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Tuesday, September 26, 2023


Jaime Bustamante with the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation
“We help companies across continents resolve disputes”
In some cases, the sale or purchase of fresh produce doesn’t go according to plan and results in a dispute. Disputes may arise due to issues related to the quality of the product, its condition upon arrival, or disagreements regarding the fairness of the return or liquidation offered by the buyer. Taking…

SnapDragon apple harvest promising despite weather challenges
Apple growers in New York state had to deal with a challenging growing season. “Conditions were not perfect this year due to a late blossom, early fruit-set freeze, and some hail throughout the summer,” says Jessica Wells with Crunch Time Apple Growers. As a result, the state’s total apple production is…


Consumption of fresh Haskap berries has benefited from pandemic
Ten years ago, no one knew what a Haskap berry was,” says Samuel Côté with Haskap Producers in Canada. With more and more information becoming available about their health benefits, the popularity of Haskap berries has taken off and continues to grow. “In addition to terrific health benefits, Haskap…

Newer proprietary red grape varietal coming to an end for the season
As the end of September closes in, one California grape grower is looking towards wrapping up the season on a proprietary variety that it discovered in its fields more than 10 years ago. Mirabella Farms Inc.’s now proprietary variety, the Red Malibu Seedless grape, was discovered then but has been…


Revamp of Cara Cara orange program
Health is still top-of-mind as consumers continue to seek out products that play a role in supporting holistic lifestyles and The Pink Orange, Cara Cara, is no exception. Orange on the outside and pink on the inside, Caras get their pink interior from the antioxidant lycopene. Offering 100 percent of the…

Pink co-branded tag for asparagus during breast cancer awareness month
Farm Direct Supply (FDS), a global supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables, is proud to announce the continuation of its partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation…


University of Minnesota unveils new 'Kudos' apples
The University of Minnesota has unveiled a new apple variety, to become available in coming years. Last week, the U of M’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource…

Ecuador's dragon fruit industry eager to supply more volume to new market of China
The Chinese market’s admission of yellow dragon fruit from Ecuador this year presents the South American country with a great opportunity to boost their exports. Gabriela Vallejo, who calls herself the Tropical Queen and head of sales for Ecuafields, a producer and exporter from Ecuador says: “The…


Scientists claim that garlic breath can be fixed by eating natural yogurt
Garlic lovers will know that, while the pungent ingredient adds a lot of flavor to many otherwise bland dishes, it is also known to cause bad breath. However, scientists at…

Safeway Fresh Foods recalls Sunnyside Farms Organic Butternut Squash
Safeway Fresh Foods of Vineland, NJ, is recalling its 32-oz. Diced Organic Butternut Squash product as it has the potential to be contaminated with Escherichia coli O45. E.…

Baby Butter Cakes
Collection of luxury lettuces unveiled
Grower-shipper Babé Farms is introducing a new product at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in Anaheim, California on Friday and Saturday, October 20-21. The latest addition to Babé's collection of luxury lettuces is Baby Butter Cakes™. These petite heads of butter lettuce, available in both green…

New bag closure has better potential for recycling
Kwik Lok introduces Enviro-Lok, the new polypropylene bag closure made to keep products safe and fresh, while also delivering a better potential for recycling. Kwik Lok will feature the Enviro-Lok at the Global Floral and Produce Show in Anaheim, California (USA) October 19-21, booth #3331 and at the…

Industry changemakers inspire business success
Recognizing that business success requires far more than great products and services, the International Fresh Produce Association offers business-building global thought leaders on consumer, tech, and talent trends at The Global Produce & Floral Show, October 19-21 in Anaheim, California. "No longer is a…

‘Potatoes Forever!’ campaign launched in Europe
Europe has unveiled a €3.2 million initiative, named “Potatoes Forever!“ It is aimed at educating the public about sustainable practices within the fresh potato industry. The…

Olivier Magaud, Solema-Luzo
The French yellow onion campaign starts with “very high prices”
The 2023 French yellow onion campaign looks more promising than in 2022, which was “catastrophic” in terms of volumes and prices. Olivier Magaud describes the current issues faced by Solema-Luzo, a French company specialized in alliums. Olivier Magaud The campaign starts with “very high prices”The French…

Fermín Utrilla, of Biodiversa: “Since July, the demand for onions has been exceeding the supply”
“It remains to be seen how the storage capacity will be affected by the latest rains in September”
According to Fermín Utrilla, from Biodiversa, the onion acreage in Castile-La Mancha is expected to shrink compared to previous years due to the high rental prices of land for cultivation and the higher costs of electricity, diesel, fertilizers, etc. "The sector expects normal yields; Albacete, an…
Vegetables more »

