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Vegetables

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…
Over a week, more than 5 thousand tons of fruits and vegetables were delivered to the Primorsky Krai
The import of fresh vegetables, fruits, and berries has increased in Primorsky Krai
The import of fresh vegetables, fruits, and berries from different countries has increased in Primorsky Krai. From September 11 to 17, the region received 5,780.5 tons of…

Nigerian tomato growers aim for decentralized production
The Tomatoes and Orchard Producers Association of Nigeria (TOPAN) has called for decentralization of tomato production to boost sustainability and market growth. Recently,…

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…

The export of agricultural products from Kyrgyzstan increased by 49.6% in just one week
From September 8 to 14, 2023, the staff of the Plant Quarantine Department conducted phytosanitary control over 5,304 tons of domestic agricultural products destined for…

Emsland Gemüse's Erwin Savenije about tomato cultivation:
"This season, we managed residue-free cultivation on 13.5 ha"
In Germany, the peak time for tomato cultivation is gradually winding down at Emsland Gemüse. "Pricing-wise, we're catching up with last year. It's a pity, in a way, that we're approaching the season's end; prices have genuinely been on the rise recently," begins managing director Erwin Savenije. "We're…
Barry Michiels, Gebroeders Michiels:
"Belgian greenhouse vegetable prices have nosedived since Spanish supply's arrival on the market"
In Belgium, the greenhouse vegetable season is transitioning from summer to fall. "Now that Spanish vegetables are coming on the market, people increasingly opt for these, so…

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…

Geofur is a leading business part of the La Grande Bellezza Italiana network
Big retail chains to promote radicchio di Verona IGP
Promoting radicchio in the best way, focusing on its Italian origin via the PGI mark and a guaranteed chain. This is the purpose of the initiative that is about to start, created by the La Grande Bellezza Italiana business network and some big retail chains. Cristiana Furiani from Geofur "Radicchio is…

Photo report: A visit to the Rheinische Pilz headquarters in Geldern, Germany
"In line with the high demand, significantly more brown mushrooms are produced at our southern German cultivation facility"
For 50 years now, the Deckers family has been involved in the production and marketing of high-quality mushrooms. With meanwhile several own cultivations and two marketing locations in Geldern and Bürstadt as well as a weekly total volume around 500 tons of white and brown mushrooms, the group of…

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…

Vicasol's Stephan van Marrewijk sees how Spanish cooperative's organic segment grows
"Shift from tomatoes to other fruiting vegetables due to risk of ToBRFV"
The Spanish fruit-vegetable season began slightly later than last year. "But we'll soon be back on par," says Stephan van Marrewijk, who works in the commercial department of the Spanish cooperative Vicasol. "We had a scorching summer, significantly affecting the early planted crops. Fortunately,…
Rosselkhoznadzor, Orenburg region:
Pests detected in melons and tomatoes from Uzbekistan
During a quarantine phytosanitary control on September 18 and 19, Rosselkhoznadzor officials for the Orenburg region found quarantine pests in four batches of fresh melons…

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…

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Grower illegally produces 5,000 tomato cuttings, authorities destroy the plants
"The fight against the counterfeiting of protected plant varieties is a difficult battle, but necessary for public health, food safety, and the economy," said the Aib, the Anti-Infringement Bureau for Intellectual Property Rights on Plant Material. The owner of a local farm in Ragusa, Sicily, illegally…

Spanish zucchini exports decrease by 18%
In the 2022/2023 campaign, Spain exported 368.77 million kilos of zucchini, i.e., 17.94% less than in the 2020/2021 campaign, in which it exported the largest amount in…

COAG Almeria denounces zucchini and cucumber prices don't cover production costs
COAG Almeria denounced "the non-compliance with the Food Chain Law just as Almeria's fruit and vegetable campaign is starting, as some products are being sold below production costs, especially zucchini and cucumber, which, to date, are being auctioned below 30 cents." "The agricultural campaign has just…

Champignons Stadler Aigle
Cédric Stadler, Owner and Managing Director Stadler cultures de champignons SA"Customer proximity, quality, service and reliability continue to distinguish us"
Stadler cultures de champignons SA has been producing mushrooms in Aigle VD since 1943. The company was founded by Armin Stadler, who bought a former parquet factory and converted it into a mushroom farm. Since then, electricity has been produced in Aigle by water power, with the help of a water turbine…

Hungary unilaterally reinstates import restrictions on goods from Ukraine
Late last Friday, the Hungarian government put into place the import restrictions on Ukrainian agriculture products that it had promised that it would reintroduce should the…
Predominantly determined by the price of onions, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and carrots
Serbia sees y-o-y increase in the price of vegetables
In the first half of the year, the average y-o-y growth in Serbian consumer prices was 15.3%. Products that had the biggest impact on the growth of total consumer prices…

