West Michigan expects record blueberry yield this season

West Michigan blueberry fields are inching closer and closer to peak blueberry season. Farms throughout the region have had to suffer weather problems, but this season, the…

Serra da Mantiqueira produces more than 60% of Brazilian strawberries

In the south of Minas Gerais, 25 municipalities represent more than 60% of the national cultivation of strawberries. An example of this region is Serra da Mantiqueira, known…

"We also didn't expect to offer Flemish cherries now already"

In Belgium, the season's first Flemish cherries came from the Demedts - De Mey strawberry farm's greenhouse. These are the region's very first cherries grown under glass. "We had to wait and see how it would all go, but the quality is surprisingly good, as is the production," begins Benoit Demedts. He and…

Demand for Italian strawberries keeps expanding abroad

Italian strawberries continue to occupy a primary position in wholesale markets and supermarkets. Italian and European traders continue to order large volumes from the southern regions, mainly due to the current shortage of summer fruits on the shelves.  Luca Zuccarella with pallets of strawberries for supermarkets…

Latvian growers say devastating spring frosts have led to critical situation

As reported by representatives of the Latvian Association of Agricultural Cooperatives (LLKA), losses due to spring frosts are reaching approximately €10 million in the…

China: Spacefaring cranberry seeds to sprout on Earth

Cranberry lovers may have the chance to savor the fruit with an out-of-this-world origin: A new variety will be developed from seeds that survived a trip to space. When…

Hydroponic strawberries from Turkey are exported to various countries

Strawberries produced in the 7.500 square meter strawberry greenhouse established in Mertoglu, a village in Sinop by the investor Yasin Gungor, are admired around the world.…

Scientists assemble first complete genetic sequence for blackberries

An international team of scientists has assembled the first complete sequence of the blackberry genome, creating a genetic tool that will help guide fruit breeders to develop new varieties with improved flavor, hardiness, and other desired characteristics. Margaret Worthington, associate professor and…

Soaring labor costs push West Michigan fruit growers to the brink

While many farmers today are turning to automation to meet their production needs and save on labor costs, Crossroads Blueberry Farm LLC likes to ensure a large percentage of…

Strawberry farm provides intimate You-Pick experience to the public

The story now goes that local production is superior, and consumers are mainly looking to buy products that are cultivated close to home. Yet, sometimes this goes one step further, and that’s exactly what Warm Belly Farm has been doing with their You-Pick experience. “Our You-Pick experience is slightly…

Berry production increases in Jalisco, Mexico

Over the past few years, the berry production in the state of Jalisco has grown and so has its participation in the national and international markets. Andrés Canales Leaño,…

Gartenbau Hoffmann

"High demand for early glasshouse produce in direct marketing"

On May 22, about the same time as last year, Lower Rhine horticultural company Hoffmann could offer the first blueberries of this year's season. The home-fresh produce from unheated glasshouses is marketed mainly in direct marketing, as Managing Director Stefan Hoffmann tells us. "We offer the early…

Peak California strawberry volumes ahead

A bountiful summer of California strawberries is ahead for California Giant Berry Farms, as the company forecasts giant volumes their cornerstone product. Despite the later-than-average start for some of its growing regions, the company is on track to deliver peak promotable volumes of California…

US blueberry grower starts working with commercially reared bees

Bee Vectoring Technologies International  has announced a company record-breaking sales order with one of the largest blueberry growers in the United States, who will integrate…

Taiwan Food and Drug Administration

Japanese blueberries and grapes rejected by Taiwan for banned pesticides

Shipments of fresh blueberries and grapes from Japan were seized at Taiwan's border after they were found to contain banned pesticides. A total of 9 kilograms of blueberries were confiscated after sample testing on April 28 and detected flubendiamide, a type of synthetic petrochemical pesticide that is…

Île-Perrot farmer loses crops after partially losing fight with frost

Phil Quinn of Quinn Farm on Île-Perrot already knows many of his strawberry crops are a total loss. The co-owner of Quinn Farm and his team worked day and night to protect the…

"Delays in Europe and Spain's problems mean high demand for Belgian and Dutch strawberries"