Ukrainian farmers have expanded the agricultural land dedicated to vegetable cultivation
Ukrainian farmers have averted a vegetable crisis in Ukraine by expanding the agricultural land dedicated to vegetable cultivation. Yuriy Kormyshkin, the Chairman of the…

USDA
Pennsylvania leads country in organic mushroom production
Pennsylvania led the United States in organic mushroom production with about 9.6 million square feet devoted to organic mushrooms in 2021. That amounts to about 61 percent of total U.S. square footage, a significant increase from 39 percent in 2019. California followed Pennsylvania, producing about 3.3…

Egyptians angry over sharp rise in vegetable prices
Onion prices per kilo surged to 35 Egyptian pounds this month. They were 10 pounds cheaper last month and about 12 pounds per kilo a year ago. This rise in the price of onions…
Bananas more »

Average weekly wholesale prices of fruit and veg & bananas
Bananas from Colombia at £0.95, up 8% 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 £0.95 for bananas…
Potatoes and Onions more »
Potato trader Nasr Rahme
In Lebanon, new potatoes are harvested in July and November
Lebanese potato grower Michel Rahme has high hopes for a specific new variety. "Varietal renewal is imminent. We want a potato that delivers higher yields in the field, is versatile in the kitchen, and can throw open other markets' doors. We think we've found that in Maverick," he begins. They hope to…
Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables more »

Record long Thai mangosteen season makes Indonesian exporters wonder
The global mangosteen market is still receiving fruit from Thailand, which is experiencing an unusually extended harvest season. Indonesia’s new crop will be available from October onward. As a result of Thailand’s extended season, fruit prices are currently not stable. "It is very unusual that Thailand…

Ecuador's dragon fruit industry eager to supply more volume to new market of China
The Chinese market’s admission of yellow dragon fruit from Ecuador this year presents the South American country with a great opportunity to boost their exports. Gabriela Vallejo, who calls herself the Tropical Queen and head of sales for Ecuafields, a producer and exporter from Ecuador says: “The…

Scientists claim that garlic breath can be fixed by eating natural yogurt
Garlic lovers will know that, while the pungent ingredient adds a lot of flavor to many otherwise bland dishes, it is also known to cause bad breath. However, scientists at…
Company news more »

Pete Pappas & Sons welcomes new director of fresh perishables
Pete Pappas & Sons welcomes Terry Thornsberry as director of fresh perishables to its sales team. Thornsberry is a second-generation produce man and industry veteran with 40…

Pink co-branded tag for asparagus during breast cancer awareness month
Farm Direct Supply (FDS), a global supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables, is proud to announce the continuation of its partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation…

Fyffes publishes second sustainability report and progress on targets
"Our production markets of Latin America and our consumption markets in North America and Europe repurpose food loss into nutritious healthy meals"
Fyffes published today its second sustainability report, which highlights the company’s progress towards its 13 sustainability targets during 2021 and 2022. These targets have been set against a 2020 baseline year and are expected to be met by 2030. Fyffes targets are aligned with the UN Sustainable…

T&G Fresh opens new site for fresh produce trading in Auckland
New Zealand’s largest grower and distributor of fresh produce, T&G Fresh, opened the doors to its new Auckland fresh produce market this week at 113A Carbine Road, Mt…

Retha Faul – Retha Faul Consulting
Food safety system gives growers and consumers peace of mind
Food producers have a plethora of documents going back and forth these days, much of it to comply with the various food safety standards, and to backdate or generate documents before a scheduled audit constitutes fraudulent behaviour. Sometimes documentation slips through and staff forget – but that need…

Jordi Ferre joins Coolsan Australia’s mission to get more food to more mouths
Coolsan Australia is proud to announce the appointment of Jordi Ferre (ex CEO AgroFresh/Alvinesa Natural Ingredients) to head up their Global ULD-HPV ChillSafe Strategy and…

Ridder celebrates 70 years
Ridder is celebrating its 70th anniversary. The family-owned company in the field of technology for protected horticulture has a rich history of innovation, growth, and dedication to customers and employees. CEO Pascal Piepers says, "Ridder is a unique company. The 'Ridder feeling' stands for commitment, entrepreneurship, and…
Greenhouse more »