Broccoli brands with 12% volume growth in Europe on display in Madrid
Bimi® and Tenderstem®, the broccoli brands loved by consumers across Europe and the UK, are coming together at Fruit Attraction in Madrid this October, as they continue to…

Autumn demand strong for Polish fresh shiitake mushrooms
Bi Shutong is the European Business Developer at QiHe Biotechnology. The company is an expert in the production of substate logs for shiitake, king oyster, oyster, and other exotic mushroom varieties. The company recently opened its own subsidiary in Poland, which includes a mushroom farm. Bi Shutong…
John Schuurman of Enza Zaden presents the new Daleza variety:
"I don't know of any vegetable that brings so much history and emotion with it"
Asparagus is grown on about 22,000 hectares in Germany, while the vegetable grows on just over 3,000 hectares in the Netherlands, according to John Schuurman. He is responsible at Enza Zaden for the Daleza F1 variety, which was introduced in 2020. "Many plant propagators are concentrated in the southeast…

Photo report: A visit to the Abenhardt vegetable farm and trading company in Datteln, Germany
"Nowadays we can offer German carrots from July 1 until May"
Until a few years ago, the Abenhardt vegetable farm was completely devoted to carrots. In addition to conventional and organically produced carrots, the innovative family business based in Datteln now also produces and packages organic Hokkaido and zucchini for trade throughout Germany. "The carrot is…

Juan Marín, general director of Campo de Lorca:
"We have strengthened our presence outside Murcia in areas with enough water to ensure the supply of vegetables"
The broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and artichoke summer campaign is coming to a close in Spain, and, shortly, the planting of seeds for the autumn and winter campaign will start in the southeast, a more export-oriented area (Europe's main producing area). "The summer campaign has been marked by high…

A hectic Peruvian organic ginger market
“It’s a crazy season for organic ginger from Peru,” says Nelson Vidaurre with Añawi. Plantings have been significantly reduced across the board compared to the previous year. “Last year may have been very challenging for some growers. As a result, there is a lot less availability this year.” With good…

UK supports Zimbabwean horti exports like blueberries and peas
According to Minister for Africa Andrew Mitchell, industry players in the United Kingdom are keen to support Zimbabwean exports of horticultural products like blueberries and…

EastFruit
Record cucumber export from Morocco to Portugal amidst Europe’s worst drought
According to EastFruit, Morocco exported a record volume of cucumbers to Portugal this season. One of the factors that contributed to the increase in shipments to the Portuguese markets was the severe drought that affected Europe. EastFruit previously reported that cucumber exports from Morocco have been…

Demand for exotic mushrooms transforms US mushroom market
The American mushroom market is undergoing a transformation, with consumers increasingly choosing a variety of exotic mushrooms alongside traditional favorites like button and brown mushrooms. Shandong Imperial Garden Biotechnology, a large producer of fresh shiitake and shiitake substrate logs from…

Maharashtra farmer feeds his entire tomato crop to his cows
A Maharashtra farmer decided to feed his entire tomato harvest to his cows after his relentless efforts to secure fair returns for his crop left him with a mere Rs 4.5 per kilogram (€0.05) in Ahmednagar district. The farmer invested some Rs 200,000 (€2.200) into his two-acre tomato field but was…

Totam Seeds introduces TopGun in the high-tech greenhouse market
Dutch seed company Totam Seeds is introducing its new rootstock named TopGun. "Through multiple years of trials conducted under high-tech greenhouse conditions, we are thrilled to officially introduce TopGun to our valued customers worldwide," states Pieter Vermeulen, Product Development Manager at Totam…

Malaysia vegetable prices are about to rise
Vegetable harvests in Malaysia are expected to be affected by the monsoon transition phase, increasing the likelihood of higher prices in the coming months. According to…

Crops in Chatham-Kent in desperate need of more sunshine
According to senior agronomist Dale Cowan with AGRIS Co-operative Ltd., crops in Chatham-Kent have not only seen too much rainfall, but there has been too little sunshine as…

Chinese scientists work to design tomatoes suitable for mechanical harvesting
In the early 1960s, the fs8.1 mutation caused a shape change in tomato fruit from round to blocky, which greatly improved the stress tolerance of tomatoes and brought about a…

Five Kenyan counties to benefit from Sh1.5 billion vegetable production plan
Five Kenyan counties are set to benefit from a Sh1.5 billion project (€9.6 mln) designed to increase healthy vegetable production and consumption. Expected to benefit 1.1…