In Belgium, Coöperatie Hoogstraten's strawberry production is currently switching between different cultivation systems. "It's nice that we've started again; the cultivation systems are merging fairly smoothly with stable volumes. The ever-bearers and heated spring crops are heading toward their end, and…

Latin American strawberry growers expand production to meet increasing demand

Latin American strawberry growers are expanding production to meet increasing consumer demand. Mexico is the largest strawberry-producing country in Latin America, followed by Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. These countries have an advantage in production costs due to low labor wages and the availability of…

Blueberry consumption might alleviate abdominal pain

In a recent study, researchers have looked at the question of whether blueberry consumption could improve the clinical outcomes, functioning, and overall quality of life of…

Poland intends to promote agri exports to Indonesia

According to Polish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Wojciech Gerwel, his government wants to promote agricultural food exports to Indonesia during his visit to the country…

Domestic supplies of blackberries around the corner

At the moment, there are good volumes of blackberries in the marketplace. “Supplies are about the same for blackberries as this time last year--there are no major changes in volume,” said Katiana Valdes, marketing director for Crystal Valley Foods. While many different types of commodities across the…

2023 Chef Invitational finalists announced

California Giant Berry Farms announced its People’s Choice winner and chef finalists of its 2023 Chef Invitational.   The People’s Choice winner is:  David McGurn, Performance Foodservice – Congee with Brulee Berries and Quick Berry Pickles  Left to right: David McGurn, Dontre'al Haigler  The finalists and their recipes are:    Dontre'al Haigler, Denny’s…

Researchers study if induced autophagy can help make strawberry crops more resistant to extreme drought

According to biologist Victoria Sanchez, the induction of autophagy, a natural mechanism used by living beings to survive adverse situations and stay healthy by recycling…

Apples and blackberries may help lower chances of frailty at later age

Eating foods like apples and blackberries may help lower your chances of developing frailty. Frailty is generally characterised by issues like reduced muscle strength and…

Increased challenges for Florida's strawberry industry

According to a new report, the changing climate could knock Hillsborough County out of the sweet spot for strawberries. The report, released by the Environmental Defense Fund…

Guadalajara meeting will propel the Mexican blueberry industry forward

The Mexican blueberry industry is in the midst of an important repositioning within the global commercial scenario and is increasing its presence in the international…

"The export market is increasingly coming into the picture for our strawberries"

At BelOrta, outdoor strawberries are now slowly coming in at the cooperative. "We have already had quite good volumes since the start of May, but with the open-field cultivation, we expect to be at a nice level in terms of volumes in the coming weeks," says Miguel Demaeght of BelOrta. "Thanks to our choices…

Perth councillor claims Suella Braverman knows ‘nothing about our local soft fruit industry’

Perth and Kinross councilor Peter Barrett has claimed the Home Secretary “knows nothing about our local soft fruit industry.” Barrett was responding to Suella Braverman’s…

Warmer temperatures rekindle hope in Italy

"The situation is tough, there is a lot of waste, but we keep harvesting also to keep our hopes alive and to refrain from getting discouraged," says Mirco Zoffoli, salesman at Antonio Benzi's farm, taking stock of the strawberry plant located in Cesena, Italy. "The Sibilla variety is very hardy, so it is…

Ancient mulberry forests bring white mulberry varieties

Have you ever seen white mulberries? In Xiajin Town, in Dezhou City, Shandong Province in Eastern China, there is an important historical agriculture tradition of the production and processing of mulberry fruit. The region is home to a large number of historic mulberry tree forests, that are now at the…

EastFruit

Raspberries beat all other fruits and berries in terms of consumption growth in the USA

EastFruit experts drew attention to very interesting information recently released in the United States concerning the consumption trends of various fruits and berries in this country over the past decade. Why is knowing US consumption trends important for fruit and berry growers in Eastern Europe and…

Texas: Blueberries, blackberries, and other fruits recover from adverse weather

According to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert Tim Hartmann, AgriLife Extension specialist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural…

Indonesian market closest to opening for Peru’s blueberries

Peru has ambitions to turn the world blue with their fresh blueberries and make it the most preferred fruit on earth. They aim to open new markets, with Indonesia the closest to opening next and receiving the blue gold from Peru as it is about to start the 2023/2024 campaign with 18% more volumes…

