Portsmouth council disappointed that border post is still inactive

The hi-tech border control post near the waterfront at Portsmouth international port, built to handle post-Brexit checks on goods entering the UK, cost £25 million. However,…

‘Output of several vegetables and fruits misses 100% SSR in 2021’

According to Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, fruits and vegetables like chili, ginger, cabbage, mango and coconut did not reach the 100%…

Cheaper fertilizer is a relief for Australian farmers

Reports of easing fertilizer prices are great news for Aussie farmers, but they warn more will need to be done in order to combat food inflation. According to the Australian…

EastFruit

UAE retail is interested in expanding the assortment of Georgian products

The UAE-based company – LuLu Group International – is interested in introducing Georgian products into the retail chain, EastFruit reports with reference to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. Minister of Agriculture Otar Shamugia met with representatives of one of the largest trading companies…

Namibian Agronomic Board has once again closed the border for 11 of the 20 special controlled crops

The Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) has once again closed the border for the importation of 11 of the 20 special controlled crops from 1 to 30 June. Last month, the board…

Uzbekistan exported 359,200 tons of fruit and vegetable products

Industry experts have looked at the export of fruit and vegetable products of the Republic of Uzbekistan in January-April 2023. According to the results of January-April 2023,…

French retailers want to get closer to the production areas

On the 22nd of May, Le Jardin de Rabelais opened its doors for the first time to some 30 fresh produce retailers from all over France. “Within Demain la Terre, we have a partnership with the federation of local food specialists, Saveurs Commerce, which we met at the Paris International Agricultural Show.…

Jiahe Food

"Through our network of suppliers in Spain, Portugal and Israel, we are able to deliver year-round"

Organic sweet potatoes are now nearing the end of the season. "High-quality sweet potatoes from Portugal are still being loaded, so we will not finish this year's marketing season until the end of the month. After that, we will seamlessly continue with goods from Israel, which we expect to offer in June…

USDA

Most U.S. growers are optimistic and hopeful for a good and favorable season

As the summer harvest season begins in the U.S., most growers are optimistic and hopeful for a good and favorable season. The transportation industry will play a significant role in the transportation of all produce products. The produce industry relies heavily on the trucking industry year after year…

USDA

Many deals on grilling stars like portobello mushrooms, zucchini, yellow squash, asparagus, and sweet onions

Stores were abundantly filled with sweet summer fruit and delicious vegetables for Memorial Day and graduation celebrations. Deals on grilling stars like portobello mushrooms, zucchini, yellow squash, asparagus, colored bell peppers, corn, and sweet onions complimented specials on steaks, burgers, and…

Lack of fruit and vegetables at the Lazio wholesale market

The consequences of the flood in Emilia Romagna and the swift temperature changes are causing a lack in the supply of fruit and vegetables, affecting prices and consumption habits.  The observatory of Centro Agroalimentare Roma, one of the leading European organizations for commercialization in the agrifood sector,…

Uganda: Professionalizing farmers’ access to finance

One key challenge to coffee farmers in Uganda is access to finance. During the cooperative assessment performed in November 2018 by Agriterra’s cooperative advisors, it was identified that 70 percent of the farmer members need advanced cash to be used for input labour, school fees and other expenses…

Vietnam sees fruit and vegetable exports skyrocket from January to May

During the first five months of this year, Vietnam earned nearly US$1.9 billion from fruit and vegetables exports. According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association…

Is the organic sector finally recovering?

Last year was particularly complicated for organic strawberries, but it seems that all the parameters are now in place for a successful campaign. “We started the season on March 20th and we still have three weeks left to harvest. The weather has been on our side this year, with no heatwave that would…

Unravelling misconceptions and proclaiming the true, fresh face of fruits and vegetables

The Annual Event of Freshfel Europe 2023 took place on Thursday 25 May in central Brussels. The event was focused around the theme ‘A fresh face for fruit & vegetables.…

The export of fruit and vegetable products from the Republic of Uzbekistan from January to April 2023

Experts from the Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Studies have studied the export of fruit and vegetable products from the Republic of Uzbekistan from January to April…

Australian consumer might have to get used to high fresh food prices

Fresh food suppliers in Australia claim that the prices of fresh fruit and vegetables won't come down anytime soon. According to Claire McClelland from the Australian Fresh…