Photo report: British Tomato Conference
Not a single tomato could be found at the British Tomato Conference, which took place yesterday in Warwickshire. There was no decorative British tomato flag, no new varieties shown by breeders, and even the lunch was completely tomato-free. This is exemplary of how the fear of the Rugose virus has…

Francisco Manuel Ramos, from Hortoventas: "Prices have remained stable in September and we expected they'll continue this way in the coming weeks"
"The cold winter weather in our area allows us to completely cut the cycle of the tomato virus"
While the autumn/winter tomato campaign begins to take shape in many of Almeria's greenhouses with the harvest of this year's earliest plantations in which there is a generalized delay, Granada still maintains the supply that has served the market throughout summer. "Production in Granada has decreased a…

Chip Obracay with Mann Packing:
“It is our goal to provide our products in all 50 states”
Innovation has always been at the forefront of Mann Packing. "It makes us stand out," says Chip Obracay, Vice President of National Sales. "We've always prided ourselves on quality and innovation, even before the company was acquired by Fresh Del Monte back in 2018." Broccolini® is one of the most…

© Aughty Venable | Dreamstime.com
Quarantine pests found in melon and tomato shipments from Uzbekistan in the Orenburg region
On September 18 and 19, officials of the territorial department of Rosselkhoznadzor, identified quarantine pests in four batches of fresh melons received from Uzbekistan. Namely: the polyphagous humpback fly (Megaselia scalaris) and the melon fly (Myiopardalis pardalina). The total volume of contaminated…

Struggling Egyptians turn to buy-now-pay-later offers, even for vegetables
Egypt's annual inflation soared to a record 37.4% in August due to higher food prices. At this time of record inflation, more and more Egyptians are resorting to deferred…

USDA
New Jersey 2022 Annual Vegetable Report2022 New Jersey sales for principal vegetables totaled $242 million
Bruce Eklund, state statistician of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New Jersey Field Office has stated that New Jersey 2022 sales for principal vegetables totaled $242 million from more than 32,000 harvested acres. Bell peppers led in value of production, followed by tomatoes, and sweet…

Arequipa's garlic production could be at risk because of the drought and El Niño
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Global El Niño phenomenon together with the effects of climate change, which are already noticeable in Arequipa where 70% of…

Leander van de Griend, ZON fruit & vegetables:
"Rise of fresh packs boosts Dutch zucchini consumption"
This year, Dutch open-field zucchini growers, too, face weather-related challenges. "While record temperatures are normal for July, we had the most precipitation (also a record) and the least production this year. That threw crop planning into disarray. Auction volumes, thus, fluctuated wildly, from…
Cilantro, habanero, tomatoes and cabbages in particular
Price of vegetables continue to soar in Belize
Тhе Ѕtаtіѕtісаl Іnѕtіtutе оf Веlіzе (ЅІВ) nоtеd thаt thе оvеrаll fооd саtеgоrу rеgіѕtеrеd аn іnflаtіоn rаtе оf 13.8 реrсеnt. Тhе рrісеѕ оf vеgеtаblеѕ соntіnuе tо ѕоаr…

Antoine Daccache of Daccache Green Line:
Climate change positive for tomato cultivation in Lebanon's high mountains
In the winter, the ground is blanketed in a meter-thick layer of snow. However, come summer and fall, lush crops of sun-ripened tomatoes emerge. And there is nothing tastier than a tomato that ripens on a plant whose roots are nourished in fertile, open soil and whose leaves sway gently on a breeze that blows in from the mountains. So says Antoine Daccache, whose plots on Mount L…
Shenzhou 16 crew have been growing vegetables aboard Tiangong space station:
Chinese astronauts tend a 'space garden' in orbit
The crew of China's Shenzhou 16 have been growing their own food in Earth orbit. Mission commander Jing Haipeng and astronauts Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao have been…

Giuseppe Ventura (La Zucca Rossa) reports on Italian pumpkin and squash sales
"August was better than September so far"
"We sold more pumpkins and squash in August that in the first 20 days of September. Commercialization is currently slow, with Italian supplies that meet demand. The campaign of Lunga di Napoli from Scafati (Salerno) is practically over, but the Moscata Di Provenza variety is coming in from the Metaponto…

Due to low demand, Ukrainian farmers are forced to sell carrots at record-low prices
Ukrainian farmers are concerned about the situation in the carrot market: prices have dropped to an all-time low, according to analysts from the EastFruit project. According…

Parrino: "Exhaustive labels are very important to German-speaking markets"
Satisfactory market for Sicilian organic tomatoes in Germany
OP Agrologica, well-known for its organic production, also boasts a table grape range. FreshPlaza has talked about it with Claudio Parrino, sales manager, who reports that "together with table grapes, tomatoes rank first when it comes to commercialized volumes." Claudio Parrino "Our main markets are…