Florida strawberry growers will have to change with the climate

According to University of Florida agricultural researchers working with the Environmental Defense Fund, if Florida's strawberry industry is going to survive climate change,…

Edible CBD coating could extend the shelf life of strawberries

Soon, you’ll be able to get a box of freshly picked, sweet strawberries from the grocery store or local farm stand. But it’s disappointing when you get them home and find that the ones at the bottom have started to rot. To increase the berries’ shelf life, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials &…

Automation is a lever for transformation and growth in the blueberry industry

Blueberry consumption continues to grow, especially in the USA and Europe. If we add to this increase in demand the consequent increase in production, professionalization and…

Conditions improve for blueberries, blackberries and other fruits

Blueberries, blackberries and other fruits grown in Texas bounced back from heat and drought last season. According to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert Tim…

Early raspberries hit the shelves in Uzbekistan at affordable prices

Along with the sharp expansion of area under raspberries in the countries of Central Asia in the recent two years, EastFruit analysts also note progress with the extension of…

Moroccan soft fruit season ends earlier than usual

The soft fruit season is about to end in Morocco earlier than usual due to adverse weather conditions that have exhausted the plants and a low demand that demotivated producers. Zouhir Daissoria, Moroccan soft fruits producer and exporter, comments on the situation.  "After an abrupt end of the season for…

Cold weather is bad news for Polish soft fruit

The cold weather in Poland will have an impact on the soft fruit production, says Emilia Lewandowska, office manager for Polish fruit exporter Fruit-Group: “This year we have a cold spring in Poland. Low temperatures don’t favor appropriate bud development or pollination. During the end of April and the…

Italian wholesale markets' hunger for strawberries is unabated

"I cannot fulfill all orders. I have to rationalize deliveries to still be able to provide the product to as many operators as possible. Currently, I supply a little over 10 wholesalers a day, all in northern Italy, in the wholesale markets of Milan, Verona, Genoa, Turin and Padua. There is still…

British Berry Growers declares new research board will be formed

The UK berry sector has announced that a new research and development board will be formed, aimed at advancing sustainability and efficiency for growers. British Berry Growers…

Kashmir Valley strawberry growers suffer 30 percent loss

Strawberry production in Kashmir Valley has suffered 30 percent loss this year due to continuous rains this year. The harvesting of the famous Kashmiri strawberry crop is in…

U.S. blueberry industry pushes on tariff amendment ahead of trade mission to Japan

Following a U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement formed in 2020 that eliminated Japan’s tariffs on fresh and dried blueberries but left tariffs on frozen blueberries, the U.S. blueberry industry is turning up the heat on this issue. “We hope that USTR will take action to resolve this issue now that Congress has…

AI technology reduces food waste in Dutch supermarket's strawberry chain

Using artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the strawberry chain can accurately predict this fruit's shelf life. As a result, 70,000 fewer kg will be thrown away. It's a…

Construction of Europe's largest agri-PV project starts at Dutch grower

GroenLeven has started constructing Europe's largest softfruit covering agri-PV project. When this unique project is complete, Dutch grower Maarten van Hoof, who cultivates raspberries, blackberries, currants, and asparagus, will have 24,206 solar panels protecting his raspberries. These panels will…

"The market is going well for the newly introduced blueberry varieties"

Yunnan is an advantageous production area for blueberries in China. Yunnan blueberries usually enter the peak production period in March, and then the market volume gradually increases. This year's supply situation is slightly different. Since the Spring Festival at the end of January and the beginning…

"It was particularly important to me that the technology was thought through to the end in every respect"

On March 28, the first local strawberries of the 'Sonsation' variety could already be harvested in the new 1.5-acre strawberry greenhouse of the Mann fruit farm in the Alte Land. Only a few months ago, just in time for the first planting date, a sustainable greenhouse could be put into operation. Owner…

“The Moroccan blueberry campaign has been consistent in volumes and prices”

“We still have two to three weeks of marketing left for the Moroccan blueberry season, but with the weather-related problems that production has experienced lately, the season could end at any time,” explains Arnaud of Lacour, a company present on the Rungis market. The campaign started four months ago…

Strawberry harvest is starting in Kashmir

The strawberry harvest has started in several parts of Kashmir. However, farmers claim that torrential rains have affected this year’s crop. Still, the harvest in Gaasu…