Shopping bus travels to eight more villages

Eight weeks after the launch of the first rolling supermarket, REWE and Deutsche Bahn (DB) are drawing a first positive balance. People in northern Hesse are responding well to the shopping bus. Many communities also want to bring the service to their towns and villages. REWE and DB are therefore…

Kurdistan region bans imports of agricultural products to support local farmers

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is implementing a comprehensive reform plan to develop the agricultural sector in the Kurdish region of Iraq and expand the market for…

BLE

'French cauliflower imports curtailed in favor of domestic goods'

French cauliflower imports slowed, but remained at the top of the supply in terms of importance. According to the BLE, the presence of domestic offers expanded. Shipments from Italy, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands were only of a supplementary nature. Demand was generally not particularly strong and…

"Flemish agriculture has been written off before, but always rallies, thanks to strong foundation"

On Tuesday, May 24, prominent Flemish agriculture and horticulture figures gathered in Belgium. It was the Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives Federation (VBT) and the Producer Organizations' Logistics and Administrative Association (LAVA) annual meeting (AGM). Besides the VBT's published annual report,…

The abundant rains have been good for the fields, but a concern for Valencian stone fruit, vegetables and citrus

The Spanish Levante, especially the Region of Murcia and the Region of Valencia, have been recording abundant rainfall after months of extreme drought. In general, and despite the fact that there have been floods in some towns, the producer organizations of both regions consider these recent rains good…

Africa Day: ‘Let’s invest in agricultural potential’

In order to fully capitalize on agricultural opportunities, farmers in South Africa and Namibia have urged industry players to come to the party and improve food security,…

CABI joins SWIFT response to help improve Ethiopian food security

In Ethiopia, rural communities make up over 70% of the population. However, currently these have less than 20% energy access compared to urban areas. The need is accentuated…

IGD

Concerns over fresh produce availability decline slightly in the UK

A multitude of factors continues to disrupt supply chains in and to the UK, including the war in Ukraine, labor shortages, increased costs of production, extreme weather conditions, and the cost-of-living crisis. This is covered in more detail in the latest Viewpoint report. In the latest consumer…

North Korean fruit and vegetable growers suffer from unseasonably low temperatures

North Korean fruit and vegetable growers have suffered damage to their crops due to unseasonably low temperatures in March and April. Orchards in Kaechon, Yangdok, Pukchang…

UK gains membership in CPTTP

The member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Treaty of Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) agreed to accept the accession of the United Kingdom at the end of March 2023. Shigeyuki Goto,…

Peruvian exports to China see average growth of 12.7%

According to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism announced that the value of Peruvian exports to China grew at an annual average of 12,7%, during the 13 years of the…

EU ambassador inspects WACOMP farming projects

Irchad Razaaly, the EU Ambassador to Ghana, has inspected some mango farms that have benefited from the EU funded West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP). The tour…

South Africans are cutting down on groceries due to economic conditions

Although food prices remained high in South Africa, inflation dropped to the lowest level in almost a year in April. Annual consumer inflation slowed to 6.8 percent last…

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…

In May, the assortment in the capital market of Belarus is almost summer-like

Belarusians demand vegetables such as beets, carrots and potatoes, the main ingredients of borscht, all year round and now their prices have become more reasonable. As we…

Turkey is increasing the export of fresh vegetables and fruits

In April, Turkey exported 326,020 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables worth $235.7 million, according to the head of the Mediterranean Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporters…

Russia will increase imports of fruits and vegetables from Uzbekistan in 2023

The majority of the import are fruits and vegetables that are not grown in Russia or are limited in supply due to climate conditions and seasonality. The largest shares of…

Great potential for New Zealand and Vietnam to further strengthen cooperation

According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang, there is great potential for Vietnam and New Zealand to further strengthen cooperation in terms of trade,…

Bad weather causes damage in Sicily again

Winds exceeding 100 km/h hit eastern, northern, and central Sicily on May 19th and 20th. Greenhouses covered in (old) plastic films and polytunnels were damaged, as well as many blossoming citrus fruit groves and orchards in full production. The immediate effects were apricot and peach drops, as well as…

Früchte Franz

"Staff shortages are becoming a structural problem for the entire industry"

Traders like Thomas Franz from Berlin's wholesale market don't have it easy at the moment. Apart from the lack of staff, there also seems to be an increasing shortage of customers in Berlin's restaurants and pubs. "In 2022, we were satisfied with business. At that time, we were already struggling with…

