Lebanese horticulture’s future lies in top quality and niche products

A chamber of commerce registers new companies and gives business owners information and advice. In Lebanon, growers can call on the knowledge and experience of people like Dr. Rola Arouni and Elie Massoud. We spoke to both, touching on several topics, including the Lebanese sector’s sticking points and…

USDA

Australian stone fruit production forecast to increase MY 2023/24

Stone fruit production in Australia is forecast to increase in marketing year (MY) 2023/24, following two successive seasons affected by unseasonably wet weather, labor shortages at harvest, logistics challenges, and very high costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cherry, and peach and nectarine,…

"For growers and retailers, we're an open book"

With about 25 years of experience in fruit and exotics sales each, Theo Benjert and Rob Pakvis have jointly taken on a new challenge: Berryland. The Dutch company - it's all in the name - initially wants to focus on marketing the entire imported soft fruit package. Theo Benjert and Rob Pakvis with…

Limited flood impact on Western Cape stonefruit

The recent heavy rain over the Western Cape varied enormously: around Wellington and Stellenbosch, farms received normal rainfall without any real damage, whereas pockets of incredibly high intensity rain caused localized flooding and damage in other areas like Franschhoek and Montagu. “I personally…

Good sales and high prices for Spanish pears and plums

The Spanish stone fruit campaign is already ending with good results. The shortage of Angeleno plums is currently translating into high prices for this product. The same can be said about Williams and Abate Fetel pears, due to declines in the Italian harvest. “Despite problems caused by drought in some producing…

Spanish nursery sees changing trend in stone fruit plants

According to their forecasts, Viveros Hernandorena, the Spanish nursery, will close 2023 with a total sales volume of more than 150,000 stone fruit plants, and all this thanks to the high level of specialisation they have been acquiring in recent years, closely linked to the professionalisation that this…

Federal and Provincial Governments announce support for fruit tree industry

Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Bloyce Thompson, provincial Minister of Agriculture, have announced additional support for Prince Edward…

California peach crop surpasses early season predictions

California growers have been pleased with a better-than-expected peach crop this year. Manager and Field Representative for the California Canning Peach Association, Sutton…

Good growing conditions point to a good cherry season

Pure Pac grows cherries in New Zealand's Central Otago region over 75 hectares. "Our first picking will take place mid-December, between 12th and 17th," said Jeff Chambers, Sales consultant at Pure Pac. Darren Hughes and Jeff Chambers at Asia Fruit Logistica Pure Pac grow a range of varieties, the main…

Cherry Growers Australia and Agriculture Victoria forge ahead with year 2 of the innovative cherries traceability pilot

Cherry Growers Australia (CGA), in collaboration with Agriculture Victoria, has announced the continuation of the Cherries Traceability Pilot into its second year. This…

Russia remains the number one importer of peaches in the world

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published a report on global trade in stone fruits, with particular attention given to fruits produced in Turkey and their import into…

“We see growth potential in China's further inland cities”

Hernán Garcés, executive director of Garces Fruit, the largest exporter of cherries in the world that has more than 2,000 hectares located in the regions of Valparaiso and…

Spanish fruit cooperative Grupo Clasol merges with San Alfonso

Spanish fruit growers and suppliers Grupo Clasol and Cooperativa San Alfonso in Valencia have merged. This business combination creates an anticipated €120 mln revenue…

Demand for organic Lebanese apples and nuts exceeds supply

The Lebanese organic market has dropped since the latest crises, yet there are opportunities for organic growers thanks to Lebanon's proximity to a relatively large, wealthy purchasing base in the Gulf states. Agreen Organics exports a wide range of organic products, fresh or processed, plant or animal,…

Chilean cherry blossom function heralds imminent start of 2023/24 season

Chile’s annual “Cherry Blossom” ceremony, hosted by the Asoex Cherry Committee, is considered the symbolic start of the season, but this year there is some trepidation due to the hotter than usual weather. According to Claudia Soler, Chairperson of the Cherry Committee, they still expect exports of 100…

Plum harvest quite promising in Jiashi, northwest China

In northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the plum harvest is quite promising. Adila Ekber, a staff member of the Yuejia Plum Industrial Park in Jiashi county,…

Northeast Georgia farmer was able to save some of his peach crop

While most peach growers in the southern two-thirds of Georgia are dealing with up to 95% crop loss after a mid-March freeze, northeast Georgia farmer Drew Echols was able to…