British Tomato Conference kicks off
"If the past four years have taught us anything, it is the importance of fostering collaboration throughout the entire supply chain," remarked Paul Falkner, Treasurer of the Tomato Growers' Association and Head of Sales at EVG, during his opening speech at this year's British Tomato Conference. He…

SaniTomato preserves the properties and freshness of tomatoes for longer
This year, at Fruit Attraction, Sanifruit will be presenting a unique and important innovation: SaniTomato, a post-harvest solution designed to extend the shelf life and…

High-quality fruits and vegetables are in short supply in the Russian Far East
Residents of the Russian Far East face different food-related challenges. The region's harsh climate and low population density affect agriculture. Experts note that the…

Hurricane Idalia helps strengthen bell pepper markets
For most of the summer, the supply of bell peppers has exceeded the demand for them. “The heavier crops were being grown in the East compared to Western production, which has been more balanced through the summer,” says Brian Rayfield, president of PennRose Farms LLC. However, he adds that cooler weather…

Lettuce industry Florida expands into new production systems
Up to 73% of US lettuce comes from California, being distributed nationwide through extensive retail chains. Lettuce grown in Florida accounts for 3% of the national total and…

Decline continues in 2023
US imported less Peruvian asparagus in 2022
The Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association (PAIA) has released its 2022/2023 Fresh Asparagus Statistics, Category Trends and Demographics Report. The USDA statistics report that of total imported quantities for 2022, the U.S. imported a decreased volume of 13 percent year over year which is down from…

Morocco sends over half of its tomato exports to France
According to EastFruit, tomatoes continue to be Morocco's main fruit and vegetable export product, accounting for about a third of all of the country's fruit and vegetable…

Trinidad and Tobago will face sweet pepper shortage, with prices going up
Consumers from Trinidad and Tobago will soon face a sweet pepper shortage. Predictions are that prices are going up. According to the Head of the Aranguez United Farmers…

Australians are still throwing away too many vegetables
Industry experts and politicians claim that Australians are still throwing away too many unused vegetables. About 32 percent of people are binning fresh vegetables at least…

DM Farms:
Microgreens are increasingly popular
"In order to promote sustainable development by applying advanced technologies for indoor crops, our products are grown respecting the environment with technologies that help produce using minimum amounts of resources such as water and energy," reports Sebastiano Di Martino, General Manager of DM Farms,…
Dr. Andrea Schieder and Dr. Melanie Molnar of Enza Zaden and Vitalis:
"As a grower, you basically have to know today what's going to happen with crops in the market 15 years from now"
Dr. Andrea Schieder has been a breeder at Enza Zaden for 26 years and, together with Dr. Melanie Molnar, who again is primarily responsible for the organic sector, demonstrated Enza Zaden's breeding process. "At Enza Zaden, breeding is done at 26 different locations, including Germany. Breeding at our…

Seeds shortage delays the Moroccan pepper season
Moroccan pepper growers faced a shortage of seeds this season, forcing many of them to reduce their acreage, postpone their programs, or even abandon peppers altogether this year. Obeida Mansour, CEO of Universal Peppers, told FreshPlaza, "Most pepper growers in Chtouka [stronghold of peppers production in…

Powdery Mildew on field-grown tomatoes
Leaves on infected tomato plants develop irregular, bright yellow blotches; severely affected leaves die but seldom drop. Spots of dead tissue, sometimes surrounded by a yellow halo, eventually appear in the blotches. Abundant white sporulation may be observed on upper or lower leaf surfaces. There are…

Select packages of Costco butternut squash recalled
A notice sent out by Costco supplier Safeway Fresh Foods on Friday, September 15, announced that select packages of butternut squash – specifically its 20522 Organic Butternut…
Exporting grapes, onions, tomatoes, sweet peppers, dates, and more:
Namibian producers have increasing access to global markets
Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, said that Namibian producers have seen increasing access to global markets. He said in 2022, 36%…

Beet pricing slightly stronger in New Jersey
Harvesting on beets in New Jersey is underway. “The beet crop is great. We have cut beets and bunch beets and we’re doing well with them. The crop looks good and the weather…

Stable market ahead expected for Thai Chili peppers
Strong volumes are projected for the next three months on Thai Chili peppers. “Very little Thai Chili is grown domestically with the majority coming in from the Dominican Republic and Mexico,” said Marc Holbik of Miami, Florida-based Ecoripe Tropicals, adding it sells the peppers in green, red (which is…