Vietnam and Israel cooperate to speed up trade deal enforcement

Sources say that Vietnam will continue to work closely with Israel to early sign and enforce the two countries' Free Trade Agreement, bringing practical benefits to businesses…

Integrating tech into horticulture will create new types of growth

The recent New Zealand Government Wellbeing Budget included a $29.9m commitment to integrating technology into the horticulture sector. According to AgriTechNZ Chief Executive…

Photo report: "Markthallen München represents the food and general interest services that are provided here"

About 300,000 tons are loaded annually at the Munich wholesale market. Despite various challenges, import volumes fluctuated only marginally. "After we had to put up with some crises in recent years, the situation is now stabilizing again," says Kira Weißbach, manager at Markthallen München. "We will not…

UK fruit exports to the EU down by more than half since Brexit

Recent data from HMRC indicates that exports of fruit from the UK to the EU, including traditional English apples and pears, have more than halved since Brexit. The drop has been put down to the introduction of trade barriers caused by the UK’s departure from the EU, including mandatory health…

Growing beans or melons in China? Then, beware of the agriculture police

Chinese President Xi Jinping's so-called agricultural police numbers 87,000 officers. They check that growers in China cultivate only government-approved crops. These often unprofitable crops like rice, soy, or corn are meant to boost self-sufficiency. It is strictly forbidden to plant products such as…

More than 7,000 km2 of flooded land in Emilia Romagna

"A first evaluation shows that at least 5,000 crop farms suffered damage from the floods in Emilia Romagna in recent days. The total damage amounts to billions," said Ettore Prandini, national president of the Italian trade association Coldiretti. Meteorologist Pierluigi Randi speaks of about 7,000 km2…

Bananas from Belize at £1.06: same as last week

This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £1.06 for bananas…

"We are in the mood to expand our markets"

2022 has been one of the best years in Oboya's history, and they are determined to continue to grow. Recently, they made a large investment to expand their assortment, and by the end of the year, they will have a local production site in Colombia, enabling them to better serve the North and South…

Ecuador’s agreements with China and Costa Rica are suspended

The trade agreements that Ecuador signed this year with Costa Rica and China were suspended after last Wednesday, the president of the South American country, Guillermo Lasso,…

Spain: Drought threatens to further increase EU food prices

So far this year, cumulative rainfall in Spain is less than one-fourth of the 10-year average. The intense drought is now afflicting a wide range of crops, threatening to…

Ethiopia exported more than $550 million worth of horti goods in 8 months of current fiscal year

According to the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), more than 550 million USD has been secured from the export of horticulture products in eight…

Egyptian agri exports exceed 3.4 million tons from Jan-May 2023

The Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture has reported that agricultural exports during the period Jan-May  2023 amounted to about 3,4 million tons of agricultural products, an increase…

End of food price inflation might be in sight

The UN’s food price index is down about 20% from a record set a year ago, and further declines are expected. Mintec, a price-reporting agency whose clients include some of the…

NFU President presents a new hospitality report

NFU President Minette Batters has presented a new hospitality report at an industry-wide roundtable. Based on research with consumers and businesses, the report showcases the…

fenaco

"Shortage of skilled workers in Swiss catering industry boosts demand for convenience items"

In 2022, the fenaco cooperative achieved the highest net sales since its foundation with CHF 8.06 billion. At CHF 138.4 million and with a return on sales of 1.7 percent, the operating result (EBIT) is also convincing and, as expected, back at the level achieved before the extraordinary pandemic years.…

USDA

Watermelons, cantaloupes, cherries, peaches, and more featured as specials

Memorial Day and graduation celebrations were the main promotions seen in stores this week. Watermelons, cantaloupes, cherries, corn, peaches, cucumbers, asparagus, tomatoes, lettuce, avocados, and onions were just a few of the featured specials geared toward celebrating shoppers. Total ad numbers this…

USDA

Movement of asparagus from Peru through South Florida expected to remain about the same

Every year, the produce industry also uses Memorial Day week as an important gauge tool to see if fruits and vegetables will have a strong start to the summer months. They promote fresh produce and other food items on the front pages of grocery stores' weekly circulars around the country. Some of the…

"Our goal is to offer more than 300 items from regional production this season"

On Tuesday, May 16, Knuspr invited members of the press to take a look behind the scenes and also introduced the regional producers. For around two years, customers in the Munich and Frankfurt areas have been able to order fresh produce via the online service. In doing so, the company specifically…

