harvest and sales year:

"Hopefully, purchasing power will pick up again a little as spring approaches"

Peru tapering asparagus supply

Sector | Bananas

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Taiwan develops TC9 banana resistant to Panama disease

Vietnamese research targets banana Fusarium wilt

Taiwan banana genome studies reveal breeding solutions to combat Fusarium Wilt

Trudi’s bananas drive category growth in Europe

Russia starts banana production in greenhouses

Fusarium TR4 phytosanitary alert in Ecuador triggers emergency protocols in the banana sector

Ecuador remains Uzbekistan’s primary supplier of bananas

Sector | Potatoes and Onions

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Chile pilots traceability as potato sector faces supply imbalance

Costa Rica pilots potato and onion traceability system

India notifies four new potato varieties for nationwide seed use

Tran Van Chuc - Truong An Food:

"The quality of the Dutch arrivals has been very good"

Adriaan van Belzen, Daily Onions:

"Onion export figures to UK shadowy and unreliable?"

India's onion exports face headwinds from Bangladesh permit curbs and Pakistani competition

Simon Vale - Balle Bros:

"Some customers are looking to supplement the local crop with New Zealand onions"

Sector | Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables

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European mango imports dominated by Kent and Keitt

Ready-to-use avocado a new product for the big retail and H&R channels

Vietnamese tropical fruit supply shifts towards beverage processing

Better availability for upcoming Kenyan avocado export window

Tunisia's date harvest reaches an all-time record

280 million pounds expected to be shipped for Super Bowl

All indicators point towards a record avocado season for Mexico

“Frozen durians cushioned Malaysia's export volumes through a challenging 2025”

Sector | Company news

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Northwest Cherries mourns longtime leader

Global Fruit Point is about to move

German fruit importer stays in Buxtehude

Mycophyto closes €16 million financing round

Sun World celebrates 50 years of growth, expansion and innovation in the fruit industry

March 9-11, in Bangalore, India

AVF Asia Forum 2026 to focus on medicinal plants as a regulated CEA crop category

New Technical Sales Representative named by CN Seeds

Maersk names Guillaume Sauzedde Europe managing director

Sector | Greenhouse

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Targeted light frequencies open new options for greenhouse pest monitoring and control

“It is the light attracting the thrips, rather than the sticky card itself”

Green Gardens Dobrovnik: from rumours to facts

New baby leaf production in Slovenia, the centre of Europe

Enza Zaden lettuce trial in Leamington:

"Glimpse of performance in real-world conditions for Canadian and U.S. growers"

U.S. tomato growers rise to opportunity

Anna Wize, Under Cover conference:

"Dynamic changes in the production of vegetables under cover – both in Poland and throughout Europe"

U.S. (ND): MHA Nation celebrates opening of new greenhouse

Solar thermal energy sector reaches milestone with largest thermal power plant for greenhouse production

Sector | Logistics

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Brazil advances STS10 container terminal tender at Santos

Hartman and Primever Group enter logistics cooperation

"Expanded services from southern Europe to Scandinavia"

Transport in France largely unaffected by blockades

"Drivers share real-time updates and support each other through WhatsApp groups"

Limited Red Sea transits resume after two-year pause

State-of-the-art VDH distribution centre completed in Ridderkerk

Intra-Asia Container Index - 09 Jan:

Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI) decreased 5%

Extreme cold front grips Germany:

Problems in fruit logistics and delays in the kale harvest

Sector | Machinery

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Riaan Coetzee – Maintech & Olivier Jaubert – MAF Roda South Africa

French packer formalizes its manufacturing footprint in Africa

New Rinieri technologies speed up operations

Orchard pruning - saving on labour costs is now essential

"One project that fills us with pride is our first kiwifruit sorter"

CMFF pruning machine by BMF Italy

Orchard pruning: Why flexibility makes a difference

New technologically advanced machinery designed specifically for apples

Turkish citrus exporter upgrades processing facility with 8-lane sorting system

Turkish organic producer adds 6-lane apple pre-sorting line

Sector | General fresh produce

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Up to 12 litres per second

Desert water that defies all technical forecasts

Primafrio opens logistics center in Lleida

Suspension of imports of fruit and vegetables from third countries

International buyers tour Tasmanian fruit and vegetable producers

Brazilian fruit exports reach US$1.45 billion in 2025

A very heterogeneous situation

Several French farms affected by storm Goretti

Kazakhstan boosts imports of grapes, melons, and watermelons

Sector | Management

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Brazilian fruit exporters assess EU-Mercosur trade impact

