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General fresh produce

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

Experts claim cap on grocery prices is a bad idea
Although the Victorian Greens want a cap on grocery prices to spare consumers’ wallets, experts suggest it could be a bad idea. Greens MP Sam Hibbins made the suggestion in…
‘Survey into Global production and operation costs for prices for fruit and vegetables’
Global Coalition of Fresh Produce report confirms that growers are having it hard globally
Last week the Global Coalition of Fresh Produce released their ‘Survey into Global production and operation costs for prices for fruit and vegetables.’ A summary of what they…
Matthias Immesberger, Head of Assortment Management Fruit & Vegetables and Flowers & Plants at GLOBUS Markthallen Holding GmbH & Co. KG
"We have the highest share of regional products in the entire food retail sector"
Despite a total area of about 6,000 square meters, the Globus market hall in Wesel is one of the smallest markets of the large hypermarket chain, Matthias Immesberger, division manager and assortment manager of GLOBUS Markthallen Holding GmbH & Co. KG, tells us on site. "But the fruit and vegetable area…

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

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

Average weekly wholesale prices of fruit and veg & bananas
Bananas from Colombia at £0.95, up 8% compared to last week
This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £0.95 for bananas…

Fears of a mild and dry autumn
Exploration of underground water resources with interest-free instalment payments
After a very rainy June, HydroHunter Italy has been busy all summer searching for underground water. The mission of this company, based in Italy (Tuscany) but operating in many continents, is to help farmers who are having difficulty irrigating their fruit and vegetable crops, stressed by the heat and…

Lockyer Valley vegetable farm undergoing Clifton expansion with RED Grant
Lockyer Valley vegetable operation Jackwitz Farms is expanding onto the Darling Downs and creating up to 20 jobs thanks to a Rural Economic Development (RED) Grant. Jackwitz…

USDA
National Retail Report - specialty cropsNumber of ads for organic produce at 13% of total
The shift toward fall commodities is in full swing. Apple cider, pomegranates, pumpkins, and hard squash joined new crop apples and pears for festive displays. Ads for onions, potatoes increased this week as shoppers looked toward heartier fare. Cabbage and carrots were also popular. Naturally,…

USDA
U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement seasonal perishable products - weekly update:Mexico crossings of asparagus through Arizona, California, and Texas expected to remain the same
Seasonal changes have led to a shift in the commodities of interest for this report. Asparagus has replaced blueberries, as the number of growing areas for shipping asparagus continues to grow while demand for blueberries is traditionally light in the fall. This list will be revisited regularly to…

BelOrta opens pop-up photo exhibition
"You need knowledge to convert local produce preference into effective buying behavior"
A smart harvesting robot that separates chicory heads from their roots. Fragile bell pepper plants growing up a rope. Or pheromone traps among apple trees that keep harmful insects at bay. BelOrta wants to show off fruit and vegetable cultivation craftsmanship with its pop-up exhibition 'RIJP, the art of…

Fruit and veg prices keep rising in Greece
Last August, fruit prices in Greece jumped 10.6% year-on-year and those of vegetables by 17.5%, while they increased by 14.15% and 12.04%, respectively, from January to…

US Senator Brown introduces Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act
US Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the bipartisan Fresh Produce Procurement Reform Act, legislation that would increase and improve the U.S. Department of Agriculture…

Hurricane Idalia caused between $80 million and $370 million in agri damages
One-third of Florida's farmland was damaged by Hurricane Idalia that raged last month. According to a new report by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture…

Vietnamese Jan-Sep fruit and vegetable exports at historical high
According to data from Vinafruit, the Vietnam Fruits and Vegetable Association, exports in the first three quarters of 2023 are worth an estimated US$4.1 billion, 24% more…

August continues positive July pound sales trends for fresh produce
August’s summer weather, time off and travel boosted restaurant dining. According to the Circana (formerly IRI) monthly consumer surveys with primary grocery shoppers, the share of all meals prepared at home averaged 76.8 percent in August 2023. “That marks a multi-year low and restaurants saw strong…