Limgroup Experience Days 2023 gets 300+ visitors

Last week, the Limgroup held the third edition of its Limgroup Experience Days in the Netherlands. Wednesday, May 10 to Friday, May 12, were devoted to giving the public a behind-the-scenes look at the Limgroup range's latest innovations and the mutual exchange of knowledge and experience. On Wednesday and…

Italy: floods claim lives and cause enormous damage to farms

"We've lost a colleague, an acquaintance, a friend. The loss of life is the worst result of the catastrophe that struck Cesena and the regions of Emilia-Romagna and De Marche [in Italy] on May 16," Matteo Evangelisti, Biondi Giulio's manager, told FreshPlaza on Wednesday. This cultivation company has a…

"The picture is not totally bleak for the Moroccan agricultural campaign"

Morocco's agricultural export season is nearing its end, closing in July with the watermelon and grape calendars and the last volumes of vegetables nearly sold out. It has been a memorably complicated season, but for Mustapha Mohattan, commercial director of the exporter Fructimoor, "the overall result…

Horgos Port: Fruits and vegetables are popular Chinese exports to Central Asia

Fruits and vegetables are among the most popular goods exported from China to Central Asia through Horgos, a port city in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at the border…

'African scientists and researchers should more often apply science to agriculture'

Uganda’s state minister for agriculture, Bright Rwamirama, has appealed to African scientists and researchers to apply science to agriculture to enable the continent to become…

Bangladesh sees prices of vegetables go up even more

In Bangladesh, vegetables and spices became even more expensive last week. Onion, ginger, and cumin seed prices continued to skyrocket. The price of onions witnessed a further…

Pakistan-Russia direct shipping service will start on May 25

A direct, containerised shipping service linking Pakistan and Russia is scheduled to commence operations later this month. The service will be creating enhanced trade access…

© Zerbor Dreamstime.com

New report finds 97% of fruits and vegetables sampled in California meet pesticide safety standards

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) today released a report finding that 97% of fruits and vegetables sampled within the state in 2021 met federal pesticide safety standards. The 2021 California Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program Report shows that 97% of domestically grown and…

Belarusian tomatoes are more expensive than pineapples and bananas

Tomatoes and cucumbers are the most in-demand vegetables in Belarus. Their prices are high. Overseas coconuts and pineapples remain on the shelves, despite their affordable…

Consumers ramp up fruit purchases in light of more favorable prices in April

The deceleration of the rate of inflation continued in April 2023. “We found that the increase in the price per unit for total food and beverages averaged 8.2 percent in April 2023 compared with April 2022,” said Jonna Parker, team lead, fresh for Circana (formerly IRI).   Additionally, the temporary Supplemental Nutrition…

Kano River Irrigation Scheme improves situation for 140,000 farmers

In Nigeria, the Kano River Irrigation Scheme (KRIS), located 30 kilometres south of Kano, the capital of Kano State, has been completed. The infrastructure built under the…

"With pressure on food security, Indonesia's horticulture is developing in the right direction"

Indonesia's horticulture industry is an important sector for the country's economy, providing employment to a large number of people. It is a sector that has developed strongly in recent years. Gerrit Staal also saw this during a visit to the country this spring. "There will be increasing investment in…

Support for funding of I-19 interchange improvements near Nogales

Produce truck traffic will become more efficient and safer with the availability of funding for key interstate intersections along I-19 in Southern Arizona. Left to right: Lance Jungmeyer, FPAA president; Raquel Espinoza, FPAA chair-elect; Senator Rosanna Gabaldon; Nogales Mayor Jorge Maldonado; Santa…

Fruits and vegetables, a priority in the shopping basket

Health, quality and respect for the environment play a fundamental role for consumers when buying fruit and vegetables. The campaign under the slogan "Compete for a better…

The drought has overwhelmed Tunisian producers

Four consecutive years of drought have gotten the better of Tunisian producers and forced them to abandon several crops in favor of others, also motivated by government measures in this direction. Selmi Mohameddhia, a Tunisian agronomist, comments on the situation. Selmi explains: "The least we can say…

'Governmental storm damage support is a fraction of what's needed'

Victorian farmers whose crops were ruined by hail storms could be eligible for financial support, but industry experts are concerned it will not be enough. Yesterday, the…

PM Sunak promises to put UK farmers ‘at heart of British trade’

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has launched a new package aimed at protecting the UK food supply chain. This also encompasses a promise to protect farmers in future trade deal…

