The Commission approves the CAP Strategic Plans of Belgium

The European Commission approved the CAP Strategic Plans of the two Belgian regions, Flanders and Wallonia. Belgium is the only EU country with two CAP Strategic Plans, which…

Brazil and UK sign agreement to avoid double taxation

Brazil and the United Kingdom signed a double taxation agreement recently to provide relief and promote trade and income in both countries.  It is touted as the most significant…

Towards peat-free potting soil and substrate

The use of peat in potting soil and substrate is under pressure. Fourteen organizations, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the Action Group TurfVrij, and the Association of Potting Soil and Substrate Manufacturers of the Netherlands (VPN), recently agreed on how the peat…

New Zealand Bay of Plenty farmers build housing, increase wages to attract labourers

Producers in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty are building housing and increasing wages to attract backpackers as labourers to help out on farms. This comes as the government was…

Delegation of Australia’s major fresh produce suppliers en route to Japan to strengthen industry relationships

A delegation of Australia’s largest fruit and vegetable producers is visiting Japan to strengthen relations between the two nation’s fresh produce industries and learn how…

Significant increases in price for fruit this week included apple juice and Bartlett pears

Ad numbers bounced back some this week as new flyers replaced those that were extended over Thanksgiving. Retailers focused on holiday celebrations with offers designed to help shoppers maximize their budgets. Holiday fruits like pomegranates, grapes, pears, apples, cranberries, offshore cherries, and…

"I make 8 cents per broccoli, which I don't think is outrageous in the present circumstances"

Inflation has fallen in the eurozone for the first time in a year and a half. Spain is the European country with the lowest inflation; however, in just one year the price of…

Australian Table Grape Association welcomes new board members

The Australian Table Grape Association (ATGA) board welcomed two new delegates last week, following its 2022 annual general meeting. Two long-term industry supporters will…

AUSVEG welcomes new directors

AUSVEG is Australia’s peak industry body for the vegetable and potato industries. It has welcomed the appointment of Queensland vegetable and onion grower Andrew Moon from Moonrocks, and Tasmanian…

Jamaica Producers veteran Marshall Hall has died

Yesterday, former longtime group managing director of Jamaica Producers Group, Marshall Hall passed away at the age of 88. Hall served as group managing director of Jamaica…

"The EU's ban on active plant protection substances will lead to a disaster"

The president of the Valencian Association of Farmers (AVA-ASAJA), Cristóbal Aguado, warned today in Brussels that the European Union's (EU) suppression of active…

Seasonal workers urged to sign NFU letter to the Immigration Minister

The NFU is writing to Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick amid concerns over visas for seasonal workers in the future. Growers are being encouraged to add their names to the letter. British growers are being urged to add their name to an NFU letter to the Immigration Minister calling for reassurances on…

How rising energy prices, fluctuating exchange rate affects Dutch cultivation and trade, plus several other developments

Cindy van Rijswick, Senior Fresh Produce Specialist at Rabobank, expects the sky-high gas prices to lead to far lower Dutch greenhouse production this winter. "The question,…

Apple Transitional Export Quota Bill passed third reading

The Apple Transitional Export Quota Bill, which was split out from the rest of the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill at committee stage, creates new regime…

"Total cooling and storage solutions concept for agribusiness"

Agri Cooling was established in February 2022. A new name, but one with plenty of agricultural refrigeration technology experience. Ventri Techniek's Peter Maljaars, Arie van Dijk, and Jeroen van Kats, Stijn Huysmans and Stefan Huijsmans, who joined this new Dutch company on November 1, are all…

NZ: Stink bugs at the border

As well as fruit flies, we are currently in the high-risk season for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB). The season started in September and to date there have been two BMSB finds, compared to six for…

Large increase of brown marmorated stink bugs poses serious threat to Oregon crops

The amount of invasive brown marmorated stink bugs in 2022 tops anything seen in Oregon for at least five years and poses a serious threat to Oregon crops and garden plants,…

Freshfel Europe calls to introduce international SPS standards

On Tuesday, 8th November, during a meeting in Geneva of a thematic session of the WTO SPS Committee, Freshfel Europe called for the meticulous implementation of the WTO SPS…

KVH: Monitoring orchards potentially affected by Psa

KVH has been undertaking monitoring of potentially affected orchards in surrounding areas, after the detection of a Psa variant on two properties was confirmed in July. The…

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Canada: Labor shortage affecting three quarters of farm industry businesses

Nearly three-quarters of businesses in the farming industry say they are suffering because of the current labor shortage, according to a new report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). The report states 74 percent of agri-business owners are working more hours to make up for the…

Tech in weather and disease portal helps orchardists stay ahead of mother nature

KVH’s free online Weather & Disease Portal uses a technology platform that gives growers the edge when it comes to weather forecasting and managing pests and diseases. Orchard…

Minister Enoch Godongwana responds to media reports regarding Eskom remarks

The Minister of Finance Mr Enoch Godongwana would like to clarify recent media reports about comments he made on Monday 31 October 2022 regarding Eskom. The reports claim…

UK growers stop planting and put nurseries up for sale amidst energy crisis and labour shortage

Another sign of UK growers struggling came up last week when the Lea Valley Growers Association shared that they were putting a nursery on sale. “We have five nurseries for sale at the moment,” says Lee Stiles, secretary of the association. “The energy crisis has hit growers hard, making them unable to…

Three sisters from Dominican Republic aim to conquer avocado and tropical fruit export markets

It comes in threes for GL Sila Export, growers and exporters of mainly avocados, a business that was started three years ago and is run by three young women. They currently have the capacity to export three containers per week to customers in their three main markets, the US, Puerto Rico and the rest of…