Taiwan: FDA finds banned chemical on Japanese strawberries for 25th time in six months

The Food and Drug Administration of Taiwan found residues of a banned chemical on a shipment of strawberries about to be imported from Japan for the 25th time in the past six…

Arkansas and Georgia researchers developed a robotic hand to pick blackberries

Researchers in Arkansas and Georgia have shown that delicate fresh-market blackberries typically picked by human hands to maintain quality, can now be picked by robots as…

Raspberries in Tajikistan are going to be ready for picking soon

According to EastFruit experts, in 10 days Tajikistan will start harvesting a new crop of raspberries from open fields. Encouraged by high prices for raspberries in previous…

A well-balanced French strawberry campaign so far

The 2022 campaign was marked by notable production peaks and a quality impacted by the various heat waves. This year, the strawberry season seems to be going much better. “Since the beginning of the campaign, we have had alternating sun and rain without very high temperatures or excess water. So far, the…

‘Climate change will impact strawberry production in Florida’

Florida farmers play a critical role in food production for the U.S., generating over $7 billion in crops, especially during the winter months. Florida’s specialty crops, like…

Blueberry council applauds Congressional Action on Japan’s frozen blueberry tariffs

A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Reps. Rick Larsen (D-WA-02) and David Valadao (R-CA-22), and Sen. Angus King (I-ME), are calling on the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)…

Ukrainian berry season 2023: another frost challenge

In early May EastFruit reported of late April frosts’ aftermaths for the Ukrainian fruit and berry business. As reported, there were short frosts in the northern regions of…

Freshuelva applauds the exclusion of berries from the obligation of having to be sold in bulk

The Association of Strawberry Producers and Exporters of Huelva, Freshuelva, has applauded the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food's decision to exclude berries from the obligation of having to be sold in bulk, as contemplated in the new Decree-Law on Packaging and Packaging Waste that has been…

How scientists developed a robotic hand to pick blackberries in Arkansas

Imagine an autonomous bi-pedal robot with 10 arms, each tipped with three-fingered silicone grippers picking its way through rows of blackberries, and you’ll have an idea of what the future could hold for blackberry farms facing a labor shortage. Researchers in Arkansas and Georgia have shown that…

“We choose our varieties carefully so they can really answer the need of our clients”

Niewczas Strawberry Plant Nursery, a family-driven company, has over 40 years of experience in cultivating strawberry plants. The nursery is in the mid-northern part of Poland in the village of Wielowicz, about 50 kilometers from Bydgoszcz. The company cultivates over 100 hectares of fields, of which…

Driscoll's eyes expansion of Chinese market for its berries

Driscoll's, a California-based fresh berries provider, will triple its investment in China over the next five years, said its top executive. Miles Reiter, chairman and CEO of…

Berry producers are in no hurry to expand production

Investment in the Russian berry industry is facing challenges, as logistical disruptions and economic uncertainty affect the supply chain and market growth. The Ministry of…

Camposol opens first blueberry packing plant in Sinaloa

Camposol has built its first blueberry packing plant in northern Sinaloa, Mexico, which will offer the service not only to the company but also to growers in the area who will be able to pack their products. Camposol's first blueberry packing plant in northern Sinaloa, Mexico. "The plant was initially…

North Carolina production helps keep blueberry volumes steady

Supplies of blueberries in North America are strong. "Georgia is past its peak, wrapping up highbush varieties in the next week or so," says Tim Crane, Category Manager of Blueberries for Oppy. "We are loading new crop from North Carolina next week for the first time. It's slightly later than expected,…

China develops a new blueberry variety that is very suitable for the south of the country's humid climate

According to information from the Chinese newspaper Science and Technology Daily, a team from the Agricultural University of Southern China led by Professor Chen Riyuan has…

Bosnia and Herzegovina yields to Ukraine and Morocco on the global raspberry market

According to EastFruit analysts, Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of Ukraine’s competitors in the global frozen raspberry market, has reduced its exports in value terms by 48% and,…

EastFruit

Why invest in modern strawberry production in Georgia when Turkey is the neighbor?