Michel van den Berg, De Best AGF:
"Strangely enough, things like sweetcorn are mostly sold at markets"
With summer drawing to a close and the weather turning, Dutch wholesale markets' offerings are changing, too. "Many items like stone fruit and cherries are falling away, and soft fruit sales are noticeably declining. People have been eating those fruits all summer, so they're ready for something new…

Government in Morocco approves 5% minimum wage increase
The Moroccan government has officially approved a decree increasing the legal minimum wage for workers in agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. With inflation reaching 5%…

Fruit South Africa - Fhumulani Ratshitanga & Nomonde Ntloko
Pulling together all the strings of the South African fruit industry
At Fruit South Africa’s recent Asia Fruit Logistica stand, the high levels of interest in South African fruit were again evident. Fhumulani Ratshitanga, CEO of the umbrella body representing South Africa’s export fruit industries, remarks that despite some of their colleagues getting caught up in Hong…
Tony Augustin of BS Obst und Gemüse in Straelen:
"We source our produce via Fresh Park Venlo, the Düsseldorf wholesale market, and directly from local farmers"
As a regionally active wholesale company, BS Obst und Gemüse, based in Straelen, supplies a mixed clientele within a 100-km radius, consisting of restaurateurs, weekly market traders, specialty stores, and farm markets, as well as community catering. From the point of view of both goods procurement and…

German Fruit and Vegetable Congress 2023:
The industry looks to the future
For the 13th time, representatives from the fruit and vegetable industry met at the German Fruit and Vegetable Congress at the Congress Center in the city of Düsseldorf. The event was again organized by GS1 Germany, Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft mbH, and Fruchthandel magazine. Over 400 visitors attended the event. Click…

Interview with a fruit and vegetable importer that supplies three thousand retail outlets
What kind of fruits and vegetables would the Indian retail sector like to import from Europe?
India is the most populous country in the world. Its population is estimated at 1.428 billion, about 3 million more than China. There are obviously different types of consumers, including a few hundred million with remarkable purchasing power who prefer a specific level of quality in fruits and…

2023 Guangzhou (Jiangnan) International Fruit and Vegetable Industry Expo kicks off
The three-day "Food2China Expo and 2023 Guangzhou (Jiangnan) International Fruit and Vegetable Industry Expo" kicked off today (September 21) at the Guangzhou Poly World Trade Expo. The exhibition hall brings together various brands and companies in the Chinese fruit industry, regional fruit brands, and…

NZ Ministers are told that taking GST off fruit and veg would not lower prices
New Zealand’s Labour Government was warned earlier this year that removing GST from fruit and vegetables may not make them more affordable. According to documents obtained…

Inflation in Morocco worsens – up by 5% as of August
Morocco’s inflation rose by an annual rate of 5% at the end of August 2023. The growth in inflation is mainly due to a sweeping 10% rise in food prices, and a 1.3% rise in…
Torkham authorities issues temporary waiver until October 2
Afghan fruits and vegetables allowed entry into Pakistan without quarantine certificate
Pakistani customs authorities have allowed clearance of fruits and vegetables, imported from Afghanistan at Torkham border post, with a temporary waiver of Plant Protection…

BLE
BLE week 37:'Domestic damson plum season was already winding down in some places'
Local damsons still formed the basis of the range: Presenta, Hauszwetschge and Top were flanked by outgoing Fellenberg. Tophit and Topend were newly added in Frankfurt. Stanley, especially from the Republic of Moldova, as well as from Serbia intensified their supplies significantly, according to BLE.…

Even after a rainy spring and summer, Rhode Island growers are not complaining
Rhode Island pumpkin, apple and peach growers said showers and downpours this season were not bad for their produce. For instance, Brian Shields' family, the newest owners of…

Louis-Marie Asselin, Desmettre Bio
“We wanted to return to a 100% market trading floor tradition”
Desmettre Bio, French organic fruit and vegetable wholesaler, “made a 360° turn” several months ago, with a return to traditional know-how: the market trading floor! Louis-Marie Asselin, managing director of Desmettre Bio, explains the reasons for this choice and gives an initial assessment of the…