Spanish tomato exports fell by 41.44% in the first half of the year
According to an analysis prepared by Hortoinfo based on data from the Estacom statistical service (Icex-Tax Agency), over the last decade, Spanish tomato exports in the first…

Granada starts this year's second green asparagus campaign
A total of 15 cooperatives in La Vega and Poniente have started the year's second green asparagus campaign, which takes place between September and October. According to the…

Camilla Bulgarelli from Sipo
The sale of Italian fall produce has started
Kohlrabi, celeriac, sweet potatoes, pak choi, turnips: these are only some of the fall products Sipo started selling this week as part of its "Sapori del Mio Orto" range. As the season changes, consumption is slowly veering towards fall products and the company from Rimini is not going to be caught…

Dalibor F1 by Harmoniz:
Smooth round tomatoes resistant to cracking and blotchiness
After a period where small fruits were the favorite, consumption of bunch (smooth round) tomatoes is on the up once again. They are appreciated by producers and consumers who perceive it as part of the Italian culinary tradition both in Italy and abroad. Dalibor F1Thanks to its genetics, Harmoniz intends…

Passion for horticulture and community is driving force behind TomatoesNZ’s newest board member
A passion for horticulture and community is the driving force behind TomatoesNZ’s newest board member, Jungeun (Jiny) Kim. Nestled down a long driveway in the heart of Waiuku,…

Global mushroom market size to reach USD114.40 billion in 2030
The global mushroom market size was USD 50.40 Billion in 2021 and is expected to register a revenue CAGR of 9.6% during the forecast period, according to the latest analysis…

Matteo Benvenuti, who came up with the idea together with Vertical Farm Italia:
Tunnel Farm: one of the few cases of underground 'indoor vertical farming' in the world
The official inauguration of Tunnel Farm, the vertical farm set up by Matteo Benvenuti (in the photo below), director and founder of the Vertical Farm Italia group, was held on September 15, 2023, in Torrita di Siena (Tuscany). "It takes persistence, a dash of madness, a strong idea, sturdy…

Rolf Vetter, general manager of Gemüsebau Vetter on pumpkin direct sale from farm:
"Pricing is limited because the market is flooded with the produce"
The drought at times caused severely limited growth of pumpkins, according to farmer Rolf Vetter, who grows both Hokkaido, butternut, muscat and spaghetti pumpkins on his farm in Riedhausen. "We started selling them two weeks ago. Sixty to 70 percent of the demand is for the Hokkaido and 20 percent for…

Tom Desmet, Desmet Agro:
"Bushel carrot demand seems to have recovered after the summer vacation"
Now that the summer vacation is over in Belgium, bushel carrot demand is gradually increasing. That is according to Tom Desmet of Desmet Agro. The company is currently in the thick of that season but also grows potatoes, onions, leeks, and various cabbage varieties. "With the last few weeks' hot weather…

Nutritionists say Kenyans are not eating enough vegetables
It seems that Kenyans are not eating adequate vegetables. World Health Organization guidelines indicate that one is supposed to consume at least 400 grams of vegetables per…

To what extent did this summer’s rains hurt New Hampshire’s pumpkins?
This summer’s wet weather impacted the season for many growers across New England. However, it seems that, for the most part, the pumpkins did okay. Nancy Franklin of…

"Our main product is teen leaf, which is a new segment for the European market"
Robots grow, process and package lettuce for Nordic Greens in a high-tech greenhouse
Solar panels, double screens, LED lights, and cameras are used for scouting crops for pests and deficiencies. Several sustainable initiatives are visible in the new Nordic Greens facility, but there's much more happening inside this new semi-closed lettuce facility. "We've created a customized system…

Exports of Chinese fruits and vegetables to Russia increased in 2023
The export of Chinese vegetables and fruits to Russia from January to July 2023 amounted to 90,000 tons, which is 102.8% more than the previous year. "In monetary terms, the…

Fantix e Redix
Two new tomato varieties of interest to the world of producers and processors
When horticultural seed companies introduce new tomato varieties for industrial processing, they need to consider whether they can achieve the dual benefit of providing the best possible balance in both yields and quality. The new Syngenta tomato varieties are a step in this direction. Fantix (an…

Cucumber prices in Uzbekistan fell by almost 30% in two weeks
Over the past two weeks, the average wholesale price for smooth short cucumbers in Uzbekistan has decreased by 29%, the first drop in prices for these products in a growing…

EastFruit
Morocco’s tomato exports reach new heights in 2022/23
According to EastFruit, Morocco, one of the world’s primary suppliers of fresh tomatoes, is continuing to increase its vegetable exports. The country has achieved new record figures this season as the shipments of this product to foreign markets increased compared to the previous year. For the MY 2022/23…