EastFruit periodically publishes an analysis of the Georgian strawberry market, where local producers frequently comment about the price competition with Turkish strawberries and its negative effects on local production, at the same time, we observe the developments in the market, although big…

Demand still lively for strawberries from southern Italy also thanks to the reduced availability of summer fruits

The strawberry campaign in southern Italy is still underway, and demand is still interesting, especially for the produce from Basilicata. "Demand is lively, but the volumes are half those of a week ago. This means wholesale prices are around 30% higher than in late April. The season is almost over, but…

EastFruit

Egypt leads in fresh strawberry exports to Malaysia

Egypt became the largest exporter of fresh strawberries to the Malaysian market in MY 2021/22 (July-June) and continued to increase shipments in the current MY 2022/23, according to EastFruit. Furthermore, Egyptian exporters kept improving their position in the whole market of South-East Asia, and Egypt…

“Minus temperatures at night in May are very normal”

It’s very unclear what kind of damage the frosts have caused to the Polish blueberries, says Sandra Stefaniak-Syguła, co-owner of Polish berry trader Berrytrade: “It’s challenging for us to predict what kind of damages these frosts will cause, because we are not growers ourselves. And you know, even for…

Why are there no Jersey fresh farm-grown strawberries in NJ supermarkets?

Why are there no Jersey fresh farm-grown strawberries for sale at New Jersey supermarkets? Typically, the berries sold in plastic containers in our supermarkets are from…

Peruvian blueberry production up 37.5% in 1Q 2023

The growth of Peru’s agricultural sector during the first quarter of the current year (January-March) was driven by the production of blueberries, which increased by 37.5%…

Record prices for strawberries in Ukraine in May 2023

According to EastFruit analysts, the situation on the strawberry market in Eastern Europe is non-standard in 2023. Cold and mostly cloudy weather in Ukraine leads to a delay…

The fruit and berry market in Russia has the potential to increase by almost 70%

A recent report by "Interagro" reveals that the fruit and berry market in Russia has the potential to increase by almost 70%, reaching 14.6 million tons annually. The research…

Latvian fruit growers lose harvest due to cold spring

Last weekend, in some places in Latvia, the temperature at night dropped to -7 C. Many berry and fruit farms confirmed yield losses of up to 80%-90%. The industry association…

Strawberries for big retail chains and wholesale markets

"We started harvesting strawberries in late March and will continue until late June. Ours is not a mass-production, but rather a selected one, so we manage to also reach the big retail sale chains and wholesale markets focusing on organolpetic qualities," explains Davide Modigliani, a producer from…

Ledidi berries secure a deal with two of the multimillionaire investors on ‘Shark Tank’

The co-founders of Nature’s Wild Berry, a Santa Monica company that grows, processes, markets and distributes Ledidi berries, also known as “miracle berries,” secured a deal…

USDA

Utilized production of pecans in state of Georgia was up 47 percent in 2022

The USDA has released key findings for the Southern Region crops.  Regarding avocados, Florida's utilized production for 2022 totaled 17,840 tons, up 25 percent from 2021 while its associated value of production was up 7 percent to $14.3 million. BlueberriesGeorgia's utilized production, at 56.2 million pounds,…

Maine Congressional Delegation presses Biden Administration to expand markets for Maine blueberries

U.S. Senator Angus King is leading a group of lawmakers, calling on the Biden Administration to expand markets for Maine blueberries and reduce barriers facing farmers who…

Opposition legislators warns against easing ban on pesticides used on Japanese strawberries

Yesterday, opposition Kuomintang legislators urged Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) not to ease a ban on residues of two types of pesticides commonly used to treat…

R&D process key to varietal success for Spanish nursery

Berry varieties such as Victory, Primavera, Inspire, or Renewall have revolutionized the varietal map of the Mediterranean Arc, as much as they have provided the rusticity that the producing sector needs, complying with commercial requirements from the market. All this has been thanks to the intense R&D…

Serbia expects 15% production increase for 2023 blueberry season

Serbia’s blueberry industry is hopeful and expects a positive 2023 blueberry harvest season, that starts next month (June), with a 15% production increase predicted. This follows a spring with no significant frost damage and with a normal upcoming season anticipated. According to Julka Toskic from the Serbia…

Moroccan blueberry industry in focus at Guadalajara

In many aspects, the Moroccan industry of berries and the Mexican industry are assimilated. Morocco, like Mexico, has a high technical and professional quality of its human…

