Sector | Fruit
Johnathon Davey - Melons Australia
Melon losses expected after heavy rains
China dominates with over half the share, importers now eye Southern Hemisphere origins
“Bangladesh's imported apple market has a lot of room for growth”
Leon Duijvestijn, The Greenery:
“Acreage growth and stronger role for lighted cultivation after dynamic import season”
Enrique Rossi - Budou Farms:
“Pretty much the rain of one year in two days”
Frédéric Angier, Angier International:
“Our wide range of varieties allows us to meet the needs of every strawberry and asparagus grower”
"Future of trade with Iran depends entirely on the duration and resolution of the current conflict"
Sterling season buoys stone fruit grower's ambitions
Vietnam becomes key market for Washington Cosmic Crisp apples
Roberto Arnal, producer of Plus Berries:
"We started the 2026 blueberry season in a particularly challenging climatic context"
Blocked sea routes and unpredictable additional costs
War in the Middle East: spring export campaign of Italian apples at risk
Soft Fruit Market Report 2026 released
Mexico’s main grape season anticipated to start 7-10 days early
Blueberry industry leaders to gather at International Blueberries Lima 2026
Kyrgyzstan tests citrus and berry crops for climate adaptation
Ireland sees growth in organic vegetable sales
Lerouge Natuurlijk introduces fizzy ciders
“Germany, Italy, and Austria are already further ahead, but fresh sparkling juice still has strong potential here”
Hans Leibbrandt, Monfrut:
"It's been an extremely difficult season for Chilean cherries"
Northern Hemisphere apple and pear stocks - February 2026:
European apple stocks rise 12.5%, pear stocks 15.5% y-o-y
Weather conditions have made it hard to find good-quality apples in Poland
"We intensified inspections among the growers"
Early end of the season anticipated for Ontario apples
U.S. study links berries, apples and citrus to higher well-being
Australian Profit program supports six PhD projects in apple and pear research
Boris Manz - Fruit Growers Alianza:
"We are very pleased with how the season is ending as quality has remained very good"
Sarah McCormack - Te Mata:
"Being the first IP variety available from NZ has meant our customers have been able to achieve higher prices"
Florida strawberries weathered recent freeze better than blueberries
Azerbaijan increases tomato exports in 2025
Mirco Zoffoli of Mi.Frutta
Strawberries: Things are starting to get serious
Murcia's stone fruit sector anticipates higher quality and yields
Chile revises its 2025-2026 table grape export forecast to 62.2 million boxes
Brazilian melon exports reach 194,000 tons in early 2025/26 season
Peruvian seminar to focus on blueberry losses and quality
Egypt became top grape supplier to Finland in 2025
Jazan region produces over 15,000 tons of watermelon annually
Canadian research aims to reduce cherry breeding time to 10 years
Wian Mouton - Bosman Adama
Guardians of grapevine plant material in South Africa
Seasonal perishable products weekly update:
Cucumber and tomato prices rise as supplies tighten
Maine lawmakers urge USDA relief for blueberry, potato, and apple growers
Protein-packed SnackBites hit the market
Freiburg wholesale market
"Italian strawberry season starts with moderate prices and large fruits"
“We are weighing imported apple price gains in India against war risks”
First Inspire strawberries of the new season harvested
Researchers have created a tomato that smells like popcorn using CRISPR technology
Rachel Mackenzie - Berries Australia
Australian blueberry exports to double with Vietnam access
Peruvian blueberry sector monitors coastal El Niño risk
Keith Butterworth - Worldwide Fruit:
“There is a high volume of Conference pear in the market available from both the UK and Benelux"
British apple supermarket sales data - Feb:
Aldi and Lidl lead UK supermarket sales of British apples in Feb 2026
“Spain has made a significant leap forward in seedless grapes and has a bright future”
Japanese strawberry regions compete as consumption drops to 40%
“Bio4Life positioned for international growth as EU compostable label rules take effect”
NZ orchard reaches 70 hectares of avocados, 12 hectares of blueberries
TR Turoni technology (Italy)
Assessing fruit quality to enhance revenue
California growers report pressure from imports, costs, and buyer consolidation
Adelaide cold store set support South Australian citrus and grape exports
Rain delays fruit and almond harvest in southern Australia
Alejandro Falcón, Premium Choice Global:
"It's been a straightforward, simple year for grapes"
Zimbabwean blueberry area reaches 550 hectares
Brazilian açaí output hits 1.6 million tons
New Zealand iwi strawberry farm harvests 130 tons and plans expansion
Peruvian blueberry seminar to examine trade flows and 2026 market outlook
Chilean cherries in Vietnam fall to US$3.82/kg
Australia proposes stone fruit biosecurity levy from October 2026
Brazil targets fivefold increase in watermelon exports by 2030
Altes Land:
"Good sales, producer prices still under heavy pressure"