16 container farm labs supplied
USDA signs contract for R&D in CEA vegetable production
AmplifiedAg received a contract award from the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Fort Pierce, Florida, to supply vertical farming research labs to the agency's Horticultural Research Laboratory. The labs will be customized to carry out CEA vegetable production research unique to the agency's…

USDA invests in efforts to prevent and reduce food loss and waste
USDA Announced that it is investing $25 million in efforts to prevent and reduce food loss and waste as part of a joint agency initiative between USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist (OCE). The funding includes $4.3 million for the Community Food…

Luc Vanoirbeek re-elected as Copa-Cogeca's fruit and vegetable working group chair
The European umbrella organization Copa-Cogeca unites dozens of agricultural associations and cooperatives. Boerenbond and its Walloon counterpart, FWA are Belgian members. Recently, the Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives Federation's (VBT) general secretary, Luc Vanoirbeek, was elected for the third…

Community and Spanish fruit and vegetable exports to Brazil, USA, and Canada are growing
According to the first session of the World Fresh Forum -a webinar organized by ICEX Spain Export and Investment, IFEMA Madrid, and FEPEX as part of the parallel activities…

More government support is coming for South Africa’s smallholder vegetable farmers
Renewed efforts are being made to increase the share of black ownership in South Africa’s agricultural sector. The most recent plan, known as the Agriculture and…
David Sommer of A+S Frucht GmbH & Co. KG in Oldenburg:
"The wholesale market site clearly continues to have a raison d'être"
With the multiple crises, regionally operating fruit wholesalers in particular are looking back on some eventful years. For the Oldenburg-based family business A+S Frucht, too, the past years have been anything but easy, according to Managing Director David Sommer, who runs the company, founded in 1979,…
But the weather is not going to affect fruit and vegetable prices
Australia now officially faces an El Nino weather event
Australia is now officially in an El Nino weather event, which will probably mean a hot, dry summer and a greater threat of bushfires. However, there might be a silver lining…

Hong Kong has become South Africa's gateway to doing business in China
China is South Africa's largest trading partner, with Hong Kong being an essential gateway for South African goods to enter China. In 2022, China accounted for 9.4% of South…
LA UNIÓ
Hailstorm affected 22,000 hectares in Valencian causing more than 43 million euro in losses
La Unió Llauradora stated that Sunday's hailstorms, rain, and winds had affected more than 22,000 hectares of crops and that, according to an initial emergency assessment,…

Pakistan’s exports to Middle East increases by 20%
Due to a resurgence in demand from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, Pakistani exports to the Middle East climb by 20.82% in July. Alas, the State Bank of Pakistan’s…

Fresh food program launched in Indiana will be expanded nationwide
After garnering a lot of success in Indianapolis, a fresh food program is expanding its produce credit model. Instacart and Partnership for a Healthier America created the…
The EU generates 89 million tons of food waste a year, 53% of it in households
Europe proposes reducing household and retail food waste by 30%
The EC has proposed that Member States reduce waste in retail trade and consumption (households, restaurants, and catering services) by 30% per capita by 2030. Following the…

The Asian market is going through a transformation of products and origins
Asia is a very important market for Salix Fruits, a global importer and exporter of fresh produce. “It is a market that has seen a transformation in terms of products and origins over the past few years,” says Javier Orti, Sales Manager Asia with Salix Fruits. “Therefore, it is very important to have a…

From January to August, Turkish fruit and vegetable exports exceeded $2 billion
Turkey’s fresh fruit and vegetable exports increased by 16 percent in January-August from a year ago, exceeding $2 billion. Tomatoes exports took the lead among all produce…

New podcast series about the history of fresh produce
Thomas Jefferson tried to start a wine company, a banana empire owned the world's largest private navy and a 19th century food spy smuggled citrons from Italy into the US. These are not fictional stories but real historical events that you can expect to hear about when you tune into The History of Fresh…

Average weekly wholesale prices of fruit and veg & bananas
Bananas from Colombia at £0.88: 9% drop from last week
This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £0.88 for bananas from Colombia,…