Expansion of premium stone fruit line up from the southern hemisphere

Pacific Trellis Fruit will add Donut Peaches and Extra Sweet nectarines this coming year to its inaugural offering of imported specialty plum varieties to create a full line of premium stone fruit during the Southern Hemisphere Season. The company is gearing up for the new high-flavor arrivals from Chile…

USDA

US peach and nectarine production 2023/24 forecast down to 574,000 tons

U.S. peach and nectarine production for 2023/24 is forecast down to 574,000 metric tons. Production has been fairly stable during the last 5 years, range‐bound between 650,000‐710,000 tons, but weather events in top producing states will drive supplies below this range in 2023/24. California’s peach crop…

Monsoon hits fruit growers hard in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh

An intense monsoon has caused considerable damage to the horticulture sector in Kullu district this year, with fruit growers of the district suffering huge losses. Apple crops…

This year, the plum harvest in Moldova will amount to 85 thousand tons

Specialists estimate that this year's plum harvest in Moldova will reach 85,000 tons, returning to normalcy after last year's poor yield. Out of this harvest, 70,000 tons are…

Week 35 price for peaches in the EU stood at €116 / 100 kg

The weekly prices for peaches in the EU (ex-packaging station) stood at €116 / 100 kgs. At 1.129.000 tons, Italy was the largest EU producer of peaches and nectarines among the member states last year. Click here to view the data sheet. Source: agriculture.ec.europa.eu

Chile estimated to export 100 million boxes of cherries

The Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile (Asoex) It is estimated that 100 million boxes of cherries will be shipped around the world in the next cycle, mostly to Asia,…

Late Lebanese grape varieties for an empty European market

Saudi Arabia placed an embargo on Lebanese agricultural product imports in 2021. Since then, Agrotica's 45,000 peach trees have become virtually worthless. "In two months, I'll uproot and replace them with grape vines," begins Mehydin Kazoun, manager of the cultivation and export company in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Mehydin sees no sales opportunities for that stone fruit. "W…

"Paraguayos are no longer special"

Despite temperatures that are still extremely summery at times, the stone fruit season is now nearing its end, as Enrique Pedros-Frank tells us. "We still have peaches, nectarines and Paraguayos from Spain available, which we can still offer for about a week. Demand for Paraguayos this year has been much…

"We're about 6 to 8 years away from having the potential to compete against Chile's cherry"

Gabriela Mercedes Crespo, head of research on new crops at Agualima SAC and a researcher at Concytec, said that despite the lower number of cold hours, cherry studies were…

California's peach crop to exceed last year’s production

Californian producers of peaches will harvest a larger crop than last year, according to a report by their industry association. The USDA forecasts California state's freestone crop that is grown for the fresh m…

Fantastic flowering in South Africa’s plum orchards

Farmers in the Western Cape regard a possibility of frost damage accompanying the snow and icy rain of the past weekend (with more rain expected this coming weekend). The cold was such that even in the Northern Cape, cold winds damaged table grape vineyards.In the early plum orchards of the Boland, fruit…

Grupo Clasol and Cooperativa San Alfonso merge to create a leading citrus and stone fruit group

Grupo Clasol and Cooperativa San Alfonso are joining forces to create a leading fruit and vegetable group, combining the best of the cooperative and private models. The new alliance's innovative business model will focus on citrus and stone fruit production. This new entity has four packing plants: two…

The Lebanese fresh produce sector will be in the spotlight in the coming weeks

Last September, Piet Schotel of the Center for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) and Fresh Publishers manager, Pieter Boekhout, took a work trip to Moldova. They visited some 15 fruit growers in this small European country, wedged between Ukraine and Romania. You can read all about…

Canadian cherries doing well in first season of exports to South Korean market

South Korea’s interest in cherries from Canada’s British Colombia is “exciting” in this first season of full exports to that new market for them says Claire Donahue, export coordinator for BC Tree Fruits Cooperative. She also says Canada’s apple harvest season looks to start about 10 days earlier. “We…

Sicilian peaches a point of reference for domestic markets

The harvesting of peaches and nectarines is in full swing in Sicily and the main producers report that the season is going quite well. FreshPlaza has talked about it with Angelo and Vincenzo Di Pasquale from Donnalia, a well-known brand in the stone fruit sector. Angelo and Vincenzo Di Pasquale "We are…

The Lovita plum has arrived on the shelves

The first Lovita® plums have arrived on French supermarket shelves this week. The campaign looks promising for this red-fleshed, heart-shaped plum in terms of volumes and quality. This year, the Lovita® team has also prepared a massive communication campaign to make this plum known to the general public.…