German cold storage company Plattenhardt + Wirth GmbH celebrates its 60th anniversary
"Continuous strong demand for cold storage construction in the regional pome fruit sector"
New Zealand summerfruit harvest delayed as cooler weather trims yields
"The weather did not have a significant impact on the Moldovan grape harvest"
Special Fruit launches spring strawberry season with Lady Emma
"Buyers turn to Dutch and Belgian strawberries as supply problems hit southern Europe"
Jorge Yavar C., Exportadora y Servicios Rucaray
Early start to the 2026 Chilean pear season
Ukraine shifts blueberry strategy toward quality and EU market positioning
Ukrainian apple retail prices climb to €1.38/kg
Russian retailer acquires blueberry farm to expand domestic supply
Potato output exceeds 4.1 million tonnes in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan exports 45,200 tonnes of tomatoes in 2025
Heavy snowfall in Japan damages orchards and greenhouses
High Moroccan fees weigh on Mauritanian watermelon exports
USITC advances probe into Mexican fresh winter strawberry imports
EAEU introduces temporary tariff exemptions for selected fruits
National Retail Report - Specialty Crops 27 Feb:
Retail produce ads dip 3% as grapes lead fruit promotions
Japan creates muskmelon variety with controlled ripening for export
Belarusian apple producer harvests despite spring frosts and invests in new storage capacity
Manfredi, director of the Opera Consortium:
“Italian pears available for a couple more months"
Chile
El Maule opts for new routes and starts shipping its cherries from Puerto Coronel
Heavy rain disrupts UK fruit and vegetable supply
China’s fruit market: Quality demand grows as domestic competition rises
Enrique Rossi - Budou Farms
Sweet-tooth customers power grape exports
Peruvian blueberry exporters have 180 days to claim US$ tariff refunds
India begins commercial production of new premium grape varieties
"White seedless grape shortage looms as India's export volumes to EU drop”
"The market did not accept the high prices that were in place"
Fresón de Palos launches collaboration with Disney and unveils new designs for the 2026 campaign.
"We need to differentiate ourselves and provide added value"
Farmland fund acquires 405 hectares of U.S. blueberry farms
Blueberry sessions to focus on variety-based nutrition and salinity in pots
Lima 2026 to examine blueberry price dynamics and competition
Hortgro assesses stone fruit trade in Johannesburg informal market
Hail and wind reduce top fruit estimates in Langkloof and Ceres
Vietnamese watermelon contract dispute halts harvest in Gia Lai
China cultivates 51 million metric tons of apples annually
Mark Vernooij, Urfruit:
"Picking time for Conference pears continues to weigh on the season"
Marcelo Galardini, Patagonian Fruits S.A.:
Argentina started the pear season with lower output but better quality
AMI expert Ursula Schockemöhle on the apple market:
"Record stock levels in Germany pose a considerable challenge for marketing"
Polish blueberry growers focus genetics, quality standards, and supply balance
Flavonoid-rich foods associated with happiness in U.S. women
German BLE week 8:
'Availability of Spanish oranges was somewhat limited'
Germany:
Largest vegetable harvest in 36 years
Neutral ENSO supports New Zealand harvest outlook
New 3,000-tonne freezing complex to be built in Ak-Suu, Kyrgyzstan
Imperfect Australian plums processed into powders and drinks
Jack Beattie - JCLM Farming
Good genes lead to customer satisfaction in strawberries
Western Mediterranean flooding highlights climate risks to UK food imports
Ariel Sabbag, of Emelka S.A.
"Every year we use up our pear stocks, and we are really short of fruit"
"Gujarat watermelons lead India’s strong 2026 export start"
Lawmakers reintroduce bill targeting specialty crop trade barriers
RAK Fruits builds Dutch–Egyptian bridge
"Our company might be young, but the experience behind it goes back decades"
VBT figures week 8:
Tight supply supports higher strawberry, asparagus, and aubergine prices in Belgium
Hazelnuts are an attractive alternative for Chilean cherry producers
“Demand for green seedless grapes outpaces red seedless in a ratio of 3:1”
Brazilian tomato fields face rising pest pressure in Itapeva
Georgia’s blueberry exports expand as sector targets EU growth and new markets
U.S. winter storm causes crop and farm damage in Arkansas
Uzbek grower increases strawberry yields with new cultivation methods
Brazil’s Port of Pecém fruit exports rise 14% in 2025, led by melons
"Ukrainian blueberry sector has demonstrated remarkable adaptability"
Edible coating and labelling reduce plastic and extend shelf life
Frozen strawberries from Egypt rejected in Poland due to banned pesticide
Seasonal perishable products weekly update:
Tomatoes see price increases, strawberries decline across U.S. markets
Gerard Kenens, VerKen Bio Deli-Vers:
"Earlier start for Natyra due to higher volumes, but you do not leave a good apple unsold"
Ukrainian berry equipment manufacturer expands automation and exports
Francois Myburgh – Impala Citrus