ICOP 2023 in Almería: main organizer Wolfgang Braunstein on the relevance of producer organizations
"The necessary resources can be managed more easily in cooperation than on a stand-alone basis"
As a European exchange platform for producer cooperatives and other representatives of the fruit and vegetable sector, ICOP has become an indispensable date in the annual calendar over the years. We spoke to the organizing team of gfa -consulting gmbh, based in Weiz, Styria, about the supporting program…

Growing interest and attention to regenerative agriculture practices are driving new research
Increasing populations and changing climate conditions will require both innovative and ancient growing methods to feed the world. Regenerative agriculture, a movement both burgeoning and broad, is underpinned by the public’s growing awareness of how land stewardship and agricultural production…
Global Coalition of Fresh Produce -
Report calls for urgent policy measures to safeguard supply of fresh produce to consumers
The Global Coalition of Fresh Produce published the final results of its survey into the increasing costs of fruits and vegetable production around the world and their impacts…

Pakistan-Afghanistan border reopens after nine days
On Friday, the main border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan reopened after nine days. Vehicles resumed using the Torkham gateway after talks between the two…

Significant growth in Mexico’s greenhouse vegetable industry
According to a new Rabobank report, Mexico’s production and exports of protected-agriculture vine vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers, have grown…
SEPC consumer research
Consumer take on fresh produce innovations
The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) released its annual What’s New? 2023 consumer research at Southern Innovations. “Only one-third of consumers tend to consume fresh produce…

Discounter Aldi rolls out biggest price cuts of the year on range of fruits and vegetables
Aldi has rolled out its biggest price cuts of the year on a range of fruit and vegetable items. The supermarket lowered prices on products including bananas, apples, spinach…

South African agri exports remained robust in second quarter of 2023
South Africa’s agricultural exports amounted to$3.4bn in the second quarter of this year, up by 0.1% year on year. Despite challenges in key export markets - such as the EU in…

South Africa and Vietnam to increase and diversify trade
According to South Africa’s Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina, it is very important to increase and diversify South African exports to Vietnam…

USDA
U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement seasonal perishable products - weekly updateMovement of blueberries from Oregon and Washington expected to decrease seasonally
After nearly two weeks of uncertainty regarding Hurricane Lee’s expected path and strength, the storm finally weakened to a Category 2 and turned northward midweek. New England is braced for impact, with residents preparing for violent storms. Flash flood warnings have been issued for parts of…

USDA
National Retail Report - specialty cropsThis week retail ads continued to trend toward autumn favorites
This week retail ads continued to trend toward autumn favorites. Pumpkins continued to increase in popularity from miniature varieties to jumbo Jack-O'-lanterns. Apple cider, apple juice, and multiple varieties of fresh apples were promoted around stores. Today marks the first day of Hispanic heritage…

Damage by flooding estimated to be in the billions in Greece
As apples were almost ripe for harvesting, the worst storms in more than a century struck Greece’s breadbasket in Thessaly. Now, farmers face millions of euros in damage from…

Peruvian fruit and vegetable exports amount to US $2.723 billion
Despite the weather events, Peruvian agricultural exports continue to conquer new markets. In the first seven months of this year (January-July), the sales of fruits and…

Bulgarian agri associations are about to unleash a national protest
More than 20 Bulgarian agricultural associations are starting a national protest from September 18. The farmers associated claim that the decision of the government of…

Croatian government caps prices of 30 supermarket products
As prices have been rising in supermarkets all over Croatia, the government has stepped in and capped the prices of 30 products, and the reduced prices will be in effect from…

The Moroccan early vegetable season is set to be difficult
While producers and exporters worked hard to prepare for the 2023-2024 agricultural campaign, nature was far from being kind. In addition to structural problems such as drought, the country recorded an all-time temperature record of 50 degrees Celsius, followed by the strongest earthquake in a century.…
Ekrem Kusu of Oldenburg-based catering wholesaler Marina GmbH
"Our gastro customers always show themselves to be particularly competitive"
The pandemic has left deep scars on the German catering industry, and the after-effects of the crisis continue to be felt. "In particular, the uncertainty at the beginning of the pandemic presented us with great challenges. However, we have still been able to cope with it, not least because our gastro…