California peaches and plums continue strong

Stone fruit from California is coming to the end of for some varieties. “Yellow nectarines are coming to an end by mid-September harvest-wise. White peaches have one more week to go and white nectarines we’re completely done,” says Mauricio Jimenez-Castro, Chief Commercial Officer for Prima Wawona.…

NHD Fruchtimport GmbH

"We hope to find the desired flavorful plums in Turkey"

While the German plum season is now in its final stages, the Turkish campaign is just getting started. "We are expecting the first arrivals from the Antalya area in a few days and will be offering Stanley and Presidente plums under our own Demi brand," says Hüseyin Demirel, importer and managing director…

New varieties and an early start to Niagara’s peach season

New types of peaches are allowing farmers to start the peach season earlier, get more fruit into more homes faster and give people new produce to sink their teeth into. Thanks…

Later end for California’s organic plum season

The organic plum season out of California will run until the end of October this year. “Supplies are good now. Typically the season starts in early May. However the season got…

2022/2023 season for Culdevco’s licenced plum cultivars exceeds expectations

A recent plum cultivar information day at Culdevco’s head office in Stellenbosch was well attended by growers, exporters and nurseries. Agricultural Research Council-bred…

The exports of summer fruits and vegetables decreased by 9.3% in Greece

The harvest of summer fruits and vegetables in Greece proceeded at a faster pace compared to last year. The volumes of fresh produce exports decreased by 9.3% compared to the…

Turkmen company Lezzetli Miwe harvests 93 tons of peaches, apples

The agricultural company "Lezzetli miwe" has harvested a substantial crop of peaches and apples. Approximately 70 tons of peaches and 23 tons of apples were collected. The…

Fruchtgroßhandel Gütinger

"Difficult sales year for Balkan plums"

It has been a very difficult sales year for Balkan plums so far. "Due to the abundant German harvest, there is a particularly large amount of product available and the demand for imported goods is low as a result of this. Sales have been lacking as a result, and German produce has also been available at…

Top 7 fresh fruits exported from Tajikistan

The climate of Tajikistan is ideal for growing most fruits, which are therefore highly valued abroad. According to the results of the first half of the year, Tajikistan earned…

"The Claudia Reina is one of the plum varieties affected by poor fruit setting"

In general terms, plum cultivation in Spain has recorded a significant decline over the last 15 years. The acreage has been reduced from over 20,000 hectares in 2007 to 13,245 in 2022. However, there are still regions, such as Aragon, where the acreage and production have not only remained stable, but…

Green light for laser trial to protect Australian pome and stone fruit

Baudin’s black cockatoos are notorious for their love of pome and stone fruit, which is something growers in south-west Western Australia aren’t too happy about. Current…

"Camposol will have its first cherry production for export in the 2024/2025 campaign"

This was revealed by Isabel Quiroz, executive director of iQonsulting, in her presentation at the second Primores Cherries seminar, held in Ovalle. Quiroz recalled that in the…

German company brings together its global fresh produce portfolio in Hong Kong

The BayWa Global Produce family is looking forward to welcoming its customers, partners and global team at their joint presentation in Hong Kong. This year, the stand in Hall 5 holds some surprising features for its visitors, allowing for an interactive experience of the premium apple brands Envy™ and…

Chile manages to advance its cherry harvest to October 15 with an ultra-early variety

In the framework of the second seminar of Cerezas Primores in Ovalle, Bloom Fresh, the new company resulting from the recent merger of SNFL and IFG genetics companies…

Peaches and nectarines from Romagna: prices have been satisfactory since mid-August

"While the first part of the season was characterized by prices not always up to par, quotations have been on the up for the past 15 days," reports Mirco Zoffoli, sales manager for "Domenico Laghi" from Forlì. Jenny Ghiddi, owner of "Domenico Laghi" "We have harvested 80% of peaches and nectarines and…

USDA

EU production of peaches and nectarines estimated at 3.6 million tons in MY 2023/24

In MY 2023/24, EU production of peaches and nectarines is estimated to amount to 3.6 million MT while cherry production is anticipated to amount to 657,435 MT. Unfavorable growing conditions in main producing Member States support the reduction in cherry production, while in peaches and nectarines,…

"Our Ondine flat nectarine stands out in difficult seasons like the current one"

The European stone fruit season is in its final stretch. "The Paraguayo production has been sizeable, but the supply of high-quality fruit has been generally scarce," said Ángel Vallín of breeder ASF Edition, owner of the Ondine flat stone fruit brand. The volume continues to grow, driven by market…