"Strawberry seeds enable faster cultivation with lower disease transmission risks"

The Miyoshi Group from Japan has recently released two new Japanese varieties of the F1 strawberry. Now, Japanese strawberry seeds can be exported to the global market. Yuki Otsuka works in the sales department of the Miyoshi Group, and he is excited about the new market opportunities: “Japanese…

South African strawberry aficionados in for a Woolworths treat

South African retailer Woolworths is always looking to distinguish itself through fruit. This week's introduction of the Florida Pearl white strawberry, wholly unknown to local consumers, follows the same ambition. "We have for many years attempted to establish the strawberry category as a special…

Fruidor continues its partnership with The Walt Disney Company France

After the cherry tomato (Les Nouveaux Producteurs) and the banana of Guadeloupe and Martinique, Fruidor continues its partnership with The Walt Disney Company France by promoting its tasty round strawberries in packaging featuring the Lilo and Stitch movie. The strawberries are produced in the Lot-et-Garonne…

“Machine harvesting is blueberry cultivation's future”

Every year, Schrijnwerkers Plants propagates about 1.5 million blueberry plants for the European market on its Dutch production site. In recent decades, the company has built up an extensive portfolio of early, medium, and late varieties. Although berry cultivation has expanded tremendously worldwide in…

“We focus on creating opportunities for 2023”

Reflecting on 2022, it was a very challenging year for many companies in the industry. “It was a year in which we saw ocean freight rates increase tremendously, but also the year of inflation and increases in fuel prices,” says Sergio Torres with Camposol. “Inflation not only hit our markets in Europe…

Lots of cherries, apricots, strawberries and cucumbers at $0.3 per kg

EastFruit expert Bakhtiyor Abduvokhidov visited the wholesale and retail market in the north of Tajikistan and shared an interesting video in which he shows the assortment,…

Announcing 5th Annual Chef Invitational semi-finalists

California Giant Berry Farms has announced nine semi-finalists of its 5th annual 2023 Chef Invitational. The chef semi-finalists and their recipes are:    David McGurn, Performance Foodservice – Congee with Brûlée Berries, Granola and Quick Berry Pickles. Dontre’al Haigler, Denny’s — Crispy Fruity Chorizo Fried Octopus with…

Scottish berry supplier collaborates for exclusive licence to produce premium strawberry

Angus Soft Fruits and Earth Market are excited to announce an exclusive collaboration. Angus Soft Fruits are now the exclusive license holders for the production of the strawberry Magnum® in the UK. In recent years Angus Soft Fruits have established Magnum as one of the leading premium varieties in the UK…

Early 2023 freeze affects Colombian goldenberry volumes

Goldenberry supplies are tight from Colombia and look to be staying that way possibly for the majority of 2023. Frank Martinez of A.R. Produce says there are two countries that produce goldenberries year-round--Ecuador as well as Colombia. “I’m currently using Colombia and the supply has been very low…

"This year, I didn't abandon my strawberry fields ahead of time."

About a year ago, Ermal Gjuzi, an agricultural entrepreneur from the Italian town of Scanzano Jonico (Basilicata), abandoned part of his strawberry fields because he could hardly recruit enough staff to work in harvesting. The situation at his farm has drastically changed at an organizational and…

Foreign highbush blueberries pose double-pronged threat for Canadian growers

The demand for wild blueberries in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Maine is still strong and continues to grow, but those regions are facing increasing pressure from an unlikely…

Weather delays blueberry season but organically-grown fruit and sustainability continue to drive sales

A later-than-expected season for a leading organic Victorian blueberry farm has meant fruit is available in May. Moondarra Blueberries is based around two hours east of Melbourne, and Business Manager, Kate Prezioso explained that February is usually the peak month for the blueberries, but this year was…

China is main producer and importer of blueberries globally

According to a recent USDA report, China replaced the United States as the world's largest producer of blueberries in 2021, while also becoming one of the top importers of…

EastFruit

Strawberry season starts with an increased competition in Georgia

EastFruit has researched the start of the Georgian strawberry season. Competition with Turkey has become fiercer. Locally produced quality strawberries are still in demand. The Georgian team at EastFruit reports high volumes of strawberries presented on the wholesale market at this early stage of the new…