BLE report week 36
'In peaches, Turkish offers had almost displaced Spanish ones from the top of the range'
The availability of peaches and nectarines had narrowed. In the case of peaches, Turkish offers had almost displaced Spanish offers from the top of the range. Deliveries from Italy and France completed the scene. In the nectarine segment, Spanish lots outweighed Italian ones. French shipments completed…

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

Modeling: a tool for taking the guesswork out of growing
“With basic data types like environmental data, yield, and energy consumption, we can run different scenarios to help farmers become more cost-effective and improve their unit economics,” says Dr. Kendra Armstrong, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Crop Convergence, a company that is using…

Torkham crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan closed for seventh consecutive day
The Torkham crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained closed for traffic for the seventh consecutive day. Traders said that the fruits and vegetables in the stranded…

Auchan Portugal gives new life to its unsold fruits and vegetables
Auchan Portugal has launched the Happy Boxes, boxes containing 5kg of fruit and vegetables that have lost their commercial characteristics but are still in good condition for…

Ellen Sebrechts, Sebrechts Groenten en Fruit:
"Almost time to switch to fall season, but stone fruit and grapes still top sellers"
As October slowly nears, the switch from the summer season to fall is also gradually starting. The first 'fall products' are trickling into wholesaler Sebrechts Groenten en Fruit, but, for now, 'summer' imported fruit is still in demand. "Plums and grapes are still selling the best. The good weather may…

'South African farmers should take advantage of the recent success of the BRICS summit'
Industry experts claim that South African farmers should take advantage of the recent success of the BRICS summit in South Africa to explore this market with six additional members. Senior agricultural economist Paul Makube: “Citrus exports have so far been good with 127.1 million cartons shipped as of…
German fruit traders on the earthquake and the consequences for the Moroccan export sector
'Possible impact on tomatoes and bush beans'
Many small communities in Morocco's Atlas Mountains are completely destroyed. Survivors are burying their loved ones or clearing rubble to recover more bodies. At least 70…
Massimo Valerio, Naturland processing and trading division:
"Reduced purchase quantities for fresh organic fruit and vegetables in Germany in the first 6 months of 2023"
In 2022, the organically farmed area in Germany continued to grow, increasing by 11.26 percent to a total of 1,869,227 ha. The number of producers and processing partners who are members of the associations (Naturland, Bioland, Demeter, to name but a few) is steadily growing. Sixty-four percent of the…

AVA-ASAJA
A storm caused serious damage to crops and infrastructure in several regions of Castellón and Valencia
According to a first emergency estimate carried out by the Association of Farmers of Valencia (AVA-ASAJA), yesterday's storm caused significant damage to crops and agricultural infrastructure in several regions of Castellón and Valencia, especially in the Plana Baixa, Vall d'Albaida, and Los Serranos.…

Full report on hazards in produce released by FAO and WHO
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) released their full report on Prevention and control of microbiological hazards in fresh fruits…

Farm fresh food in US schools is getting big federal support
Getting local food into schools has proven frustratingly complicated in the US. And while up-to-date data on the reach of farm-to-school activity is lacking, it’s clear that…

New Zealand growers phase out potent pesticides
Arable farmers have begun ruling out protecting crops with pesticides being banned in a phase out by the Environmental Protection Authority. The organophosphates of…

Agricultural exports South Africa amounted to $3.4 bln in second quarter
South Africa’s agri exports amounted to R64 bln ($3.4 billion) in the second quarter of this year. According to data from Trade Map, this amounts to a 0.1% year-on-year.…

Safeguarding crop storage research in the UK
The recent contraction of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), coupled with the closure of Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research, has paved the way for the establishment of a new network of post-harvest research facilities across the UK. This development marks a significant step…

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…

14.6% of Spain is in a state of emergency and 27.4% of it is on alert due to a lack of water
The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA) presented to the Council of…