"This season will tell us how to act in the future in the face of rising global temperatures"

Although the conditions during the plum season have been clearly good in terms of rainfall, it has been one of the worst in terms of accumulation of hours of cold. A variety such as the D'Agen plum normally requires over 500 hours of cold (below 7° C), and ideally more than 600 to produce a better, even,…

Italian apricots available for one more month

After starting off with some problems due to the weather, the apricot season of the Italian brand Albisole is now going very well, according to the Guidi growing company's management. "Up to mid-July, the season was marked by ups and downs, but from the beginning of August the weather was favorable and…

Strong start to Moldova's 2023 plum harvest

Moldova, with its rising plum exports, invites EU importers to discover its 2023 plum harvest. "A strong start to the season is evident as 6,500 tons of plums have been exported, with 4,000 tons reaching EU markets like Germany, Austria, and Croatia," says Iurie Fala, CEO of the Fruit Producers and…

Eurostat

Spain’s yields of summer related fruits down -6.3% in 2022

In 2022, the EU’s combined harvested production of muskmelons, watermelons, strawberries, peaches and nectarines was 8.6 million tons, representing a decrease of 6.3% on the level in 2021 (9.2 million tons). This downturn was due to the lower harvested production of muskmelons (-9.5% in 2022) and…

Namibian Agronomic Board halts importation of seven crops for the whole of September

The Namibian Agronomic Board has opened the border for the importation of seven crops, while keeping the border closed for another seven crops on the special controlled…

BC Fruit Growers' Association donates 300 bins of cherries to local food charity

As the BC Fruit Growers’ Association wants to keep as much edible food as possible out of landfills, it recently donated 300 bins to a local food charity. The charity, Food It…

Weak demand and low prices for Spanish apricots

In Spain, spring frost caused poor flowering of apricots, which was reflected in qualities through the season, Jörn Reimers, managing director of ARUS August Reimers & Sohn GmbH at the Hamburg wholesale market, tells us. "Demand was accordingly relatively weak, while prices were at a low level. In this…

Martin Obst GbR

"We have reduced our kiwi berry plants in favor of apricot production"

On Saturday, August 19, the first kiwi berries of this year's season could already be harvested at Obsthof Martin in Eriskirch. "Surprisingly early, because we usually start the season only in the first week of September," describes junior boss Alex Martin, pointing to the optimal weather conditions.…

Ukrainian farmers leave raspberries unharvested

According to EastFruit analysts, negative trends in the Ukrainian raspberry market continued last week, which led to the refusal of several medium-sized farms to continue…

Discounter creates its own playbook on fresh produce

The discount supermarket Boxer is nearing fifty years and is opening hundreds of stores, and its sixth distribution centre, across the country. Recently the 450th store was opened and people are starting to realise that Boxer is a major player, remarks Boxer’s head of fresh produce Deon Wessels. “We can…

"The heat wave has caused quite a bit of size loss in late peaches"

A cold air mass from the Atlantic is bringing changes to the weather and putting an end to the latest heat wave, and to temperatures that have inevitably resulted in significant stress for fruit crops, including the later peach varieties from the Spanish region of Aragon. "Here, in the Zaragoza area, we have…

"Transit times to Brazil have increased from 9 to 17 days, preventing the arrival of some plum varieties"

While the peach and nectarine campaigns are heading towards their end in the Spanish region of Extremadura, the plum season is now underway with fewer kilos than initially expected, said Antonio Pereira, of Sol Badajoz. "We thought the volumes were going to be lower only for the May and June varieties,…

Russia remains the primary purchaser of Georgian peaches and nectarines

Recent data from the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia reveals the country's thriving export of peaches and nectarines from May 1 to August 22, 2023. Russia remains the…

An identity card laser-etched onto the skin of the fruit

While conveying information on the fruit's peel is nothing new for kiwis, melons and watermelons, the same cannot be said for fruits considered more delicate, such as stone fruits. This is the case of Ondine nectarines, which, in France, who is using a very special form of communication. "During a recent…

DataLiner

Chilean cherry exports eye 20% upswing as diversification gains traction

Claudia Soler, Executive Director of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (Asoex), predicts that the new season will see a 20% increase in the export of refrigerated cargo containing Chilean cherries. This projection is dependent on a variety of factors, including climatic and logistical conditions,…

Xinjiang delivered domestic plums to Malaysia for the first time this year

Currently, the domestic plum is being harvested in Paizawat (Northwest China). On July 21, Zhongli, a local agricultural company, exported a unique variety of domestic plums…

