Rabobank

Blueberry, grape and stone fruit prices higher as weather irregularities affect availability

In their North American Agribusiness Review, experts from the Rabobank have assessed strawberry shipping-point prices are around USD 10 per flat for non-organic product (-47% YOY) during the first half of October, as shipments from California continue steady. Blueberry production and exports out of Peru…

British Berry Growers launches campaign and policy board to ensure a sustainable future

British Berry Growers, the industry body representing 95% of the UK’s commercial soft fruit growers, has announced the formation of a Campaign and Policy board to advocate for the industry’s pressing needs. It is chaired by Anthea McIntyre CBE, a former member of the European Parliament, where she served…

Millions of US apples will go to hungry families

In Berkeley County, West Virginia, Carla Kitchen and her team is in the process of hand-picking nearly half a million pounds of apples. In a normal year, Kitchen would sell to processors, but not this year. For the first time in 36 years, she had nowhere to sell the bulk of her harvest. And she wasn't…

Sweet Karoline blackberries arriving late December

Although smaller in size, Sweet Karoline® blackberries pack a big flavor punch. The variety is a little blackberry that is primed to put more blackberries in more households. With blackberries trailing their berry counterparts (raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries) in household penetration,…

New varieties of Ukrainian apples are successfully exported

Ukrainian apple varieties, including Gala, Schniga, Schniko Red, and Red Velox, cultivated by the agricultural company "Agrarna Kompaniya 2004" in the Khmelnytskyi region, have made their debut in international markets. The harvest from newly planted orchards is exclusively earmarked for export, with…

"If these apple varieties get more expensive, demand will only get weaker"

Polish apple exports are slowly picking up the pace again after a slow November, says Aniruddh Ramesh, director of Polish apple exporter LVMG Grupa: “The season started on a very high note to all export destinations and slowed down from November. But it has very gradually started picking up pace again,…

"We are seeing a good crop set on all blocks and are expecting the biggest volume of cherries ever"

The Tasmanian cherry harvest is still a few weeks away but so far it is looking positive. Howard Hansen from Hansen Orchards grows all of his cherry crop under cover so although the recent good weather has its advantages his crop no longer relies on it. “We had good winter chill and the spring…

"Despite better prices, Jonagold consumption still lags"

The next few weeks will be a peak time for BelOrta's Appelsintjes. The Belgian cooperative introduced this special packaging last year to draw extra attention to local top fruit around the holidays. Despite the better pricing situation, though, BelOrta's Glenn Sebregts sees the consumption of Belgian Jonagold still struggles. "People prefer other fruits, like citrus…

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November hail causes irreparable damage to fruit crops in Santa Catarina state

November brought with it not only the traditional rains of the season, but also an unexpected meteorological event that left a trail of destruction in Santa Catarina fruit plantations. Local fruit growers suffered severe losses. According to surveys carried out by the Santa Catarina Agricultural Research…

Challenges and prospects in Southern Russian horticulture

Horticultural enterprises in southern Russia face challenges this year due to unfavourable weather conditions, leading to reduced yields and fruit quality. Increased costs for agricultural machinery, fuel, and fertilizers have lowered the industry's profitability to 12%. The shortage of fruit storage…

Lidl tops British apple month sales as Tesco falls short of 2022 performance

British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) has published sales figures for October 2023, which was British Apple Month and the first month proper of the British apple season. In October 2023, Lidl significantly outperformed its market share, buying 3,030 tons of new season British apples via BAPL members.…

Stanley growers say summer and autumn crop is looking good, chestnuts too early to tell

According to Don Nightingale, the fruit set of Nightingale’s Apples is strong: “We’ve got nice crops, looking good. The drier season is definitely more favorable for growers.” However, he added it is too soon to tell for chestnuts, as they have not begun flowering. Although the trees are healthy, a late…

Senasa Peru authorizes entry of 75,000 blueberry plants from Chile

The National Agrarian Health Service of Peru (Senasa) authorized the entry into the country of 75,000 blueberry plants of origin and origin from Chile. Three shipments will be made during December 2023 and under the responsibility of the company Agrícola Santa Azul SRL. For this purpose, shipments must…

Kwik Trip, Inc. recalls specific fruit cups and trays due to potential Salmonella contamination

Kwik Trip, Inc. has initiated a voluntary recall of three varieties of fresh-cut fruit cup and tray products listed below because they contain cantaloupe from TruFresh, which has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Due to the now expanded recall of fresh, whole cantaloupes by TruFresh, Kwik…