"We're going to Madrid also to collect news and rumors"
Fewer investments in covers despite climate change
The entire world is dealing with various crises - the war, higher prices, climate change and social and geo-political tension. A series of risks and difficulties that inevitably have a negative impact on companies, including those in the primary sector. Retilplast production plant in Campagna (Salerno) "We…
Logistics more »

portodigioiatauro.it
The Gioia Tauro port risks closing due to the ETS decision"In the future, it won't be in the interest of shipowners to stop in European ports anymore"
Located in the heart of the Mediterranean sea where the East-West maritime routes and the trans-European Helsinki-Valletta corridor meet, Gioia Tauro is the largest transhipment terminal in Italy and one of the leading hubs for container traffic in the Mediterranean basin. Today, however, it may risk…
Machinery more »

Designers of new advanced stone fruit plant on show in Madrid
The Sorma Group will be exhibiting again at Fruit Attraction to meet established and potential customers from the trade to provide insights into its many innovations for the post-harvesting processing and packaging of fruit and vegetables. The projects presented include the most highly automated and…

Bid on various high-quality food processing machines
Industrial Auctions has organized an interesting auction in Kapelle (NL). The offer consists, for example, of sorting belts, batchers, filling and packaging machines, labelling equipment, checkweighers, metal detectors, peelers, and more. Also some interesting combinations are offered on this auction.…

"Crust freezing ensures that the frozen sweet corn maintains its original quality and flavor”
According to Sana Rehman, marketing coordinator for OctoFrost, sweet corn has attracted the interest of health-conscious consumers looking for nourishing choices, since it is a source of important vitamins and antioxidants. “A major biotechnology business, Bayer, claims that the agriculture industry has…
General fresh produce more »

Experts claim cap on grocery prices is a bad idea
Although the Victorian Greens want a cap on grocery prices to spare consumers’ wallets, experts suggest it could be a bad idea. Greens MP Sam Hibbins made the suggestion in…

Jaime Bustamante with the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation
“We help companies across continents resolve disputes”
In some cases, the sale or purchase of fresh produce doesn’t go according to plan and results in a dispute. Disputes may arise due to issues related to the quality of the product, its condition upon arrival, or disagreements regarding the fairness of the return or liquidation offered by the buyer. Taking…
Management more »

Restrain appoints Dr. Benedikt Cramer as new Managing Director
Restrain, a provider of ethylene-based sprout control solutions, has announced the appointment of Dr. Benedikt Cramer as its new Managing Director. The current MD Dirk Garos…
Miscellaneous more »

APHIS establishes Oriental Fruit Fly quarantine in Brentwood, Contra Costa County
On September 6, 2023, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) established an Oriental fruit fly…

California border patrol officers arrest man smuggling cocaine in cucumber shipment
California border patrol officers have arrested a Mexican earlier this month after he was caught with over 400 pounds of cocaine hiding in a box of cucumbers at the Otay Mesa…
Fruit more »

SnapDragon apple harvest promising despite weather challenges
Apple growers in New York state had to deal with a challenging growing season. “Conditions were not perfect this year due to a late blossom, early fruit-set freeze, and some hail throughout the summer,” says Jessica Wells with Crunch Time Apple Growers. As a result, the state’s total apple production is…

BerryWorld remains true to principles as it approaches 30th anniversary year
In 2023, as the BerryWorld Group approaches the completion of its third decade as a berry expert, the Group continues to make significant strides with its varietal portfolio.…

University of Minnesota unveils new 'Kudos' apples
The University of Minnesota has unveiled a new apple variety, to become available in coming years. Last week, the U of M’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource…

97% of Mexican berries go to the United States and Canada
According to Juan José Flores, the general director of the National Association of Berry Exporters (Aneberries), domestic consumption is increasing. Currently, according to…

Newer proprietary red grape varietal coming to an end for the season
As the end of September closes in, one California grape grower is looking towards wrapping up the season on a proprietary variety that it discovered in its fields more than 10 years ago. Mirabella Farms Inc.’s now proprietary variety, the Red Malibu Seedless grape, was discovered then but has been…

Asian market has lots of potential for Portuguese grapes
The start of the Portuguese grape season has been satisfying, with possibilities to enter new markets, states Susana Ferreira, marketing director of Portuguese grape exporter Vale da Rosa: “The Portuguese grape market is running normally and as expected so far. The seeded grapes season has ended and we…

Consumption of fresh Haskap berries has benefited from pandemic
Ten years ago, no one knew what a Haskap berry was,” says Samuel Côté with Haskap Producers in Canada. With more and more information becoming available about their health benefits, the popularity of Haskap berries has taken off and continues to grow. “In addition to terrific health benefits, Haskap…

Morocco wants to exceed 100,000 tons in blueberry exports
The international speakers and attendees at the XXVIII International Blueberry Seminar confirmed that the blueberry industry in Morocco is quite a consolidated sector. The…
Herbs more »