Change at the helm of APM Terminals Nordics

Mikael Gutman, current Head of Procurement for APM Terminals, assumes the role of Managing Director effective 1st November, replacing Dennis Olesen, who has been running the…

Freshfel Environmental Footprint Initiative embarks on shadow PEFCR for fruit & vegetables

As part of the work of the Freshfel Environmental Footprint Initiative, Freshfel Europe, alongside its members, is embarking on the development of a shadow Product…

World Potato Congress board of directors congratulates Xiaoping Lu

The World Potato Congress Inc.’s Board of Directors Congratulates Mr. Xiaoping Lu, our WPC International Advisor, upon his retirement from the International Potato Center-…

Indian pomegranate arils can be exported to the US again

India is finally able to export pomegranate arils to the United States again, says Kaushal Khakhar, CEO of Indian fresh produce exporter Kay Bee Exports: “The restriction on export of pomegranate arils from India to the USA was declared in October 2018. Now, we have re-acquired market access after a gap…

France: new framework agreement to support the transformation of agricultural and food systems

On the 18th of October, as part of its Science and Innovation 2022 Forum in Rome, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has signed an agreement protocol with the 3 French research organizations INRAE, Cirad and IRD for the period 2022-2027 on the transformation of agricultural…

“We are creating a real regional movement in the Hauts-de-France region”

Perle Union has recently launched its own brand, “Hauts-de-France Producers”, under which the group of cooperatives will sell 35,000 tons of regional fruit and vegetables. In order to mark the launch, various events were organized this month in several Auchan supermarkets: an ark with seasonal fruit and…

Regulator of South African agricultural agents pursues investigations without fear or favour

The recent drug busts made in India on consignments of South African fruit has again underlined the extreme importance for growers to keep an eye on the value chain.“We are shocked to learn about individuals pretending to be export agents and involved in drug smuggling. The fact that it has happened,…

Murcia's farmers mobilize against Lopez Miras

Hundreds of farmers in the Cartagena countryside have agreed to sign a collective lawsuit against some specific aspects of the law that aims to regulate the activity in the area of the Mar Menor because they are based on a big lie. The lawsuit against the law, which came into force in July 2020 promoted…

Agriplace and GlobalGAP want to simplify Chain of Custody certification process

Agriplace and GlobalGAP have joined forces to simplify the CoC certification process via a webinar series. Participants in this interactive event can gain insight into how…

Labor exploitation investigation prompts launch of 'fairer temp agency'

A quarter of Dutch companies exploit their staff. That is according to FairWork, which advocates for victims of exploitation and human trafficking after its own investigation.…

Freshfel Europe calls for action against soaring energy prices and its impact on fresh produce

In light of the unprecedented soar in energy prices, Freshfel Europe is calling authorities for action to mitigate the far-reaching impact on the fruit and vegetable sector.…

Growers angry over new overtime regulations

Golden Harvest Farms has grown from a small apple-growing operation to a multipronged business that includes a retail stand, cider press, distillery, tasting room and barbecue…

Sustaining local communities in Honduras with an off-season corn-planting program

To provide economic opportunities for Honduran seasonal workers during the summer months, Fyffes and its subsidiary SOL Group have developed a Corn Production and Food…

Blue Diamond Growers President and CEO Mark Jansen announces plans to step down

Blue Diamond Growers President and CEO, Mark Jansen, today announced that he intends to step down from the role he has held with the agricultural cooperative and global…

Spanish Government approves a legislative package for the implementation of the CAP in the fruit and vegetable sector

On Tuesday, the Council of Ministers approved a legislative package consisting of three royal decrees designed to support the activities of fruit and vegetable producer…

The World Potato Congress Inc. welcomes its new executive director

The World Potato Congress President, John Griffin, would like to extend a congratulations and warm welcome to our new incoming Executive Director, Ellen Kouwenberg, who will…

JS Ewers celebrates 50 years of growing in New Zealand

This year marks 50 years since one of New Zealand’s leading market gardeners, JS Ewers Ltd, started growing fresh produce on the fertile Waimea plains, near Nelson. “This milestone offers us a great opportunity to reflect on our history as a business and recognise the many people who have been part of…

UK: Environment Secretary commits to sustainable horticulture growth

Plans to boost home-grown fruit and vegetable production and drive the growth of high-tech horticulture have been set out today by Environment Secretary Ranil Jayawardena as part of the HM Government’s work to unleash the potential of British farming. Glasshouse growing, a form of Controlled Environment…

Collaborations and economic opportunities between Italy and Tanzania

A gathering of Italian entrepreneurs in Tanzania was held from September 27-30, 2022, at the Italy-Tanzania Business and Investment Forum to showcase partnership and business opportunities for Italian companies in Tanzania. About 800 companies, including a hundred Italian or local ones with 100% Italian…

TomaTech-Nirit appoints Julia Parry as new VP Business Development & Downstream

There is a buzz of excitement around Tomatech-Nirit. The recent merger of the two tomato-focused breeding companies (TomaTech and Nirit) clearly pointed to the emergence of a new world order in tomato varietal development. And today, the company announced the appointment of Julia Parry as VP of Business…

Freshfel Europe defends fresh produce sector competitiveness in the European agenda

On Friday Freshfel Europe met the Czech Republic Deputy Minister of Agriculture, the EU Member State currently in charge of the rotating Presidency of the Council to the…

France: Launch of process to develop a sovereignty plan for the fruit and vegetable sector

On the 27th of September, the French Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Marc Fesneau, met with professionals of the fruit and vegetable sector to validate with them the development process and the shared calendar for the medium and long-term sovereignty plan for the sector, announced by the…