EastFruit

Morocco ranks third in global ranking of fresh raspberry exporters

In 2022, Morocco has managed to export more fresh raspberries than the USA and ranked third in the global ranking of exporters of these berries, according to EastFruit. Furthermore, Morocco continues to increase its fresh raspberry exports thanks to its perfect climate, favorable geographical location…

Slow start to strawberry season could lead to challenging market

The strawberry harvest started at Blacketyside in Fife, Scotland in mid-April from the heated tunnels and the production was expected to move to the unheated tunnels shortly after (early to Mid May), but due unseasonably low temperatures berries from these tunnels will have to wait a bit longer.…

Photo Report: Toronto, Canada fresh produce retail visit

Vibrant displays of the freshest fruit and vegetables, sourced from around the world, were seen on the shelves of different retailers in Toronto, Canada last week (25-27 April 2023). During last week’s Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) exhibition in Toronto, a few retailers and greengrocers…

New inventory system brings grower more insight and structure

Dutch strawberry grower Royal Berry started working with FRUIT stock software this year. This Dutch company used Excel sheets, but using the new inventory system brings them more insight and structure. Royal Berry chose the Klok Software system for its customer-friendly solution. Nannette Lammerts…

Precision irrigation for blueberry cultivation

Irritec, one of the global leaders in the precision irrigation sector, will be among the protagonists of the 40th edition of Macfrut. The international event that will take place at the Rimini Expo Centre between May 3rd and 5th, will be an occasion to showcase the latest innovations, the high technology…

"If politics does not intervene here, in a few years there will hardly be any products left that we can sell"

Overproduction of strawberries is not to be expected at present, according to Jens Schadowske of Filbig GbR at the Nuremberg wholesale market. Demand is relatively good, he said. "However, it is not easy to market strawberries at the moment due to high producer costs." Average price level for asparagus…

Berry company celebrates 40-year milestone anniversary

California Giant Berry Farms started small. It was originally founded in 1983 by Bill Moncovich, Pat Riordan, Frank Saveria and Red Bryant and the quartet joined forces with a simple mission in mind—provide the best quality strawberries and give back to their community. Left to right: Bill Moncovich, Joe…

EastFruit

Strawberry prices in Tajikistan collapsed to $1 per kg

According to EastFruit analysts, today the wholesale prices for strawberries in Tajikistan have fallen to $1 per kg. Moreover, there are already offers to sell this berry cheaper than the psychological threshold of $1 per kg. In the meanwhile in neighboring Uzbekistan prices for strawberries are slightly…

Estonian berry distributor strikes deal with Latvian retailer to supply consumers directly

The Estonian importer, hyper-focused distributor, and point of sales booth manager of fresh berries in retail stores nationwide, is heading to Latvia. This is a significant breakthrough for No Bananas in its Baltic berry revolution with the aim to have 400 selling points across the region. Estonia is the…

Italy's apple and strawberry variety innovation to be presented at Macfrut

The CIV - Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti Scarl of San Giuseppe di Comacchio (FE) in Italy will be present from 03 to 05 May with its own stand within the common space of the participants in the CIVI-Italy Supply Chain Project at the " the International Show of Nursery and Varietal Innovation" - new…

"In 2022, we were already trading stone fruit by the pallet at this time of year, currently only by colli"

The persistent cold weather in the Mediterranean region has also significantly slowed down vegetation in the southern Italian stone fruit growing regions - Puglia and Sicily. "We are about 14 days behind the normal schedule for all stone fruits," says Peter Haas, managing director of the eponymous…

Taiwan Food and Drug Administration suspends Costco berry imports from US

Yesterday, we reported on the health risk posed by Costco berries exported from the US to Taiwan. Today, Costco Taiwan has been barred from importing berries from the United…

Taiwan finds hepatitis A virus in Costco berries

The Taiwanese Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found the hepatitis A virus in bags of frozen berries imported from Chile and sold at Costco supermarkets. More than 17,000 kilograms of the product had already been sold to the public in bags of 1.81 kg each. The supermarket company removed the product…

Taiwan is the fourth-largest market for Peruvian blueberries

It's been only two years since Taiwan opened its market to Peruvian blueberries and the Asian country has already become the fourth most important destination for this…

