FreshPlaza: Global Fresh Produce and Banana News

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Brazil has strengthened its position as a supplier of ginger to the United States

Blackberry production similar to last year

Lower raspberry volumes out of Mexico expected

New papaya variety from Guatemala shipping

Event was a success, despite late opening on last day due to Typhoon

Photo Report: Asia Fruit Logistica 2024

Novem's acquisition of BC Tree Fruits facility to prevent apple harvest loss in British Columbia

Fresh Del Monte Produce appoints Danny Dumas

Eagle Produce recalls cantaloupe due to Salmonella risk

Registration open for the Organic Grower Summit 2024

Avocado, cucumber, and tomato movement from Mexico expected to increase

Autumn produce hits US grocery stores despite heat

Sector | Vegetables

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Researchers discover new ginger species in India

Vincent Keesenberg – Imifino Exports

Exports offer way out to growers not seeing increased returns locally

Fresh-cut celery sticks celebrate back-to-school

Washington pumpkin crop well underway

Shrinking okra acreage in Senegal due to less exports

Uncertain future for New Zealand celery growers

Mexico consolidates its position as the world's second-largest exporter of key agricultural products

Sector | Bananas

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Australia's first genetically modified banana taste test

Gene editing, classified as genetic modification in South Africa, offers best chance to develop BBTV resistance, researcher says

Banana bunchy top virus not identified in South Africa's Mpumalanga Province

Suné Wiltshire – Du Roi Laboratory

Disease-free plant material gives African banana growers peace of mind

Weekly banana price report

Banana prices seem stable compared to last week

Manoel Motta, General Manager of Gustoo Tropical Fruits, Panama

Growing demand for Panamanian plantain in Europe

Damage of Hurricane Beryl to Jamaican banana and plantain sector assessed at $2.1 billion

A banana variety resistant to the Fusarium Race 4 fungus arrives in Peru

Sector | Potatoes and Onions

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Bellevue sweet potato popularity growing, unauthorized importation remains problem

Greek onion season nears its end; low prospects for potatoes

"Harvest in full swing as demand surges for US onions"

European potato market anticipates reduced output due to weather challenges

Benjamin Keil from Jucker Farm AG on the Swiss pumpkin harvest:

"Demand for our early pumpkins is already surprisingly high"

North Carolina growers assess how rains could impact sweet potato crop

New potato product on display at Southern Innovations trade show

Sector | Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables

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Kenya's avocado exports hit 16,000 metric tons by August 2024

Vietnamese durian gains traction in global markets

Westfalia secures Japanese export market for avocados

Brazil gains access to Japan's market for Hass avocado exports

Australian Native Fingerlime Alliance

The development of the Australian fingerlime industry on the back of the establishment of new peak body

Import Promotion Desk -

Alternative avocados, mangoes and grapes trading partners on show in Madrid

UF/IFAS researchers identify threats to guava, passion fruit, and dragon fruit in South Florida

Sector | Company news

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Ethical Charter implementation program expands

California grower awards $13,000 in scholarship contributions for 2024

Scholarship program raises more than $43K for future ag leaders

Apeel Sciences welcomes new leadership in Brazil, Peru, and Chile

Retailers ranked in report by European Supermarket Magazine and Brand Finance

Turkish retailer Migros Ticaret crowned Europe’s strongest grocery retail brand

Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Company acquired

Thomas Fresh announces formation of new shareholder group

Sector | Greenhouse

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How AI makes greenhouse farming more efficient and cost-effective

Space tomato plants take up less space and yield more fruit

Improving the organoleptic characteristics of a tomato requires dedication

There is no immediate certainty when choosing a new variety

ToBRFV in Australia, what can growers do?

"Fear is driving decisions right now, but it's not the best advisor"

Japan: Observation of domestic vs. global market

"It is now possible to grow vegetables in Saudi Arabia at a lower cost than imports"

New British Columbia greenhouse facility sees first planting

Sector | Logistics

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Freight rates experience fluctuation amid market adjustments

Navigating the impact of Red Sea tensions on international trade routes

Logistics UK indicates that new border controls may lead to higher food prices and potential product shortages

Red Sea crisis triples investment budget for Rwandan exporter

New Zealand's shipping challenges as global vessels increase in size

Durian imports continue at China-Vietnam border

Drewry’s World Container Index decreased 3% to $5,181 per 40ft container this week

Sector | Machinery

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Robert Peters, Aweta

"You need special techniques and AI to control all client sorting aspects"

Antoine van Kasteren, OptiServe

"Along with the client, we can calculate the payback period pretty precisely"

New weigh and fill machine launched in European market

Charles van den Heuvel of Perfect – Van Wamel:

"There's always a client that suits you"

Online auction mixing installation and water purification systems Apeel Sciences in Breda (NL)

Advanced grading technology crowns loose tomato production line

"Fresh French fries grader that uses hyperspectral technology launched"

Sector | General fresh produce

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USDA report on California crop progress & condition

California almond harvest in full swing

New Zealand supermarket chain reports full supply of local produce

Canadian Sustainability Strategy updated ahead of November launch

What Mexico’s “pause” with U.S. and Canadian embassies could mean for produce

“In some instances, we have growers telling us they’ve not had an increase in the price they’re paid for as long as a decade.”