Poland to start exporting apples to Indonesia in 2024

Poland has been attempting to get its apples to Indonesia. It will likely have the maiden export next year. According to Jacek Kolomyjec, the Jakarta bureau chief at the Polish Investment & Trade Agency, Poland had been in talks with the Indonesian Agriculture Ministry on the apple export plans. Polish…

Trucks with grapes still await clearance at Torkham border gate

Customs authorities at Torkham refused to clear trucks loaded with grapes on the pretext that these were not true Afghan grapes. They said that fruit importers insisted that they possessed the certificate of origin of grapes issued by the Afghan authorities. At least 25 vehicles, loaded with different…

Grapes are straying into commodity area

Prof David Hughes, emeritus professor in food marketing at Imperial College, London, is worried that table grapes are entering the dreaded terrain of commodities. He presented his take on table grapes and the world of today at the Tenth International Table Grape Symposium yesterday. Right: Mecia…

Apple farmers protest governmental policies in Srinagar

This weekend, activists of CITU and Jammu Kashmir Apple Farmers Federation held a demonstration against the ‘anti-people, anti-worker and anti-farmer policies of the government’. Addressing the demonstration, CITU President Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami expressed serious concern over problems being faced by…

'Australian cherry crop volume a little lower, fruit sizes are larger'

Cherry picking at Koala Cherries located in Yarck Victoria, started on the 7th of November, a week earlier that average. Good soil moisture throughout spring and drier conditions than usual since harvest granted excellent growing conditions this year. With the excellent growing conditions, there are no…

“Imported Australian nectarine season started early, with mostly small fruits "

The new season of Australian nectarines arrived in the Chinese market in early November, about 7-10 days earlier than in previous years. It is understood that the Australian production area is hot and dry this year with little rain, which is conducive to nectarine cultivation. "The current arrivals are…

Launch of the Frutas de Chile brand

The government and the industry agreed on the importance of improving the fruit sector's competitiveness and leadership at both international and national level during the launch of the new Frutas de Chile brand: "The roadmap to boost competitiveness and growth". The president of Frutas de Chile (former…

"Significant growth expected for South African nectarines"

FFC Fresh Fruit Company, based in Hamburg, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in fall 2023. Over the years, the company's core business has shifted from importing grapes to sourcing and marketing South African stone fruit. We spoke to company founder and sole shareholder Christian Hencke about the…

Premium apples from Ukraine, designed specifically for consumers from Uzbekistan

The Sady Dnipra company was the first Ukrainian company to develop an offer of apples custom-designed for the market of Uzbekistan. “Although this year we have no problems with sales of apples at good prices, thanks to the high demand for our products in the UAE, Singapore, and Malaysia, we noted growing…

"Chilean cherries always popular on the specialty market in the run-up to Christmas"

Last week, albeit a little later than usual, SFI Rotterdam received its first Chilean cherries. "You can blame that on the rain, especially in the Curicó production area. Several growers suffered significant damage, but the harvest is now underway," says Jan Marc Schulz. "Despite the huge demand from China,…

"Limited supply drives strawberry prices up"

It is quiet on Brussels' early market. Groothandel Michel nv, specializing in strawberries, awaits December's larger volumes. "We can sell, but the summer crop has almost completely run out. The Sonatas from the winter crop are starting to trickle in, but there aren't large volumes yet," says Stefan…

Heavy rains cause damage during harvest season in southern Australia and Victoria

Heavy rains across southern Australia coincide with the peak of the busy harvest season. Farmers recorded more than 100 mm in parts of western Victoria and South Australia; much of that came down in a matter of minutes. According to Cherry Growers of Australia acting president and Adelaide Hills cherry…

Kazakhstan will supply peaches, cherries, and plums to China

Kazakhstan is set to export peaches, cherries, and plums to China, following the signing of a phytosanitary protocol between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) in Astana on November 27. The Republic of Kazakhstan's Ministry of…

"Weather extremes affect the whole supply chain"

The berry industry has seen rapid growth, but the future can be a fragile thing. With input costs for growers rising, weather extremes affecting the whole chain, and inflation impacting consumers' expenses, the market is challenging. However, with input costs stabilizing and the consumers' appetite not…