After wildfires, floods might be dealing Greek farmers the final blow
The Greek agricultural sector has been dealt a severe blow this year. Due to the unprecedented wildfires during the summer, followed by some massive floods, analysts are…

Peak season for sweet corn in Maharashtra
“Possible shortage in sweet corn supply due to insufficient rains”
There has been insufficient rainfall in India, says Samir Singh, business promoter for Indian fresh produce exporter Mersel Foods. He states that this could lead to supply issues for sweet corn compared to last season: “Sweetcorn is cultivated round the year in various states in India. In Maharashtra,…

India-Nigeria infrastructure deal will boost agriculture
Nigeria has signed a multi-billion dollar deal with an Indian investment agency to support infrastructure projects including power, rails, warehousing and ports in Africa’s…

State of Espírito Santo growers have a harvested area of 73,353 hectares
The agricultural sector of the state of Espírito Santo, in southeastern Brazil, generates plenty of jobs: fruit growing represents a significant portion of the Espírito Santo…

Hawke's Bay orchardists are waiting to see if their trees will recover
According to agri experts, the trees and vines that survived the Hawke’s Bay recent floods could still perish. This could happen when the stress of blooming, growing leaves…

Agriculture Ministries of Botswana and Australia hope for more cooperation
The Africa Down Under conference, that was attended by President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his delegation in Perth, provided the Ministry of Agriculture a lot of insight into…

Agriculture's Q2 2023 GDP performance is great news for the Western Cape
According to Statistics South Africa’s (StatsSA) recently announced GDP figures South Africa’s economic performance in the second quarter of 2023 increased by 0.6% and was…

UK farmers are still struggling to recruit harvest workers
The UK government has made 15,000 extra visas available for seasonal workers, bringing the total number of people who can travel here to help to 45,000. Tessa Elliot, whose…

Agriculture is the fastest-growing sector of the South African economy for Q2 2023
According to the latest GDP figures released by Statistics South Africa, agriculture is the fastest-growing sector of the South African economy for the second quarter of 2023.…

Fruit and vegetable production up in Malaysia
According to data provided by the Malaysian Agriculture Ministry, the overall production of fruits last year is 1.827 million tons, with pineapples topping the list at 537,231 tons. As for vegetables, last year's production volume stands at 1.163 million tons, with tomatoes leading at 194,305 tons. The combined production…

Average weekly wholesale prices of fruit and veg & bananas
Bananas from Ecuador at £0.96, steady compared to last week
This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £0.96 for bananas from Ecuador,…

Real cost of water buybacks revealed
The Federal Government’s plans to increase water buybacks will have a devastating impact on food production, NSW Farmers warns. Water Taskforce chair Richard Bootle said…

USDA
National Retail Report - specialty crops:Ripe late summer cantaloupes, honeydews, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, and grapes were plentiful
This week, retailers offered the best of both worlds on the cusp of a new season. Ripe late summer cantaloupes, stone fruits, honeydews, cucumbers, zucchini, corn, tomatoes, and grapes were plentiful, many grown locally. Pumpkins arrived in stores this week, joining new crop hard squash, cabbage, pears,…

USDA
U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement seasonal perishable products - weekly update:Blueberries out of Michigan expected to decrease seasonally
As Hurricane Idalia made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida, it quickly rolled through the southern part of Georgia, damaging some of the state’s fall crops, including pecans. Some produce damage was reported, with plastic torn and ripped up in some areas. Sweet corn was reported laying in the…

Ministry clarifies new minimum wage for Namibia's agri sector
Namibia’s Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation says the new entry-level minimum wage for the agricultural sector announced by the Namibia…

Pennsylvania awarded $1 million in Federal Grants to boost sales, quality of vegetable, fruit, nut and nursery crops
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced that Pennsylvania was awarded more than $1 million in federal funds for 11 projects aimed at increasing the visibility,…

Photo Report: Interaspa praxis 2023
Lower visitor numbers, but goal-oriented conversations
On 6 and 7 September, Asparagus Handels Ltd once again invited visitors to Interaspa in Sandhatten, Lower Saxony. The two-day trade event for the asparagus and berry sector takes place every two years and has established itself over the years, especially in northern German circles. Exhibitors primarily…