NFF Horticulture Council, community groups call out Australian supermarkets for record profits in cost-of-living crisis

Week 33 fruit wholesale market report

New Zealand apples and South African oranges arrive in small quantities

Puerto Rico's agriculture sector counts losses after Storm Ernesto

Sector | Management

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Hawaii receives $524,773 in federal funding for specialty crop projects

Banana growers advocate for Philippines-South Korea trade agreement to maintain market presence

Numerous farmers in the UK plan to abandon "unworkable" ethical audits

Rising labor costs in Michigan farms prompt calls for federal intervention

UK proposes delay in EU fruit and vegetable checks

Holger Brandt steps into strategic role at Agrovision in the US

Australian beekeepers prepare for varroa mite's spread

Sector | Miscellaneous

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70 per cent regional funding for its purchase

Anti-frost machine to prevent fruit from freezing

Drugs were hidden in vegetable shipment

Meth seizure in Georgia during traffic stop

Eco-friendly cardholders made of mango-based materials announced

Euro trades at its highest against the US dollar this year

CBP officers discover $5 million worth of methamphetamine disguised as watermelons

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Otay Mesa Commercial Facility

K-9 unit detects methamphetamine in celery shipment

Interception of cocaine in mango and pumpkin shipment from the Dominican Republic to Canada

Sector | Fruit

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Blaubeergarten GmbH

Hannes Badenhop from Blaubeergarten GmbH:

"We had to market slightly more blueberries as industrial goods"

Indian apple growers call for higher import tariffs on Iranian apples

Fukushima peaches make London debut

Vermont anticipating a fruitful apple harvest season

Tasmanian cherry producers showcase at Hong Kong fruit trade event

"Total Polish apple harvest will be lower"

California grape demand strong and steady

Sector | Herbs

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Kruiden Claus sees upward trend in unknown herbs

"People need to familiarize with the wide array of herbs available"

Demand to pick up in early September for fresh herbs

Anthony De Ieso - Thorndon Park Produce

"This year has been very favourable; coriander is a quick turnaround from seed to harvest"

South Korea and U.S. reach agreement on Korean ginseng and Texas grapefruit exports

Meal boxes: a stepping stone to increased herb consumption

"Hydroponics is our main business"

Micro's Unilight:

"Our next target market will be sandwich stores and exporters"

Sector | Agenda

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'Fueling innovation and resilience in the fast-changing potato sector'

Bruno Mezzetti was present at the International Symposium in Canada

"Global blueberry market to grow for at least another five years"

Winners of Asia Fruit Awards 2024 announced

Review of the 34th Weuthen Potato Day 2024:

Potato industry continues to be innovative and adaptable

Event to take place September 26th to 28th in Izmir, Turkiye

Countdown to Interfresh Eurasia has started

Australian growers set to showcase in Hong Kong

Global Produce & Floral Show women's breakfast

Can women have it all?

Sector | Citrus

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Diego Costa, from Riverbend:

"The market for industrial lemons is still very competitive, especially due to the production in Argentina"

An interesting season expected for the Navelina

Great interest in the first Spanish oranges, of which there will be more production and smaller sizes

Brazil's Fundecitrus issues alert for citrus floral rot risk during flowering period

Lime pricing to strengthen imminently

Celebrating the end of fruit fly quarantines in California

Seeking the finest of the Florida citrus industry

Peru's citrus cultivation tends towards late varieties

Sector | Organic

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Organic seedless grapes: production growth in Italy and in the world

Melissa Sampayo, manager of Bioma Colombia

Bioma Colombia: innovation in regenerative agriculture with organic lulo

New organic vegetable specialty division to serve the Southwest

Paul Davidson, Commercial Director of Sol Ogánica, Nicaragua

Push for ROC-certified organic products

Canada's certified organic fruit and vegetable production declined in 2023

Stone fruit totes and baby sweet potato line at OPS 2024

New line of organic Asian vegetables to be unveiled

Sector | Health

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Raw white garlic may improve cardiac health and lower the risk of illness

Washing fruit does not remove pesticides, study finds

New study bolsters existing evidence that walnuts support well-being for Gen Z

New study shows strawberries may lower cardiovascular disease risk and improve glucose control

Independent young people and young couples without children consume the least fresh fruit

Study finds eating hot peppers may be associated with decreased mortality

Research looks into the role of fructose in curing hangovers

Sector | IT

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Luke Wood - Escavox

Gold of quality assurance can be found in millions of supply chain data points

Harvest label gives full control of bins this season

“We can backtrack everything per product, per second, per worker”