Tomato prices rise in August, but no new record month
The average European tomato price fell back to its five-year high in August, as it did in March. This means the price is still high, but August is not a record month. On…

"Resistance makes the difference"
Enza Zaden's 19th Gemüsebau Feldtag focused on resistance
With temperatures reaching 21 degrees, between 400 and 500 visitors attended Enza Zaden's 19th Gemüsebau Feldtag (Vegetable Growing Field Day) in Dannstadt-Schauernheim, Germany, on September 14. The event was held as part of the company's Discovery Field Days, which began in Allonnes, France, at the…

Status of Almeria's and Granada's greenhouse at the start of September
Even though the planting of greenhouse vegetables has already taken place in many greenhouses in Almería, the nurseries still have significant quantities of zucchini,…
Product sold in Ontario and possibly other provinces and territories
Golden Mushroom brand Enoki Mushroom recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes
Enoki Mushrooms from the Golden Mushroom brand have been recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes. Buyers are advised not to consume, use, sell, serve or distribute the recalled…

Agricultural enterprises of Belarus challenge difficulties in successful vegetable sales
Agricultural enterprises of Belarus harvested a bountiful vegetable this year. However, the main challenge is not a shortage of produce but difficulties in successful sales.…

Italy aims to harvest beetroots two months earlier
The Italian beetroot chain has reached a turning point thanks to the farsightedness of some operators, including Matteo Zanarini from Zanarini Agromarketing e Consulting. "We need to hasten the harvesting calendar to fill a gap. In 2024, the produce will be available 40-60 days earlier than the usual…

Vegetables NZ applauds National Party’s comprehensive support for commercial vegetable growing and food security
Vegetables NZ says it’s very pleased the National Party has acknowledged the importance of growing fresh, healthy vegetables in New Zealand, in its pre-election primary…

AGF Direct/De Terp Squashpackers collaboration
"From Oct. 1, the first semi-processed, unpeeled Hakkaido winter squash halves and cubes will go out the door"
De Terp Squashpackers has, in nearly 40 years, grown into one of the largest pumpkin companies in the Netherlands. "We organize the entire organic pumpkin chain, year-round, from seed to consumer packaging," begins Rinke Robbers. In April 2022, a huge fire significantly damaged the company's premises.…

Bernardi from Rimini
Cauliflower harvest has started in Romagna
With almost 40 hectares, Bernardi from Rimini confirms itself as a leading player this time of year as well. Crops are located in Rimini, Emilia Romagna. "Sales will officially start on September 18th with cauliflowers, further on we will also have cabbage and kraut," reports manager Christopher…

Photo report
"Healthy togetherness brings the edible mushroom sector further forward"
On September 12 and 13, the Hessian National Mushroom Growers Group invited to this year's HLP Days at the conference venue in Zaltbommel, the Netherlands. A wide-ranging social program awaited the visitors, consisting of a traditional farm tour, technical presentations as well as discussions and…

GoodLeaf's Calgary vertical farm in full production
Construction on the 96,000-square-foot indoor vertical farm facility in Calgary is all but complete, and the first test crops have been planted. GoodLeaf Farms planted the microgreens and baby greens to ensure all of the equipment and infrastructure was working with the intent of being in full production…
Citrus fruits setting record price growths in numerous Russian regions
According to the statistics agency, in August 2023, food products, on average, became 0.6% more expensive compared to July. Apples saw a price increase of 10.9%, while nuts…

Belgian companies to participate in Agriculture Day
"It's a great way to create some awareness for the craft"
This Sunday, September 17, the Day of Agriculture will take place in Belgium. On that day, organized by Boerenbond and Landelijke Gilden, growers and farmers open their farms to the general public to let them see the ins and outs of running an agricultural business. "It's a great way to create some…

Positive outlook for California lettuce supply
Lettuce supplies look to be steady right now out of California. “As far as romaine is concerned, it’s pretty readily available right now,” says Wayde Nichols of Buy Fresh Produce Inc. He says that pricing on romaine lettuce is also at a normal price, about $10-$12 a case, and that should stay consistent…
Central Afghanistan
Wardak tomato growers ask government to find market for their goods
Maidan Wardak province tomato farmers say they have no choice but sell their tomato harvest at throw-away prices due to the closure of the Torkham gate. They claim they are…

Indian tomato prices drop all over India, farmers are dumping their goods
The prices of tomatoes have crashed in major markets due to oversupply. They dropped from nearly ₹8000 per 100 kgs to ₹200-300 per 100 kgs. Although tomatoes were unaffordable…
Supply from nearby states improving
Wholesale prices of some vegetables down at Koyambedu Wholesale Market
The prices of most vegetables have started to ease at the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex in the city following bountiful arrivals from neighboring States over the past few…