They criticize it for lacking reciprocity

La Unió and AVA-ASAJA warn about the impact of the EU-Mercosur agreement

EU Council approves next steps for Mercosur trade agreement

Thailand instructs attachés to boost agricultural exports

EU moves toward final vote on Mercosur trade deal

2026 finds Greek farmers stepping up their fight

Full highway and customs blockade paralyzes Greece Thursday–Friday

USDA announces agribusiness trade missions for 2026

Sector | Miscellaneous

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For lease: New distribution centre at Nieuw-Reijerwaard, Ridderkerk

Fresh produce honored on Syria's new currency

Uruguayan government approves parakeet reduction to reduce fruit grower's losses

$336,560 awarded by USDA through Arkansas Department of Agriculture

South Africa citrus sector mourns Deon Joubert

Inside the student-run agtech lab producing hundreds of pounds of greens

“I believe the space is an incubator for the CEA industry”

Tasmanian fruit industry mourns the passing of Carl Hansen

Sector | Fruit

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Wibo van den Ende, Vita Optima:

"Logistical disruptions continue to cause uneven grape supplies"

Florida strawberry supply tightens

Seasonal perishable products weekly update:

Mexican produce movement increases during winter transitions

Adverse weather reduces Moroccan strawberry yields

Hong Chew Kwek - Kwek Global:

"Chinese New Year is approaching let's hope that all the grapes will arrive on time as planned"

U.S. pear growers seek limits on Argentine imports

"Strawberry breeders take interest in India but propagation risks stall progress"

Sector | Herbs

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Fresh herb demand strong and steady for holiday season

Kruiden Claus celebrates 125th anniversary

"Strong demand for ginger and turmeric plants as cultivation becomes more viable"

Microgreens and in vitro cultivation pioneer reach for the skies with their vertical farm

Anthony De Ieso - Thorndon Park Produce:

"In easier to grow conditions, such as spring and summer, there are higher volumes to compete with"

José María Artero, manager of Solherbs:

"We can supply quality herbs also in summer"

Demand for Kenyan chives expected to increase as European production ends

Stephen McCormack - McCormack Family Farms

Irish basil, from 5 tonnes to 26 tonnes per year

Sector | Agenda

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Photo report International Soft Fruit Conference

New varieties and plant health key in soft fruit

Southern Exposure 2026 Educational Session speakers announced

International retailer meetings set for fruit and vegetable suppliers

Early bird registration opens for CPMA 2026

FreshPlaza mobile app launched today!

We'll be back on January 5th

Happy Holidays from the FreshPlaza team!

March 18-20, 2026

International Mango Organization announces 2026 conference in Puerto Rico

Sector | Citrus

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Fernando Castelló Naya, Business Unit Manager at Bollo Natural Fruit and partner of EVAM:

"The Earlyna mandarin has proven to be a reliable alternative and demand for it is on the rise"

Tango Fruit wins the "2026 Flavor of the Year" award in Spain and Portugal

California rains offer opportunities for citrus from Morocco this season

Argentina and Japan agree on updates to the citrus export protocol

Moroccan orange exports rise 38% season-on-season

Fresh market pricing better than juice on Florida oranges

Moroccan citrus 2025/26 notes improved water outlook, but export volumes likely revised down

Sector | Organic

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Organic grower Pieter Vandooren expands acreage by 10%

"A short-term increase in demand for leeks, but a very challenging pumpkin market"

"The connection with the food retail sector will enable us to optimize our logistics"

EDEKA Rhein-Ruhr Stiftung & Co. KG becomes a shareholder in Naturkost West

VIP invests in organic apple sorting station Juval:

"Consistent quality, year-round availability, and rapid response times"