New biosecurity technology protecting New Zealand food security

Fraunhofer UMSICHT

AI-controlled production of soft fruits using new sensor systems

Celonis and TEC150 enable Zespri to deliver millions in value by optimizing operations with process intelligence

"The market is dramatically increasing its purchases of 4G real-time monitoring products"

Sector | Innovations

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Innovation with robotics in mushroom farming

Israeli biotech explores papaya molecule for cystic fibrosis treatment

Promising results: disinfection of a bag of lettuce using UV-C

High temperatures threaten apple orchard output in major growing states

From space to farm: readying NASA satellites to help growers

Affordable real-time data logger with unique features available

Andrew Pollock – The Compostable Company

AGOA gives South African bioplastics a cost advantage over everyone

Sector | Processed fruit and vegetables

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Daniel Rohrseitz from Rohrseitz GmbH in Frankfurt:

"Increasing demand for hand-cut fruit"

"We anticipate strong demand for pomegranate arils"

European fruit processors says lack of spring impacts 2024 summer crops

Premium 100 percent pure avocado oils make debut

Chopped salad kits make debut

Are canned and frozen vegetables still popular?

European apple juice market has seen limited trading activity since start of 2024

Frost damage causes concern for the apple juice industry

Sector | Cooling

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New portable cold stores deliver energy efficiency and sustainability advantages for Blue Cube

Port Houston approved for cold treatment

Cryopak acquires gel-pack segment from Garden State Cold Storage in the US

Leander van Bellen: "To not only spot damage, but also prevent it"

HDG Survey Group acquires Otflow

New facility increases the company’s storage capacity in the country by 120%

Emergent Cold LatAm inaugurates a modern warehouse in Callao, Peru

A M King completes expansion for Henry Avocado Corp’s Charlotte facility

JS Davidson expands with acquisition of new site

Sector | Food safety

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Third South Australian property confirms tomato virus presence

Food safety initiative recognized again

The added value of certifications in accessing demanding export markets

Mangos not involved

Rectification of article on foodborne illness outbreaks

Flagstone Foods allergy alert on undeclared peanuts, almonds and pecan in Emerald Kettle Glazed Walnuts

jalapeño, green bean, and green pepper

Vegetable recall in the US classified as class I risk by the FDA

Ocean Swallow brand Frozen Shredded Young Coconut recalled due to possible contamination

Sector | Nuts and dried fruits

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Aziende Campobasso

Almonds: rising quotations affected by oversea trends

Ghazi Rouissi, CEO of The House of Dates

"Tunisian dates have been the victims of unfair competition”.

California walnut industry crop estimate released

California Walnuts spotlights demand drivers for national 'Fruits & Veggies Month'

Andalusian almonds will be shipped to China by Almensur

Turkish hazelnut campaign launches in India

Almond cultivation in Kashmir declines due to shift towards apple orchards

Sector | Packaging and Labelling

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Woolworths criticized for plastic usage in Melbourne

A strategic guide for businesses

Navigating EU plastic packaging regulations

“We must be prepared and flexible”

Study reveals consumer preferences for Utah's fresh and packaged fruits

Sarco Packaging & Equipment:

"We're moving toward reusing materials"

"Packaging costs in Egypt have risen by around 45%"

North Bay Produce strengthens sustainability commitment

Sector | Retail

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Costco: Strong August sales

Couche-Tard remains keen on pursuing a buyout of 7-Eleven owner

Alimentation Couche-Tard: Decline in net earnings in a 'weak' Q1

Everbowl: New avocado promotion

Sycamore Partners has acquired Playa Bowls

First Aldi store in Staten Island is set to open

Amazon is expanding its relationship with Weis Markets

Big Y Supermarkets get fresh organic vegetables from future farmers

Irving H-E-B store expected to open in late 2026

Amazon Fresh has been making notable moves in the grocery sector this year

Amazon hires founders and is licensing Covariant’s robotic foundation models

Aldi opened three new stores: two in Pennsylvania and one in New York

Instacart is teaming up with Montgomery County in Maryland

Dollar General received a harsh reminder of the troubles at home during a soft Q2

Sector | Global Market

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GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW ONIONS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW BANANAS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW AVOCADOS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW LEMONS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW POTATOES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GINGER

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW LIMES

Sector | Climate

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August rains continue to impact Quebec vegetable crops

Hurricane recovery efforts in Jamaica receive additional funding

Jamaica addresses concerns over agricultural product price gouging post-Hurricane Beryl

Lettuce particularly impacted following Quebec’s sizeable rainfall

Rains from Tropical Storm Debby are welcomed by growers

Paper highlights how climate change challenges, transforms agriculture

35% production decrease this year

Climate change is impacting Pakistan's mango production

Sector | Cartoons

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Limited-edition nashi double teriyaki burger

Artichoke water: the new health trend

Dog popcorn from potatoes launched

Potato factory evacuated over bomb

©johnstons_cranberries

Book a cranberry plunge in Ontario

Fake cement garlic sold in India amid price hike

The science of flavor: vegetables in surprising food pairings