Coen Swager, TB&S:
"Violetti popular with processors and hospitality wholesalers, but Dutch retail isn't biting yet"
Last month's summer rains in the Netherlands led to a shortage of open-field products at TB&S. But volumes are back up, and the company has plenty of cabbage available to serve its customers. "Though last week was very hot, we were less affected. The days are getting shorter, and there's plenty of dew in…

André Busigel, managing director of Reinhard Busigel GbR, grows snake cucumbers in a greenhouse:
"Competition is at a normal level"
In spring, the price of snake cucumbers remained stable for a long time because, among other things, import volumes were significantly lower, according to André Busigel, managing director of Reinhard Busigel GbR in Albertshofen. "The Netherlands came onto the market later with larger quantities, while…

Pierre Varlet, APEF
“We hope that endives will regain the place they deserve”
Consumption, cultivation techniques and energy. As the endive season is about to begin, Pierre Varlet, director of the Association of French Endive Producers (APEF), discusses the sector’s work and the change of presidency. 2023: weed control, woolly adelgid, energy...“These are the three subjects we…

© Noam Armonn | Dreamstime.com
Russia: ToBRFV detected in a batch of imported tomatoes and peppers
The Primorsky interregional department of Rosselkhoznadzor prevented the import of tomatoes and peppers from China due to the identification of an object quarantined for the EAEU. The Office of Rosselkhoznadzor at the phytosanitary control post "Pogranichny" during state control over batches of imported…

Pepe Blanco, of Cristalplant: “Many have feared the 'Thrips parvispinus' in bell peppers, and the rugose virus in tomatoes is even more feared"
“The 20-day delay in Almeria's plantations has caused a bottleneck for the seedbeds”
The greenhouse vegetable campaign has been quite delayed this year in Almeria, and this has affected the seedbeds in the province that supply the plants, which have experienced some bottlenecks during these first weeks of planting. "The seedbeds usually start delivering bell peppers and tomatoes in…

DiMare California appoints new president of DMB Packing
As DiMare reaches the halfway point in its 95th year of business, Tom DiMare announces Jeff Dolan as president of DMB Packing. In this role, Dolan will play an expanded…

SunFed adds to sales team
SunFed is excited to share that Allie Coombs has joined the company's sales team on September 1. Allie got her start in produce at EuroFresh Farms on the Costco/Walmart/Safeway team. In a short…

Hong Kong checks finds banned Japanese vegetables
Routine checks in Hong Kong have found some banned Japanese vegetables on an importer. A consignment of vegetables has been sealed, with a packet of eggplant without a…

New celery bites introduced
Taylor Farms announced the launch of their new Celery Bites. Following the examples in other categories across the store – including beverages, salty snacks, and cereal – Taylor Farms is introducing bite sized pieces of celery featuring a smaller 1 ½" cut to provide smaller pieces for snacking, juicing and for use in smoothies.…

Andrea Montagna, CEO of Bonduelle Fresh Americas
Fresh cut, a complicated market
The situation in the fresh cut market is complicated all over the world and in Italy there have been several plant closures. But also in the US the situation has to be assessed day by day. "At the macro level – says Andrea Montagna, CEO of Bonduelle Fresh Americas - the combined effects of the COVID pandemic, rising inflation,…

The price disparity within the largest market near Almaty is "Altyn Orda"
The largest market near Almaty is "Altyn Orda," with over 5,000 trading places and more than 50,000 visitors daily. The total area of this trading and logistics center is…

Alex Maseko – Harvest Global
“Kale is my Coca-Cola”
When Covid hit, Alex Maseko remembered his lifelong passion for leafy vegetables. In the KwaZulu-Natal town of Peacevale he set to planting vegetables, trialling many but settling on what has become his speciality: kale.Alongside kale, they grow English mustard, spinach, green beans, baby marrows, green peppers, chillies and…

Peru shipping 15-20 percent less asparagus to the U.S. right now
Supplies of imported asparagus are lower currently. “We are about 15 to 20 percent below last year’s volumes. Some weeks show an even greater disparity,” says Carlos Solf, director of procurement for Southern Specialties. While production of asparagus is timely coming out of Peru, it is lower than last…

Relationship opportunities drive participation at Southern Innovations
"We are part of a very relationship-oriented industry," says Michael DuPuis with Divine Flavor. "This makes it important for us to be present at the right events at the right time." For that reason, Divine Flavor will be exhibiting at SEPC's Southern Innovations event from September 14 – 16 in Charlotte,…