Supermarkets attend governmental food summit amid warnings of market failure

Supermarkets have been called to a summit at Number 10 to discuss why food prices are continuing to rise while households struggle with their weekly shop and farmers can’t…

Global Coalition of Fresh Produce urges: Safeguard produce supply

The Global Coalition of Fresh Produce recently called on national and international policymakers to implement measures to safeguard the supply of affordable and safe fruits…

Rain and hail is causing damage and no peace in Emilia Romagna

On Friday 12 May 2023 huge parts of Emilia Romagna were again jolted by excessive rainfall. And if that was not enough, hail also hit the area of Bologna, Forlì and Cesena, damaging vegetables and fruit trees not protected by nets. Damage caused by hail in Carpinello, in the province of Forlì-Cesena. Photo…

Großmarkt Wien

Obsthaus Haller plans sustainable fresh produce logistics center

After the successful anniversary year, 2022, the wholesale market Vienna will implement some renovation works in 2023. The focus will be on further sustainability measures: the GMW lighting system will be converted to LED. All street lighting will be controlled by brightness sensors in the future.…

Monterey County winter storms cause $600 million in agri losses

This year’s winter storms have cumulatively impacted a total of 20,073 acres and created $600 million of damage to the Monterey County agri sector. The most recent survey…

Primary producer loans and more disaster recovery assistance for hail-impacted Victorians

Victorian primary producers in the City of Greater Shepparton and the Yarra Ranges Local Government Areas can now apply for concessional loans of up to $250,000 following a…

Argentina to import food to curb rising prices

Argentine authorities have announced a set of measures to tackle inflation. These include more active involvement in the foreign exchange market. But the most significant of…

North Macedonia turns to Bulgaria to replace Russian market

Russia’s war in Ukraine has negatively affected North Macedonia’s agricultural exports. Growers like Ljube Pampulevski and other apple growers in Debar, exported more than half their crop to Russia. Now, the war in Ukraine has sent relations with Skopje into a tailspin, and exporters are hurting. Of…

Turkey: Agri exports hit four-month record

Turkish agriculture exporters have managed to maintain pace and lift their overseas sales to a record high in the first four months of this year. The demand remained robust…

Prices for bananas from Ecuador unchanged from last week

This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £1.06 for bananas…

The Chinese have increased the export of vegetables and fruits to the Primorsky Krai

During the first week of May, the agricultural supervision specialists branch checked almost 5.9 thousand tons of fresh vegetables and fruits imported to the Primorsky Krai…

UK growers' alliance departs government roundtable ahead of food summit

An alliance of growers' groups has announced its resignation from a government industry roundtable, citing "disappointment" at its decision not to develop a horticulture…

Vietnam: Fruit and vegetable exports to probably hit 4 billion USD this year

Vietnam exported nearly 1 billion USD worth of fruits and vegetables in Q1, up 8% from a year earlier. According to Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary General of the Vietnam Fruit…

Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti horticulture industries urgently need more Government direction and support

The Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti horticulture industries urgently need more Government direction and support if they are to recover to pre-cyclone levels of growth within the…

USDA

Movement of asparagus from Peru through South Florida expected to remain about the same

Movement of asparagus crossings from Mexico through Calexico, California, San Luis, Arizona, and Arizona is expected to decrease seasonally. Trading is active. Prices are generally unchanged. The movement of asparagus from Peru imports through South Florida ports of entry is expected to remain about the…

USDA

New crop California cherries, strawberries, mangos, and more provided inspiration for Mother's Day

This week retailers filled stores with fruits, flowers, candy, and bakery items that were almost as sweet as mom. New crop California cherries, strawberries, mangos, blueberries, Navel oranges, and pineapples provided inspiration for Mother's Day brunch or breakfast in bed. For those firing up the grill…

Australia-UK FTA positive for Queensland growers

Queensland agricultural industry representatives have welcomed the long-awaited announcement that talks by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the UK have been successful. The…

USDA

Bilateral agricultural trade between the US and South Africa reached record value of nearly $1 billion in 2022

The South African Agricultural Economic Fact Sheet has been updated to include calendar year 2022. Bilateral agricultural trade between the United States and South Africa reached a record value of nearly $1 billion in 2022. Major agricultural products traded between the two countries include fresh fruit,…

Hungary maintains ban on Ukrainian agri products

After the Hungarian government announced on April 28 that a deal has been reached with the EU on the topic of certain member states’ unilateral bans on the imports of…

Getting first-hand impressions on challenges and needs of the Bulgarian fruit and vegetable sector

A Dutch delegation visited Bulgaria in April to explore and expand opportunities for bilateral cooperation in horticulture. The visit was a follow-up of the Dutch…

NFU welcomes amendment to Retained EU Law Bill

Following concerns raised by the NFU on the impact of the REUL (Retained EU Law) Bill in its current form, the government has announced its intention to revoke the 'sunset…

Why are many people angry at the big retail chains?