Traders complain of major losses from closed Torkham crossing
The continued closure of Torkham crossing has inflicted heavy financial losses on traders on both sides of the Torkham crossing. The Afghanistan and Pakistan Joint Chamber of…

Vietnamese businesses expect more opportunities will flow from Biden's visit
Vietnamese businesses expect US President Biden's trip to Vietnam to open up more opportunities for exports and bring down tariffs, especially on agricultural items. Eight…
Following Hurricane Idalia:
Federal government approves disaster declaration for Cook, Glynn, and Lowndes counties
Yesterday evening, in response to Governor Brian P. Kemp's request, President Biden approved a disaster declaration allowing Georgians in Cook, Glynn, and Lowndes Counties…

Elton Greeve - SA Fruit Marketing:
Collaborative and data-driven approach appeals to buyers of African products
South African strawberry exports by air to the Middle East and Malaysia have been doing well so far, says Elton Greeve, managing director of newly established SA Fruit Marketing (right).Last week, they signed an agreement with a Malagasy litchi supplier for their European campaign starting at the end of…

Kenyan government wants to prevent exports of unripe produce
The Kenyan government is concerned that the continued export of premature horticultural produce will jeopardize and/or compromise the appeal and standards of Kenyan products…

Vegetable growers fined more than $50,000 for overuse of water
T&C Do and Son Pty Ltd operates a horticultural business growing vegetables on four properties in Caraban and Woodridge. The company is the state’s third-largest vegetable…

BLE report week 35
'In addition to German shipments, Italian apple deliveries had increased as well'
Domestic fruit were dominant: Elstar, Delbarestivale and Jonagold prevailed, while Elstar and Sweet Tango noticeably gained in importance. Cox Orange and Rubinette were new additions to the range. In addition to the German varieties, Italian deliveries also increased, with Royal Gala and Golden Delicious…

Some California farmers are still dealing with aftermath of recent storm
Farmers in the eastern Coachella Valley continue to assess the damage to their farms after last week’s storm brought heavy rain and flooding. For instance, there is Desert…

UF scientists start to discover how to keep fruits and vegetables fresher before they arrive at the grocery store
Fruits and vegetables age differently after they’ve been harvested, so Tie Liu wants to know how crops age in that time after they leave the farm and before they arrive at the…

El Niño could mean rising prices for Australian groceries
As La Niña's three-year reign over the Australian weather has come to an end in March, the nation is currently in a ‘Goldilocks period’ of near-perfect growing conditions,…

New water bill will negatively affect Greater Shepparton
Sources say that a water bill proposed by the Australian government, which could see buybacks take 450GL of water from local irrigators, will have detrimental effects on the…

Horticulture exports from Kenya rebound on stronger euro
Kenya’s earnings from horticultural exports for the half-year period through June recovered from a double-digit fall in the prior year amid a strengthening euro and moderating…

Application window closes on September 20th
Support plan of 60 million euros for organic farming
At the beginning of August, the European Commission validated the 60 million € [64.28 million USD] in aid promised by the French government “for organic farmers hit by the current crisis in organic consumption and for those who have suffered significant economic losses.” The French Prime Minister first…

USDA
Outlook for US agricultural trade - August 2023FY 2024 forecast for horticultural products at a record $39.5 billion
US agricultural exports in fiscal year (FY) 2024 are projected at $172.0 billion, down $5.5 billion from the revised forecast for FY 2023. This is not caused by horticulture exports though, as these are up $1.6 billion to a record $39.5 billion, driven by higher exports of tree nuts and processed fruits…

GLOBALG.A.P. Integrity Report 2022 is now available
The GLOBALG.A.P. integrity report for 2022 has been published and is now available online. As the first of its kind in food certification, the GLOBALG.A.P. Integrity Program…