Ahmad Osman Khoder of Fresh Products
"Lebanese carrots available for export all year round"
Two years ago, carrot yields in Lebanon reached 5,400 tons, a drop in the bucket compared to the Netherlands' 643,000 tons or even its neighbor, Israel's 186,000 tons. We spoke to Ahmad Mostafa Khodr of Fresh Products, one of the few carrot growers in Lebanon. These figures come from the Food and Agriculture Organization, where Lebanon's is flagged as 'not officially confirmed'. T…

Kees Jansen, Gebroeders Jansen cultivation and packaging company:
"Leek prices down after smooth summer sales"
After smooth summer sales, Dutch leek prices dipped recently. "That's unfortunate. Exports were good all summer. There's not a huge supply, yet prices show a downward trend. Earlier this week, it was at around €0.50; with that, we're genuinely short. We need no less than €0.60 to cover the costs," says…

Horti Nigeria and EnGRAIS project focus on development of vegetable crops Agricultural Input Packages
In order to facilitate the growth of a sustainable and inclusive vegetable sector, Horti Nigeria and EnGRAIS project want to develop vegetable crops Agricultural Input…

Prices for a range of vegetables normalized in the Kostanay region
With the arrival of autumn, experts in the Kostanay region have noted that prices for a range of vegetables normalized. The Stabilization fund is actively procuring vegetables…

Four days over mountains and fertile valleys
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…

Kyrgyzstan to double warehouse food storage capacity with U.S. Government support
A new cold storage facility in Osh Oblast, established in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and local business Eco Azyk LLC, is set to…

CAN (ON): OGVG celebrates region with launch of 'Greenhouse Goodness campaign
The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) has launched the 'This is Greenhouse Goodness' campaign, which has converted the baggage claim area to resemble a greenhouse farm at Windsor International Airport. The campaign is designed to showcase the high concentration of greenhouses, achievements, and…

Proper storage of vegetables and stable supplies will bring profit to Ukrainian agricultural enterprises
Ukrainian agroholdings are facing challenges in the vegetable market that demand careful approaches and strategic planning. The high price of cabbage initially inspired one of…

The Colegio Oficial de Ingenieros Técnicos Agrícolas prepares a guide to identify, prevent, and control the pest
"Thrips parvispinus" threatens Almeria's pepper crops
Thrips parvispinus is putting Almeria's pepper crops at risk. Faced with this growing threat, the Colegio Oficial de Ingenieros Técnicos Agrícolas (Official College of Agricultural Technical Engineers of Almeria - COITAAL) has developed a guide to identify, prevent, and control this pest that is…

Mike Glas, Glas Groenten:
"Warm weather still somewhat inhibiting kale and Brussels sprouts sales"
It is not nearly typical kale weather, yet Glas Groenten started harvesting this product in the Netherlands last week. "It's still going quite slowly, though. The beaches may be full, but kale demand could do with a boost," says Mike Glas. "Soon, when the weather cools slightly, I hope demand picks up.…

VLAM pleased with Asia Fruit Logistica and looks forward to Fruit Attraction at its new location
"After recent Chinese market access, Asia Fruit Logistica could boost Belgian chicory exports"
Asia Fruit Logistica's 16th edition was on September 6 to 8. Flanders' Agricultural Marketing Board (VLAM) was again present with a Belgian delegation to assess the Asian market's potential. This Asian counterpart to Fruit Logistica was held in Hong Kong again after a once-off edition in Bangkok in 2022.…

Photo report: Oldenburg wholesale market
Shortage of goods and high prices for salads and outdoor vegetables
At the Oldenburg wholesale market, domestic goods are currently being actively traded, according to a small on-site survey. In addition to seasonal fruits such as soft fruits, damsons and the first early apples, salads and outdoor vegetables are dominating the market. In the latter product area in…
Dharmapuri district:
Tomato prices plummet in Rayakottai market
The price of tomatoes, standing at three digits a month back, has now fallen to single digits. In the Rayakottai market of Dharmapuri district, known as the tomato hub of…
An overview provided by Alfonso Altamura of the Campania-based Op of the same name:
Problematic summer for Babyleaf in Italy and winter doesn't sound promising either
Conventional and organic arugula, valerian, and spinach are just a few examples of baby leaf lettuce in Italy. Summer sales were not an unqualified success, even though the demand was high. The outlook for winter doesn't look good either. We talked about this with Alfonso Altamura, a partner in the…

Hurricane Idalia brought only rain, no damage to central Florida corn crop
Harvest on central Florida corn looks like it will get started later this month. “Everything looks really good with corn. It was very very dry so we had to do a lot of watering to get the crop up out of the ground,” says Hank Scott of Long and Scott Farms. He adds that the most recent Hurricane Idalia…