Quality comes from local productions, which can reach the whole world if managed professionally. This is one of the many concepts discussed during the convention that Sipo organized at its stand during Macfrut. Various national experts also discussed how big retail chains are often blamed for all sorts…

Mack & Gerstner GmbH & Co. KG

Good demand for Zespri kiwifruit and AAA class stone fruit - despite high price level

Currently, the company Mack and Gerstner from Mannheim is still offering the last green kiwifruit from Italian origin, as Managing Director Florian Wahl (pictured below) tells us. "Since last week, there are already the first golden kiwis of the brand Zespri from New Zealand of size 37. The demand is…

“Our innovation helps to cut water consumption when cleaning fruit and vegetables”

In a context where water is becoming increasingly scarce and must be preserved, Fastnaet has developed a system that drastically reduces the consumption of this precious resource when equipment is being cleaned. “It all started when I was visiting a client who is a golf course owner. Specialized in the…

Deep Impact AG

"AI will massively simplify sales planning"

The urgency of digitization is being recognized: In Switzerland, the Charter for the Digitization of the Swiss Agriculture and Food Industry, adopted in 2018, forms the basis for digital transformation. Since then, various studies - including foreign ones - have recently examined the potential of…

Agrivoltaics is an asset for fruit growers in times of drought

"Installing solar panels above crops reduces evapotranspiration and limits the temperature during heat peaks. Photovoltaic panels can be an ally of farmers by limiting the effects of climate change on crops, enhancing the attractiveness of agricultural jobs, and providing additional income." Active since…

"Without reform, this provision will harm many labor-dependent family farms"

The Agriculture Workforce Coalition has released the following statement: ”The House has announced plans to move forward with H.R. 2, the “Secure the Border Act,” which…

"City Harvest is a sustainable solution to surplus food - rescuing food, people, and planet"

Food waste is a major issue for produce companies as there is no market for 2nd class produce, and it costs money to dispose of surplus produce. This perfectly good food is often ‘just not quite good enough’ for retailers or ‘just a few fruits’ in a box that are not good - so the whole box has to be…

How do grocery prices in Malta compare to those in Sicily and Cyprus?

Carrying out a weekly grocery shop in Malta costs 21% of a person’s average monthly salary in Malta, compared to 19% in Sicily and 16% in Cyprus. An analysis carried out by…

Himachal farmers are facing crop losses estimated at over Rs 1 bln due to erratic weather

Himachal Pradesh received 117 mm of rain against the seasonal average of 187.1 mm, a deficit of 37 per cent during the winter season, whereas the rain deficit last December…

Kenyan President Ruto strikes horticulture deal with the Netherlands

Kenya and the Netherlands have committed to boosting ties and developing economic relations. The nations have partnered to enhance trade in fruits and vegetables. Under the…

"Our raw food and fruit salads' flavor remains paramount"

In the Netherlands, the artisanal raw food salads prepared fresh daily at the Den Hollander family's greengrocer were a regional staple for years. When, 20 years ago, the processing space behind the store grew too small, Erik Den Hollander and his wife Aleida decided to start an independent business, and…

"No Dutch fruit-vegetable price dip, as feared, only cucumbers lag"

"We had serious doubts about how the Dutch fruit-vegetable season would go," says Ruud Zwinkels of EFP International. "After the sharp decline in lit cultivation, everyone was somewhat worried about whether all the supply would reach the market at once. But, for now, that's minimally affected trade.…

BLE

'Colorful salads predominantly originated in Germany'

In the case of iceberg lettuce, Spanish offers could be accessed almost exclusively, domestic supply flanked them with only very small quantities. According to the BLE, availability had become limited, and quotations subsequently increased almost everywhere. Only Berlin reported slight reductions. In…

"Study proves drastic effects of EU plans to reduce pesticides"

The EU Commission's proposed regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products (SUR) would make classic arable farming, fruit growing, vegetable growing, and…

Australians could be forced to pay significantly more for fruit and vegetables again