Mexico might soon lead the global blueberry industry

International blueberry demand is growing, but consumer demands are growing as well, and they no longer only demand a good consumer experience, but every day there are more…

USDA

Blueberries from Central and North Florida expected to decrease as season is past its peak

Movement of blueberries out of South Georgia is expected to increase as the season is now fully underway. Trading was moderate at lower prices. Prices flats 12 1-pint cups with lids large mostly 20.00-25.00. Flats 12 6-ounce cups with lids 14.00-18.00. Quality is reported as generally good. Movement of…

Wisconsin cranberry growers are closely eyeing the weather

According to Tom Lochner from the Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Association, the cranberry vines started coming out of dormancy during the unusually warm 80-degree weather two…

Late start and concise season expected for California organic blueberries

While the recent California rains have partly pushed back the start of the organic blueberry season in the state, that may just be a good thing. “We’re probably 10 days to two weeks away from getting started,” says Stephen Paul of Homegrown Organic Farms, noting color break is starting now on early…

Moldovan berry producers rely on domestic market and exports to Romania in 2023

Farmers from the village of Kunicha, one of the largest export-oriented berry clusters in Moldova, hope to maintain and even expand the supply of strawberries to Romania this…

‘Libyan strawberries are crops with a good economic return’

In Libya, arable land in general is at a premium. It does not exceed 10 percent of the country’s area. Still, more than 5,000 hectares are used for strawberry cultivation in…

Cermac - agreement with berry producers from Kyrgyzstan

Over the past few weeks, the President of the Cermac consortium Enrico Turoni signed a cooperation agreement with the Association of Berry Growers from Kyrgyzstan, represented by President Tilek Toktogaziev. "The agreement is a starting point to offer Kyrgyz producers the latest field and post-harvesting…

Texas: Strawberry season better than recent years

According to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert, Texas strawberry growers expect better yields and quality following back-to-back disappointing seasons. Russ…

Promotable volumes of strawberries available for Mother’s Day

"Giant volumes of organic and conventionally grown strawberries are available from California Giant Berry Farms," the company reports. They are right on time for the Mother’s Day holiday and National Strawberry Month. "We are on track to deliver peak promotable volumes of California strawberries led by…

Strawberry greenhouse production in the southeast: Soil-less substrate research in NC

Austin Wrenn keeps his family farm growing in Zebulon (North Carolina) through innovative solutions and active research at NC State University. During his unique journey from student to president of the North Carolina Strawberry Association, Austin was grounded in his family's multi-generational farm,…

Cold and more difficult conditions affect cultivation

The German strawberry harvest is now slowly but surely gaining momentum in most growing regions but with a slight delay. The cold and the aggravated general conditions are…

Elite Global Fresh Trading expands export of UAE-grown blueberries to new markets in Asia-Pacific

Elite Global Fresh Trading (EGFT), a subsidiary of Yas Holding’s agriculture division Elite Agro Holding (EAG) and a prominent UAE trader of fresh produce, has expanded its…

Blackberry pricing coming back down

Thanks to warmer spring temperatures, supplies of blackberries from Mexico will start increasing next month. “It’s been a fairly cool spring until now but we’re feeling like those temperatures will mean we have more fruit available,” says Gerardo López of Produce Lovers. “We’re expecting a spike in May…

"Adverse climate is not the only reason for the difficult strawberry season in Egypt"

With the strawberry season coming to an end, producers have reported a difficult situation marked by large losses of volume, and a considerable increase in production costs, a…

US blueberry growers discuss Farm Bill priorities

According to US blueberry growers, specialty crop programs in the Farm Bill are vital to remaining competitive. Michigan Blueberry Advisory Committee President Chad Reenders…

Mexico: Soft fruit beats out beer for top agro-export spot in 2023

Berries were Mexico’s top-grossing agricultural export in the first two months of the year, bringing in US $777 million in revenue, according to the Bank of Mexico.…

“We are committed to local producers”

Relais Vert is committed to working with local producers located in close proximity to the company (Pernes les Fontaines, Monteux, Mazan, Malemort, and l'Isle sur la Sorgues) and then to those from neighboring areas such as the Gard and Bouches du Rhône. "We are located at the heart of a region that…