Black plums market improving in Italy

"The current plum season is certainly better than that of 2022, when producer prices were recorded as low as €0.20 per kilo," said Maria Cuppone, a stone fruit grower and fruit and vegetables operator from the southern Italian province of Matera. "The demand has increased tremendously in recent days. We…

“We are now committed to cherry growing, we have enough different varieties and locations to mitigate any risk"

The main cherry harvest at McIntyre’s Fruit in Blairgowrie, Perthshire started right on time on 18th August. The timing is good, but clashes slightly with the end of the English season which started late this year. “We may see lower prices initially, but those will improve quickly as the English fruit…

Taiwan bans cherries from four US producers

On Tuesday, Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that 11 batches of cherries imported from the US were found to be in violation of food safety standards for…

Chilean citrus harvest impacted by intense rain and flooding

Chile’s fruit industry was yet again hit by very high rainfall of between 50 mm to 150 mm, that has caused a fresh round of flooding and a delay in mandarin and lemon harvesting. Snow high in the Andes mountains point to a frost that’s on the way, posing a coming risk of frost damage to fruit trees and…

Russia has become the largest importer of Turkish cherries, peaches and nectarines

According to a review by the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Russia leads in purchases of cherries, peaches and nectarines from…

USDA

Peach and nectarine production will total 162,500 tons in MY 2023-2024

Chilean cherry area planted reached 61,599 hectares (ha) in marketing year (MY) 2022/23. Projections are that MY 2023/24 cherry production will reach 500,000 metric tons (MT), which represents a 6.6 percent increase over MY 2022/23. Chilean cherry exports will reach 444,000 MT, a 7.2 percent increase…

"Consumers are less enthusiastic about American cherries this season"

American cherries are in hot demand. Every year from June to August is the production season of American cherries, and the sales of this season are expected to last until the…

Early end to most difficult British Columbia cherry season

British Columbia’s cherry season ended early this year. In a normal year, harvest goes until early September, but this season was very concise with a slightly earlier start, but also a much earlier finish. “We began the Canadian harvest in mid-June, approximately five days ahead of a normal season,” says…

Germany issues an alert after finding high contents of three pesticides in cherries imported from Turkey

The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) has notified the alert issued by the authorities of Germany, after having detected high contents of chlorpyrifos, dimethoate,…

"As the Catalan stone fruit season has progressed, sizes and prices have become more balanced"

The stone fruit campaign is already at a very advanced stage in Catalonia, with smooth sales thanks to a good demand and with better prices than at the start. High temperatures, water deficit and difficulties in finding laborers are the main hurdles for Catalan stone fruit this year. "The start of the…

Climate and Drosophila Suzukii: the cherry industry meets with Marc Fesneau

Given the emergency facing the cherry sector - unfavorable weather and pests - the FNPFruits along with the PDO Cerises de Table, Cerises d'Industrie, and the inter-professional association for the Bigarreau d'industrie (ANIBI) have asked the Minister of Agriculture for rapid solutions: financial…

"No top summer for Spanish stone fruit, flat peaches positive exception"

The Spanish stone fruit season is nearing its end again at Marni Fruit. This Dutch importer deliberately chooses not to stretch the season too long. "Both quality and volume-wise, the stone fruit has suffered from the heat. There are far fewer really good quality fruit than in other years," says Erik-Jan…

"The food retail chains are particularly interested in the smaller apricots from Turkey of the Sekerpare variety"

The apricot season started for GSM Import-Export GmbH from Berlin in early June with Spanish goods, closely followed by the first deliveries from Turkey and rounded off by goods from France. As Managing Director Mehmet Akpolat informs us, the demand for the sweet and sour and juicy fruits from France is…

USDA

Domestic cherry production recovered in MY 2022/23

Japan’s MY 2022/23 cherry production recovered. FAS/Japan forecasts cherry production will further increase in MY 2023/24 due to favorable weather conditions. U.S. sweet cherry exports to Japan bounce back in MY 2023/24 buoyed by tariff elimination and recovered U.S. production. FAS/Japan expects Japan’s…

USDA

Turkey continues to be among the top ten global exporters for peaches and nectarines

The total cherry production forecast in Turkey in Marketing Year (MY) 2023/24 is 900,000 metric tons (MT), which is 8 percent higher than MY 2022/23, due to favorable weather and soil conditions. As of early August 2023, cherry exports have reached 75,000 MT, and are on track to surpass the previous MY.…