Lorenzo Fernández, from Freshpania:
“The excessive supply from aromatic herb producers has been taking a toll on the price levels in recent years”
The rains recorded in recent days in the Spanish Region of Murcia have coincided with the planting of various crops, including several varieties of fresh aromatic herbs produced by Aromatic Factory and marketed by Freshpania, which handle about 2 million kilos annually. "All our crops will be ready on…
Agenda more »

Organic Grower Summit:
Regenerative agriculture and what it means for organic
'Regenerative agriculture' is a fast-growing term helping reshape how food is grown, but what does it mean for the organic fresh produce industry? A panel of organic industry leaders will address the trends and future outlook related to regenerative and organic production at the Organic Grower Summit…
Citrus more »

Revamp of Cara Cara orange program
Health is still top-of-mind as consumers continue to seek out products that play a role in supporting holistic lifestyles and The Pink Orange, Cara Cara, is no exception. Orange on the outside and pink on the inside, Caras get their pink interior from the antioxidant lycopene. Offering 100 percent of the…
Organic more »

Organic labelling laws under spotlight in Australia
Rugby league legend and 2023 Australian Organic Awareness Month Ambassador, Anthony Minichiello, has backed the push for stronger regulations around organic ‘greenwashing’. Now a qualified nutritionist, Minichiello advocates for certified organic farming practices as a key element of a nutrient-dense diet.…
Health more »

Snacking on almonds can support weight management
Two new studies build on the large body of scientific evidence suggesting that almonds can improve diet quality and aid in weight management. They may also support weight loss…
IT more »

American IoT data carrier platform company launches humidity sensing
IoT data carrier platform company Wiliot has added humidity sensing to its Visibility Platform for products throughout the supply chain. The traceability technology enables…
Innovations more »

Pat McCullough of ProducePay:
“We help growers in 17 countries bring their produce to market”
Back in 2015, Pablo Borquez Schwarzbeck, a fourth-generation farmer from Mexico, founded ProducePay. The company offers a financing solution for growers and distributors of fresh produce and was founded with the idea to help Latin American farmers export their products to the United States. “About…
Processed fruit and vegetables more »

Asian salads launched
As more consumers opt to eat at home, Asian salads rank among the top cuisines for salads. Mann Packing Co., Inc., a subsidiary of Fresh Del Monte N.A., Inc. and a supplier of packaged vegetables in North America, has collaborated with Asian culinary brand P.F. Chang's to bring two new Asian-inspired salad kits. The kits are…
Cooling more »

Interko -
At-source fresh fruit ripening expands in Latin America
Interko the designer, manufacturer and installer of state-of-the-art fresh fruit ripening rooms, is pleased to announce the expansion of its at-source ripening offer in response to growing demand worldwide for their energy-efficient technology. Interko is partnering increasingly with growers and processors…
Food safety more »

Kenyan government guarantees pest free produce exports to Europe
The Kenyan government will ensure fresh produce exports to Europe and other export destinations. Principal Secretary for Crop Development Kello Harsama said that due to…

Safeway Fresh Foods recalls Sunnyside Farms Organic Butternut Squash
Safeway Fresh Foods of Vineland, NJ, is recalling its 32-oz. Diced Organic Butternut Squash product as it has the potential to be contaminated with Escherichia coli O45. E.…
Nuts and dried fruits more »

Is regenerative organic agriculture the new trend?
Farming beyond sustainable, that is how regenerative organic agriculture is described. It is a collection of practices that focus on regenerating soil health and the full farm ecosystem that have been devastated by growing food through industrial methods, according to the Regenerative Organic Alliance.…
Packaging and Labelling more »

Avocados From Mexico launches PLU stickers
Avocados From Mexico, based in Irving, Texas, recently shared that it broke another record in its 2022-2023 fiscal year, importing 2.48 billion pounds of avocados. In part,…
Climate more »

Major roads closed
Western Cape flooded for second time in three months
Major roads leading into the Cape Town metropolitan area have been closed due to the heavy flooding, as rain continues with winds of 46km/h on Heritage Day, a public holiday in South Africa. Waves battering the Kalk Bay lighthouses yesterday (photo: Annemarie Ross) A humanitarian aid group says it has…
Retail more »

Dreamstime
Uber Eats to accept SNAP benefits beginning next yearHouston is landing a first-of-its-kind Kroger
US: Fresh Thyme Market celebrates $400,000 in donations to local food banksFresh Thyme Market, a grocer that has a mission to improve the way communities eat by offering real fresh food, is proud to announce for Hunger Action Month that it has donated over $400,000, the equivalent of around 4mln meals…