Not just oil, but also fruitful exchanges of produce and technology
Azerbaijan - great developments in the fresh produce sector
The mission to Azerbaijan to promote Macfrut - the fair to be held at the Rimini Expo Centre on May 8-10, 2024 - on an international level ended a few days ago. "Azerbaijan is a strategic country for Italy as it is the leading supplier of oil. The country located between Europe and Asia also boasts an…

South Africa benefits economically from BRICS grouping
Outlining the economic benefits of South Africa's participation in the BRICS grouping, President Cyril Ramaphosa has informed Members of Parliament that South Africa’s trade…

DeSantis immigration law may exacerbate Florida labor shortages
A new state immigration law could worsen labor shortages in South Florida’s agricultural industry. The sector relies heavily on migrant labor and has been struggling to find…
Governor Patrick Ntutu hopes this will help cultivation
Narok County hopes to register about 200,000 farmers
Narok County in Kenya targets to register about 200,000 farmers in the ongoing National Agriculture Value Change Development Project. County governor Patrick Ntutu observed…

Namibian agri sector to increase minimum wage
The Namibia Agricultural Labour Forum has announced a 10% increase on the minimum wage in the agricultural sector, effective from 1 October 2023. The minimum wage increases to…

Average weekly wholesale prices of fruit and veg & bananas
Bananas from Colombia at £0.97: up 4% compared to last week
This series gives the average wholesale prices of bananas by country of origin. The prices are national averages of the most usual prices charged for bananas at wholesale markets in Birmingham and London. This publication is updated weekly. The current average week prices of bananas were at £0.97 for bananas from Colombia,…

Imported fruits and vegetables dominate Latvian stores
Latvian stores are currently brimming with imported fruits and vegetables, leaving locals wondering why their local produce is in short supply this August. A scrutiny of the…

USDA
U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement seasonal perishable products - weekly update'Blueberries out of Michigan expected to decrease seasonally'
The Atlantic hurricane season is now underway, and the ninth storm of the year is right on schedule. However, the peak of the hurricane season is still a couple of weeks away. The latest hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, Idalia, pummeled the West coast of Florida and made landfall on Wednesday morning in…

USDA
National Retail Report - specialty cropsAutumn's first pumpkins and hard squashes appeared
This week retailers focused on the Labor Day holiday with items perfect for get-togethers. Watermelons, cantaloupes, corn, potatoes, colored bell peppers, and avocados were featured heavily. Labor signals the transition from summer to fall for many people, and favorites from both seasons were showcased…

Olmos Project has been running for 20 years: What is its impact on Peruvian agriculture and exports?
On July 22, 2004, a concession contract for the transfer component was signed between the Regional Government of Lambayeque and the company Concesionaria Trasvase Olmos . What…

UK government seems to admit that import checks would stoke inflation
Post-Brexit checks on goods entering Britain from the EU were first supposed to be implemented in January 2021. After serial postponements, they were due to begin next month.…

Afghan Ministry of Agriculture announces increased fresh fruit yield
The Afghan Ministry of Agriculture has announced an increase in the nation’s fresh fruit yield. The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock said that in the fresh…
As Florida recovers from Hurricane Idalia
Senator Scott plans to introduce disaster relief package
With Hurricane Idalia impacting Florida this week, US Senator Scott has said he will introduce a disaster relief package in the days to come. Scott offered some of the details…
Fruit and vegetable cultivation on the rise in Goa
In a positive trend for Swayampurna or self-sufficient Goa in horticulture, cultivating local fruits and vegetables in the state reached a high in the year 2022-23, with volumes growing by 18% and 13% respectively. The increase in production of vegetables such as lady finger, cucumber, ridge gourd among…
Vietnamese Ministry wants stricter supervision of produce
The demand for Vietnam’s farm produce is increasing in many markets, especially China. However, the markets have become choosier, requiring stricter phytosanitary measures. The Plant Protection Department (PPD) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reported that 6,883 growing…
Trade and investment prospects following Egypt’s pending BRICS membership
Egypt will be considered an official member of BRICS from January 2024. Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has publicly expressed his appreciation of the decision of the BRICS leaders to grant full membership to Egypt. From Cairo’s point of view, BRICS, with about 26% of the area and about 42% of…