The Melocotón de Calanda's peach campaign started

The harvest of the earliest peach varieties of the DO Melocotón de Calanda in Caspe has already started. Producers expect to harvest 4.5 million kilos of peaches in this…

White nectarine with red veins harvested in Italy

The harvest of Gilda, the nectarine variety offered by OP Granfrutta Zani, has begun. A distinctive fruit characterized by a deep red skin and white flesh with red veins radiating towards the stone. "We started introducing it last year," says Antonio Zani, of the Italy sales office, "and this year we will…

"Countries like Austria, Switzerland or Hungary reduce their imports of Spanish apricots when their own harvests start"

The apricot season will come to an early end in Spain this year. "The season is practically over," says Fabián Nicolás, of Albice Fruits. "At Albice, we are currently harvesting the last batches of the last of our varieties: the Farlís. Other years, the harvest could be extended until the last week of…

“Volumes are good, we will pick around 650 tonnes of cherries this season"

The cherry harvest at Haygrove, based in Hereford, England started in June, it was around two weeks later than a ‘normal’ year due to an unseasonably cold Spring. “We had a late start to the cherry season, but the heat in June brought the crop forward leading to a condensed season,” said Douw Kruger,…

Plum harvest in Moldova in 2023 will be relatively low but it does not help the price

EastFruit experts are trying to estimate the production outlook for plums in Moldova. Harvesting of “Stanley” plums will begin at the end of next week in the southern regions.…

Average weighted price for peaches at €114 in week 31 in the EU

The average weighted price for peaches (in € per 100 kgs) stood at €114 in week 31; down €2 compared to last month. It is also just €1 higher than the weekly 5-year average. In Spain, the prices came out at €102 per 100 kgs in week 32, a €5 increase on the weekly 5-year average. Click here to view the data sheet. Source: agriculture.ec.europa.eu

"Despite challenges such as dry spells and heavy rains in the Balkans, harvest volumes are satisfactory"

With annual production volumes of up to 500,000 tons, damson production plays an important role in Serbia. Among the diverse varieties, Cacak's Early, Cacak's Beautiful (also known as Lepotica) and Stanley stand out as the most widely grown. We spoke with Anneliese Vollweiler, managing director of Anevo…

"There is not the run on mirabelles as in previous years"

This year's plum harvest volume is far above average. "Marketers are making every effort to place the goods accordingly. However, the price increases for the producer in terms of wage and operating costs could not be enforced due to the abundant market," summarizes Jürgen Hattemer, sales manager at VOG…

New York state hopes for federal agricultural disaster declaration for Cayuga, 30 other counties

After a freeze in May destroyed crops in 31 counties, including Cayuga, New York's senators are supporting a request for a federal agricultural disaster declaration. The New…

Another batch of Serbian peaches returned from border of EU

Serbian-produced peaches were returned from the border with Croatia because they contained high levels of the pesticide chlorpyrifos. The reported pesticide is banned in the…

"We will go slowly into the Chinese markets, finding the right partners who will protect our brand"

Australian company Sai World produces and exports a wide variety of fruit and some vegetables, the main products are citrus, Stonefruit , cherries and onions. The Australian citrus season got off to a late start this year, the sizes are small but quality is good according to Sam Vasala from Sai World.…

Illinois specialty crop growers face a poor peach crop this season

According to Raghela Scavuzzo from the Illinois Specialty Growers Association, a late season freeze killed off many peach blooms in the state: “Some farms are reporting 50%…

Slimmer supply of California stone fruit

The stone fruit crop is looking tight out of California. “There is nowhere near the product available for demand, especially on yellow peaches,” says Jon McClarty of HMC Farms. He notes that peaches in particular are short while nectarines have seen more ups and downs in terms of availability. Meanwhile,…

"Market demands continuity fruit's caliber and flavor, not the varietal spikes seen in June"

After a few weeks under pressure, the Paraguayo peach market has recovered. "Now the market conditions are better, because there isn't as much supply, and the little that is currently arriving in the plants is being held back to be sold in the next 15-20 days, so the amount of fruit reaching the market…

"Stone fruit market recovers well"

In the Netherlands, the Spanish stone fruit season is in full swing at Wilko Fruit. "That will last until October 10," says Wilko van der Zwaard. According to him, there is no shortage in the stone fruit market. "Slightly less trade, especially apricots, came from the Murcia region this year. But there's…

"The market for Reine Claude dorée is now vibrant, and prices are stable"