Australians could be forced to pay significantly more for fruit, vegetables, milk, and other groceries over the next three years due to rising trucking fees. Transport and…

Focusing on a fruit season analysis and the future of agro-exports

The 8th Agrotrade Chile 2023 Convention and International Fair will once again bring together the main agricultural players at the Monticello Convention Center around a…

Fine Fruit Company to move to new building next year

Fine Fruit Company has been in Poeldijk, the Netherlands, for two years. It is the Dutch branch of the French premium supermarket Grand Frais. "We're the perfect mix of a small organization's personal involvement and a large company's professionalism," says Almir Dedovic, who has handled the supermarket…

EDEKA / Thomas Schindel

Six EDEKA merchants run Germany's best fruit and vegetable departments

For the 28th time, the trade magazine RUNDSCHAU for the food trade, together with FRUCHTHANDEL magazine, has searched for Germany's best fruit and vegetable departments and this year found six EDEKA merchants. No less than three stores convinced the expert jury at national level with their unique…

Far-reaching implications of proposed EU marketing standards for pre-cut fruit and vegetables industry

Freshfel Europe warned the European Commission this week on the far-reaching implications of its draft proposal on marketing standards if rules on mandatory country-specific…

"We doubled our exports in just one year"

The wide range of crops grown on their own farm, as well as the certifications that guarantee them, and the cultivation techniques for Zero Residues and Zero Nickel, are just some of the reasons why Ortofrutta Bernardi's market positioning in Italy is stronger and has nearly doubled its exports in just…

Fruit and vegetable prices up 22 percent as annual food price inflation soars

In New Zealand, food price inflation is at its highest level in 36 years. Stats NZ's food price index rose 12.5 percent in the year ended April, the highest annual rate since…

Bangladesh: Economic growth is driven by a large domestic consumer market

Currently, Bangladesh is a dynamic, fast-growing market. Growth is driven by a large domestic consumer market, a rapidly expanding middle and affluent class and an impressive…

Northeast Spain faced with crippling drought

A massive drought in Catalonia is forcing this northeast region of Spain to turn to water rationing, seawater desalination, and recycling effluent from sewage treatment…

Produce & Reduce pilot program introduced at three California agricultural facilities

Measure to Improve (MTI) and Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) partnered for the first time on a pilot program, bringing a new approach to building organizational capacity,…

"We need to prioritize the use of the water available for perennial fruit crops"

Catalonia, with the province of Lleida at the head, is undoubtedly the largest apple-producing region in Spain. It accounted for 43.5% of the apples harvested nationwide in 2022 (a percentage that would rise to 51.8% if apples for cider production were not taken into account in the total), so the closure…

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…

Cucumber pricing remains difficult, including organic

The cucumber price continues to hover at low levels. In week 18, the average price dropped slightly again after a small rebound of the average price in week 17. With an…

Fruit and vegetable exports Vietnam up in Jan-April as Chinese demand increases

Exports of Vietnamese fruit and vegetables rose 19.4 percent from the same period last year. According to figures compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural…

Bananas from Belize at £1.06: steady compared to last week

This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £1.06 for bananas…

Portugal to get EU aid due to prolonged drought

Agriculture and Food Minister Maria do Céu Antunes has signed an order recognizing a drought situation in 40% of the country’s southern region late last week. This will also…

California storms delay vital crops

California's relentless storms over the winter and spring have been more than a damaging inconvenience. This is becoming evident in the produce aisle, where California farmers…

Government inaction costing Hawke’s Bay horticulture more than $1m a day

Failure by the NZ Government to provide further direction in cyclone ravaged Hawke’s Bay is costing the local horticulture industry more than $1m a day. ‘Growers in the…

Canadian growers brace for trade retaliation from China

Canadian businesses and farmers are once again bracing themselves for retaliatory measures from China as Beijing seeks to punish Canada for expelling a Chinese diplomat. On…

Poland as an attractive market: fruit and vegetable import analyses

According to EastFruit analysts, despite the world’s leading position in the exports of certain fruits and berries, such as fresh apples or frozen raspberries, Poland remains a major net importer of produce and could be a very attractive market. According to EastFruit analysts, despite the world’s…

Ukraine prepares to ban imports from Moldova

On Saturday, 6 May, the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture announced plans to join the EU decision to introduce a temporary ban on importing wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower from Ukraine while allowing their transit. In response to the restrictions introduced by Moldova against Ukrainian agricultural…