Demand for Swiss endive remains stable

Apofruit Donnalucata opted for Bulltec

A new technology ensures the guaranteed minimum weight of tomatoes

Next year’s first organic GoodnessMe apples at VerKen Bio Deli-Vers

"Organic pear sales are off to a slow start, but momentum is expected soon"

Melvin Middelham, GreenFruit:

"Organic ginger and turmeric available year-round"

Sector | Health

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Produce industry shows support of new Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Certain compounds found in garlic can increase the lifespan of mice

Italian study tests citrus and grape supplement for glucose control

Cranberry Institute updates health research guide

Israel study finds compound in vegetables fights plaque

How to market the wellness factor of mangoes

Flavonoids linked to healthier aging

Sector | IT

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Robotic apple harvesting

Chile uses data-driven irrigation to manage water use

Indonesia advances digital agriculture with new farm-app deal

Johan Mostert – DiPAR Systems

Inside the architecture driving real-time fruit supply chain decisions

Bradford Warner - AgroFresh

"This is valuable business intelligence for the fresh produce industry"

“Blockchain traceability enhances the management of fresh produce supply chains”

“We’re introducing a single-use real-time monitoring solution for perishable goods transport”

Sector | Innovations

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When efficiency in blueberry harvesting becomes a necessity

Custom LED gains ground as Italian nurseries push for efficiency

Extending shelf-life of blueberries and avocados by storing and shipping under low pressure

Enza Zaden to introduce new tomato variety

Tanzania unveils digital platform to aid horticulture market

Stiaan Hugo - AGI Frost Fans

Entire frost protection package, honed in South Africa, available in EU

South African growers report significant increases in quality, size and shelf life

Introlab biostimulants approved for EU distribution

Sector | Processed fruit and vegetables

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Limited supply and persistent demand keep IQF market positive

Opportunities for growth in Guatemala's processed veg industry

Agristo doubles production capacity

Rising global fries demand drives investment across the potato value chain

La Cupa Società Cooperativa Agricola

Beyond price: Provenance and supply chain in the gourmet fruit and vegetable world

Giuseppe Pellegriti (Terre di Sicilia) on the attendance of Artigiano in Fiera 2025

"The strategic role of trade fairs makes us grow in the segment of artisanal processed products"

New seasoning system launches with updated safety and capacity

U.S. updates Grade B Brix rules for orange juice

Sector | Cooling

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“Bringing cold storage costs back to the levels of ten years ago is our principal aim”

Isolcell's vision for the future of fresh produce

"Controlled atmosphere, tailored ripening, and new global balances"

New cold storage facility opens in Guadalajara

Guatemala adds capacity with Palín and Xela cold store expansions

One Frio launches European cold storage platform after seven acquisitions

“The new cooling facility brings increased flexibility”

Matthias Cuvelie, Airclima:

“CO2 cooling is a strategic investment in sustainability, product quality, and operational reliability”

Sector | Food safety

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Egyptian fresh produce under scrutiny over MRLs

What products are affected by the order suspending imports of products containing residues of substances banned in Europe?

U.S. import oversight questioned under FSVP enforcement

France to block fruit imports with banned pesticide residues

Cadmium detected in Moroccan tomatoes

Effect of the quality of washing water on shelf-life and product safety of rinsed produce

Why provider of conveyor solutions offers food safety training

Sector | Nuts and dried fruits

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Looking ahead at California’s almond production

Plant-based proteins position nuts as future meat alternatives

European nut and dried fruit market expands

China sees opportunity in production and demand for chestnuts

2025 State of the Almond Industry

A year of resilience for Californian almonds

Ranobo achieves 15% growth despite volatile nut market

Belgian nut specialist strengthens operations and structure

Pistachio demand steadily rising in China

Yotam Shlomo, Shlomo Farm:

"Medjool dates as iced treats are popular during the festive season"

Sector | Packaging and Labelling

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Weber Verpackungen at IPM 2026

Delivery of sleeves within 4 weeks of ordering

South Africa develops local fruit-packing lines through Paarl facility

Heat-sealed nets with flag label from Rev Packaging Solutions

Single-material packaging technology arouses interest in Australia

Sylvaphane Group now provides packaging solutions directly to the fresh produce sector

"As a Dutch producer, we have all packaging disciplines in-house"