After a modest start, the Reine Claude campaign is now well underway for the Producer Group Val Durance Luberon, based in Cabrières-d'Avignon, Vaucluse. "Until now, the market has been relatively sluggish, but we can now say that business has really taken off. Sales are flowing, and prices are stable.…

EastFruit

Peach and nectarine harvest update from Georgia: farmers’ views and export statistics

The peach and nectarine season is winding down in the main production region of Georgia, Kakheti. While August will still be active in peach and nectarine sales from the region, the bulk of the harvest has already been sold by the farmers. The export supporting group will continue its operations in the…

Demand for premium varieties continues to grow in China

The Richard Hochfeld Group has been importing product into China since 2017, and continues to grow each year as they improve the expertise at source to create real value for their customers in China. This year they will send more than 600 containers and are planning significant increases next year.…

USDA

Cherries, peaches and nectarines among top 5 most advertised fruits this week

Stone fruit from all corners of the country was widely promoted, with cherries, peaches, and nectarines among the top 5 most advertised fruits this week. Not far behind were red and white seedless grapes. Locally and regionally grown produce is still plentiful, with items like Minnesota cantaloupe,…

USDA

Oregon apple production is forecast at 125 million pounds, down 8 percent from 2022

ApplesBased on August 1, 2023 conditions, Oregon apple production is forecast at 125 million pounds, down 8 percent from 2022. Washington ranks number one in apple production, accounting for 68 percent of the U.S. production this year. Washington apple production is forecast at 6.70 billion pounds, up 9…

Peaches in short supply this year due to weather pitfalls in Midwest and South

Warm weather in the South and cold weather in the Midwest has affected the US peach crop this year. It’s been a hard year for the fruit, not only in southern Illinois, but in…

Good French harvest in store for Metis plums

After two consecutive years marked by late frosts, which severely impacted growers, 2023 is set to bring a very favorable harvest of Metis® plums (a Plumtastic Europe club variety), both in terms of quantity and quality. Blue Whale growers - experts in this crop in the southwest of France - are therefore…

Spanish growers likely to have lost “millions of kilos” of stone fruit this year

Spanish growers are likely to have lost “millions of kilos” of stone fruit this year due to the ongoing drought. While growers in major producer region Murcia might rely on…

"Heavy rain caused severe loss of Sichuan red crisp plums"

Sichuan red crisp plums are starting a new production season. Red Crisp Plum is a late-ripening variety produced in China. It has the characteristics of a thick waxy bloom, crisp and sweet flesh, and storage resistance. The launch season is from early August to mid-to-late September every year, and it…

"Xinjiang's plum production is affected by the weather, prices are high"

The new production season of Xinjiang plums has kicked off. Xinjiang plums have become more and more popular in the market in recent years because of the superior taste and few competing products. Because of its high economic benefits, except for Jiashi County in Kashi, the core production area, in the…

Over 2.5 tons of infected nectarines were halted at the border between Zabaykalsky Krai and China

At the border with China in Zabaykalsky Krai, more than 2.5 tons of nectarines infested with the Oriental fruit moth were halted. The fruits had to undergo decontamination, as…

Watermelon and melon prices in Russia have gone up 30%

Analysts from the ATOL company in Russia conducted a study on the cost of watermelons and melons before the start of the season, as well as examined changes in prices for…

Prices of American cherries drop to new low in Vietnam

Prices of American cherries have fallen to a new low of VND250,000 ($10.53) per kilogram in Vietnam. Stores now sell red cherries at VND250,000-340,000 and yellow cherries,…

“We hope that the plum market will be better than for the apricots”

The French group of producers Val Durance Luberon, based in the Vaucluse department, has started marketing its plums with the varieties Reine Claude Dorée, Stanley and Mirabelle. The plum production looks promising but José Illan, manager of the group, hopes that the market will be good this season, and at…

Australia Fruits celebrating 20 years in business

Vince and Joe from Australia Fruits are familiar faces at Asia Fruit Logistica and this year, as the company celebrates 20 years in business, the boys will be back in Hong Kong to celebrate with Ray Erwin, also a partner in Australia Fruits, along with their closest and dearest friends at their annual…

Promising 2023 season for Lovita plums

This year, the first Lovita® plums will be harvested during the week of August 21. A perfectly "normal" start to the harvest in terms of timing. "Everything has gone well so far. We haven't had any frost or drought, and the orchards haven't been hit by hail, as they're all protected by nets", says Monika…

