"Many customers travel long distances, just for the assortment and quality at the Munich wholesale market"

For several years, Munich-based company Herbafrucht Ltd, which specializes in herbs, has been working with a wild garlic producer from Hungary and another from Romania. "The season usually starts earlier for both origins than German production," says managing director of Herbafrucht, Phillippe Kahn. Managing…

"Due to rapid growth in domestic herbs, we can now completely dispense with flown-in goods"

While the European stone fruit campaign is now rapidly picking up speed despite the weather caprices, exotic imports are seasonally declining. "Last year we had an extremely long stone fruit season, with high-quality batches from Greece and Turkey available to us right into September. Among other things,…

"Demand for the Gourmet herb range continues to grow"

Butler Market Gardens have been attending Hort Connections for many years and will be there again this year. The team will not have a stand this year but still intend to attend. "This is the main event for our industry, we enjoy attending the seminars to listen, learn and keep abreast of trends and new…

VerticalFarmDaily.com

Lithuania: “Our products are just 10-30% more expensive than conventional products”

On Wednesday, May 10, the doors of Leafoods' vertical farm were officially opened and inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The farm is set to deliver its first products by the end of this week. By the end of this year, they aim to produce about 1000kg of lettuce a day. For now, they are supplying…

New basil variety helps indoor grower to differentiate

With basil being one of the most, if not the most, popular fresh herb that consumers want to cook with, one indoor grower is introducing a new basil product just in time for spring. Square Roots is launching a new seasonal fresh herb, Lemon Basil, which is available from May 15 to August 15. “We’re always…

Kenyan herb exporter looks to expand to US and Scandinavia

A Kenyan grower and exporter, who currently supplies the European market with fresh-cut herbs, is looking to expand to the US and Scandinavian markets. However, this is easier said than done, due to expensive airfreight costs, says Solomon Mumbi, CEO of Avohass, who are growers and exporters of fresh…

“We want to develop in Europe”

Les Herbes du Roussillon was present for the first time at this year’s Macfrut event in Italy, a great opportunity for the French producer of aromatic herbs to increase its presence in Europe and beyond. Already present in Germany and Belgium, the dried herbs in bouquets, the latest development of the range, can now be exported…

Directly from the European grower to the Scandinavian consumer

"Fresh.Land began because of one grower's cry for help,” begins Mathilde Jakobsen of this Danish digital platform. “A few years ago, my father-in-law, who grows oranges in Algarve, Portugal, couldn't get his fruit sold. That was due to oversupply and low prices on the local market because of South…

"We want to offer an honest organic-vegan product, which is why we do not use animal manure"

The Bioland Kräutergut Dworschak-Fleischmann offers some 240 different organic-vegan herb varieties. "I am not a vegan myself, but I want to offer an honest organic-vegan product, which is why we do not use animal fertilizers," Managing Director Tanja Dworschak tells us. Only certain herbs, such as rosemary,…

Israeli's fully automated basil growing extends shelf life up to 20 days

In the heart of the pastoral region of northern Israel lies a new agricultural initiative that attempts to transform Herbal Farming by bringing it one step closer to the future, a fully automated basil-growing greenhouse with limited human intervention that extends the shelf life up to 20 days. “My goal,…

Herb production transitions to New Jersey this week

Domestic herb supplies are good coming out of the South and Southeastern U.S. “We are also transitioning now into New Jersey and will probably start harvesting in New Jersey this week,” says Bill Nardelli Sr. of Nardelli Brothers. “It looks like there are more conducive weather conditions toward the end…

"A book is the perfect way to inspire people to use new herb varieties"

It's usually hectic at the Belgian herb farm Kruiden Claus from mid-March in the run-up to Easter. This year, however, the proper pressure is a way off. "I think the weather's the biggest reason," begins Lode Claus of the herb farm specializing in herbs, forgotten vegetables, rare strawberry varieties,…

Vitacress Real greening La Place food concept in Hema

A sea of basil and mint creates a green oasis in two new La Place restaurants introduced at Hema. "We are very proud that we were able to create a fresh herb experience in collaboration with Leaf: a herb greenhouse and a fresh tea garden," explains Renée Peeters of Vitacress Real. The greening creates an…

What's new on the basil front

L'Ortolano produces various basil varieties suitable for all kinds of needs. "For us, basil is a leading product in which we have invested and continue to invest a lot. Our varieties are different and suitable for all kinds of contexts and cultivation types. We are available to provide the best advice for each case," explains…

Very nice demand for greenhouse arugula and French lettuces

Arugula is currently enjoying a nice demand, and this is likely to increase again in the near future, according to Enrico Smolik, managing director of the Freiburg-based wholesale company of the same name. As Smolik sources the product from several growers, he can offer arugula almost year-round. "We mainly…

"Here and there, the cold snap has led to price increases of up to 50 percent for herbs"

The onset of winter in the Mediterranean region has had a noticeable impact on the vegetable trade. "We buy a lot of dandelion, radicchio, and colorful salads from Italy at this time of year and have noticed that the cold snap has had less of an impact on product availability than on prices. However, the…

In western Ukraine, farmers are growing medicinal herbs for export.

In recent years, western Ukrainian farmers have retrained from growing vegetables for borscht to cultivating medicinal herbs. These herbs are used in various fields such as…

Heitsch Gemüsemanufaktur

"Demand for regional, processed vegetables continues to grow"

In 2015, the Heitsch family ventured further into the processing of their own products. Starting with hand-peeled potatoes for regional restaurateurs, other forms of processing have developed into a flourishing business sector. Today, up to 100 tons of field-fresh vegetables are processed monthly, after…

“Suppliers stated that the leafy vegetable and aromatic herbs campaign will end before it completely normalizes”

The supply of open-field leafy vegetables is slowly being restored after having been under tremendous pressure in the past few weeks. However, the normalization of the production will take longer than desired due to the characteristics of the crop and the season's atypical weather, stated Jose Vera from…

Higher demand for herbs from southern Europe, Israel, and Kenya

Bulk herbs such as parsley, basil, mint, and coriander are usually part of the standard assortment for herb traders, continually enjoying great popularity. Despite this, even this segment is not immune to the high prices and costs, as Alexander Hornig, managing director of Ernst & Schlößer Ltd, tells us.…