Rocco De Lucia of Siropack

"We innovate and make progress despite the obstacles presented by European choices"

Massimiliano Persico, Cartonpack Group’s Marketing Department

"A year of consolidation, product range innovation, and growth in international markets"

"We have successfully created an innovative paper punnet for strawberries"

Sector | Retail

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inDrive has expanded its services in Pakistan: Fresh fruits and vegetables

Jerónimo Martins’ 2025 sales up 7.6%

Lidl will open 19 stores in the UK over the next 8 weeks

Step inside a life-sized HelloFresh delivery box

Jumbo reported growth in the 2025 financial year

Handpickd data: Coriander dethrones onion as India’s 2025 favourite fresh produce

French competition authority is scrutinizing 2 recent purchasing alliances

Acquisition expected to significantly reshape market shares in Greek supermarket sector

Sainsbury's: Strong festive performance

Tesco: Londoners are officially bananas for bananas

DIA: Strong focus on fresh produce

Tesco and M&S: Strong Christmas food sales

Apollo Funds have agreed to acquire a majority stake in Prosol Group

Coop Switzerland has reported record sales

Sector | Global Market

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GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW ORANGES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW POMEGRANATES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW PAPAYA

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW PEARS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GARLIC

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW MANDARINS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW CUCUMBERS

Sector | Climate

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South African Weather Service raises flood warning to its highest level

Northeastern South Africa is under water

Andalusia has distributed 37.6 million euros in DANA aid

Postuma AGF, DSR Logistics, and Fresh Connection on the impact of snow

The Netherlands and Belgium blanketed in snow under code orange, with more to come

Danie Kritzinger – Agrimotion

How deep is the Cape into the next drought?

Some HGV restrictions lifted, but traffic remains difficult due to the snow

Emilia storm leads to falling prices for Moroccan fresh produce

Storm Emilia suspends Moroccan fresh produce exports

Sector | Cartoons

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Madhya Pradesh banana farmer protests low prices with half-naked vow

North Korean forest rangers fired for turning tree nurseries into vegetable gardens

TikTok-fueled fruit ice cream craze empties freezers across New Zealand

Cows wearing e-collars help boost potato yields in P.E.I. pilot project

Domino’s seeks Vatican forgiveness for pineapple pizza

Aomori’s ‘designer apples’ turn orchards into art

Fruity overdose: The bold new trend transforming perfumery

Sector | Trade War

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Importers to U.S. react to lifting of Brazilian tariff

Importers react to U.S. tariff reduction on Latin American countries

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

Trump cuts tariffs on tomatoes, bananas and other agricultural products

Border Trade Alliance prepares for first formal review of USMCA

U.S. Senate votes to overturn Trump tariffs on Brazil

Tariffs could force Mexican shift to precision agriculture

Sector | Peru

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Special Peru - Nature's Pride

Working together on responsible water management in Peru to support future food systems

Peru Special: Agrícola Pampa Baja

25 years of producing and exporting avocados, table grapes, pomegranates, and mandarins in southern Peru

Peru Special: Premium Choice Global

"A key pillar of our model is its international presence in destination markets"

Special Peru: Westfalia Fruit Peru expects to grow 15% in avocado by 2026

"We are constructing a new freezing facility in Chiclayo"

Special Peru: Packing del Carmen provides packing services to exporting companies

"As we do not have our own production, we can guarantee clients the priority for their fruit"

Peru Special: Provid and Proarándanos

Peru strengthens its world leadership in blueberries and consolidates its expansion in table grapes

"The day Peru sets out to export everything it produces, it can change the international chessboard"

Sector | Rwanda

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Special Rwanda: Bahage Foods

Woman-led company offers wide range of fruits and vegetables to European, UK markets, and Middle East

The role of the exporters' organization in an emerging fresh produce origin

Rwanda special: Sunripe Farms

Crop rotation, soil management, and greenhouse cultivation in Rwanda

Rwanda special: Proxifresh

"Market-driven model enables the company to supply between 14 and 18 tons of French beans per week"

Demand first, production second: How Afri Foods builds export-ready supply chains

Rwanda special: Garden Fresh

"Besides French beans and avocados, we're eyeing baby vegetables for the European market"

Next week's special: Rwanda