Southern Hemisphere doors open for French stone fruit variety breeder

On 21 June, COT International, a French breeder based in Bouillargues (Gard, France), signed an agreement with the Australian group Eternal Fresh, which notably represents the stone fruit brand 'The Chosen Ones®'. It's an agreement that opens the doors of the southern hemisphere wide for Cot, as it aims…

Dynamic sales and a balanced market for the French plum season

This year, the French plum season started during the last week of June and will run until late October/early November. “The earliest varieties were slightly lacking in sugar because of the regular rains in June,” explains Eric Tastayre, manager of Apifood. “But with the current weather, the quality of…

"The demand for Yangshan honey peaches far exceeds the supply"

The Yangshan honey peaches produced in Wuxi, Jiangsu are characterized by a "large and juicy fruit". Among them, the mid-ripening varieties "Baifeng" and "Hujing" were launched in early and mid-July respectively, and are very popular in the market. It is understood that this year, the production of…

Moldovan cherry exports to EU see 12.5-fold surge in 2023

In 2023 so far, Moldova has exported 2,600 tons of cherries to the European Union, a 12.5-fold increase from 208 tons in 2022. Moldova’s producers exported over 16,000 tons of…

A bright future for Les Mirabelles de Lorraine

The very first Mirabelles de Lorraine PGI for the 2023 campaign hit the market on August 10. They will remain available for 6 weeks. This is a slightly earlier year than 2022, which was unusually early, but the harvest is still ten days earlier than the historical average: "We're waiting for all the PGI…

"As soon as Metis plums are available, all operators want them"

The Metis plum campaign, managed in Italy by Op Granfrutta Zani and Minguzzi, is off to a good start. "Harvesting started early in southern Italy. As soon as Metis plums are available, all operators want them. Grades are good and organoleptic quality is very satisfactory. Thinning is the only way to…

Picotas take centre stage in UK in weather-hit cherry season

Picota cherries have been celebrated at an exclusive event in London marking the start of the new European season. Picotas are Europe’s only naturally stalkless cherry, with the sweet and crunchy fruit grown exclusively in Spain’s Jerte Valley. They are available on the UK market from mid-June to August…

Pakistan reports that 90 orchards, 15 cold treatment facilities can export cherries to China

Currently, 90 cherry orchards and 15 cold treatment facilities and packhouses in Pakistan can export cherries to China. This is quite an achievement of the Pakistan government…

"Despite the weather and the cherry catastrophe, the stone fruit campaign isn't too bad"

UPA-UCE Extremadura recently analyzed the development of the stone fruit campaign in the region. Currently, more than 60% of this season's stone fruit production has already…

USDA

German cherry production for MY2023/24 estimated at 45,420 tons

Germany is the third-largest importer of cherries in the world after China/Hong Kong and Russia. From 2010 to 2022, between 52 and 77 percent of the cherries consumed in Germany were imported, with the majority of imports originating in other EU member states. The largest non-EU cherry suppliers are…

"We are faced with the task of adjusting production in a very different political environment"

For the entire Frutania Group, one of the leading marketers of soft fruits in Germany, 2023 has been an exciting year so far: the weather extremes and high production costs presented some major challenges to the affiliated growers. Meanwhile, marketing-wise - despite inflation and lower purchasing power…

Improved sales and better prices for French stone fruit

The 2023 French stone fruit campaign has experienced a great deal of turmoil: climatic hazards impacting production, excess volumes, a bottleneck market, low prices, and a weather forecast not always helping consumption. Raphaël Martinez, Director of the PDO Pêches et Abricots de France, reviews the past…

“We can export sweet plums to the EU tax-free”

Recently, the European Parliament extended trade liberalization measures between Moldova and the EU for another year. This gives European importers the opportunity to buy fruits from Moldova tax-free. ”Moldovan fruit growers are ready to deliver high quality plums of large caliber to buyers from all over…

May and June were wettest months in a decade: Kashmir cherry growers hit hard

This year’s prolonged cold weather and rains have devastated the cherry crop when the harvest period was at its peak in the Kashmir Valley. Eight cherry varieties grown in…

Oregon cherry growers ask governor for disaster declaration

Climate change has not just limited Oregon’s cherry growing season. It has also delayed California’s season, which leads to markets becoming flooded and causes prices to drop.…

Apricots, peaches and nectarines: good quality despite the difficulties

"The apricot, peach and nectarine season is in full swing at Ecofarm. Harvesting started a little late than in the past, but quality is good," reports Sabina Donzella, quality manager at the Sicilian PO, before adding that "the weather of the past few months has caused a delay in ripening, which then…