Apple association hosts harvest wrap-up webinar

USApple is holding a free 45-minute webinar which will be presented by Chris Gerlach, director of industry analytics for USApple. The webinar will be on December 19 at 3:00 pm EST. Gerlach will review the latest storage reports, helping the industry recalibrate for the remainder of the marketing year.…

48 hours of severe problems due to downtime of the Customs system in Chile

Jorge Valenzuela, president of Fedefruta, the association that represents all fruit growers in Chile, reported the following regarding the problems caused by the intermittent downtime of the customs system: "We currently have producers harvesting and packing their table grapes in Atacama, and producers…

Photos: Bradley Urion

Long-awaited international table grape symposium kicks off

The tenth international table grape symposium was opened by the Western Cape's deputy director-general of provincial agriculture Ilse Trautmann, herself a table grape researcher. Over five hundred delegates have gathered in Somerset West or virtually for presentations elaborating the symposium's topic:…

Pacific Trellis Fruit recalls Malichita Brand cantaloupes due to possible health risk

Pacific Trellis Fruit, LLC dba Dulcinea is initiating a voluntary recall of 4,872 cases of Malichita brand whole cantaloupe. The voluntary recall is due to the FDAs ongoing investigation of an outbreak involving Malichita brand cantaloupe. The cantaloupes are potentially contaminated with Salmonella. The…

Arrivals of cherries increase - price of red dragon fruit from Vietnam rises

Affected by rainfall in the production areas of Chile, the arrival volume of air-freighted cherries from Chile was small in the first half of the week, with only a few shipments arriving at the market each time. However, the quantity increased significantly in the second half of the week. The quality of…

"Delayed bell pepper plantings this season could lead to less watermelon being planted in spring"

We are currently in the middle of the vegetable season in Almeria, but the watermelon planting is going to start in some areas of Almeria in just a matter of weeks, and those plantings will determine the size of the supply which will start reaching the European markets in mid-April. "Besides bell…

"Peruvian blueberry prices rebounded because of the low supply"

According to commercial consultant Aurora Bazán, the atypical weather, with temperatures of approximately five degrees Celsius above historical averages, had an impact on the…

"The PiqaBoo is a new pear, but actually it's a new type of fruit"

Fruithandel Wouters began sorting its new PiqaBoo® crop this week. It is the first fully-fledged crop, and the Belgian company sees plenty of potential in it. "Genetically, it's a pear, but when people taste it blind, no one says, 'this is a pear.' It's a new type of fruit," Kris Wouters begins. PiqaBoo®…

In Israel, strawberries have surged to 29,3 euro per kilogram and above

In Israel, strawberries have surged to 29,3 euros per kilogram and above, prompting a notable supermarket chain owner, Rami Levi, to refuse to sell the beloved berries at such…

Central Otago grower is officially launching its apricot export program

Central Otago producer Ardgour Valley Orchards is officially launching its export program. Director Sharon Kirk said three specialty apricot varieties, bred by Plant & Food Research specifically for the Central Otago growing region, will be exported between December and February. The program will include…

Rees-Mogg criticized after calling on 'cheap food imports' to replace UK seasonal workers

Some claim that Jacob Rees-Mogg has failed to recognize the 'invaluable contribution' of farmers and growers in domestic food production. Rees-Mogg said the UK 'does not need fruit pickers' and suggested 'cheaper fruit' should be imported from abroad. He also called for greater controls on legal…

"The pandemic and inflation have made people realize that frozen fruit is a fully-fledged product"

In times when logistics chains are increasingly disrupted, but quality must remain high, frozen products are sometimes considered a good alternative to fresh produce. So says Pieter Delbaere of Crop's. "Especially since the pandemic, frozen fruit is increasingly seen as a full-fledged, affordable product…

Higher import tariffs drive up fruit prices in Dhaka

After a surge in dollar prices had already driven up fruit prices in Dhaka’s retail markets, the imposition of high import tariffs in the current budget has now caused their prices to double compared to pre- pandemic times. In Dhaka's retail markets, a kilogram of apples is currently priced between Tk300…

“Berries are booming in Canada”

"Strawberries grown indoors are hot and trending in Canada. There's a lot of buzz around it, however, we still have to wait and see what is truly going to be realized in the end. Globally, there're a lot of new berry projects to stimulate local production of berries," says Alexandre van Deun, Co-founder of Vertiberry, a Belgian…

"Our fruit-growing sector has a wait-and-see attitude regarding the new top fruit season"

"There’s interest in top fruit trees, but the fruit sector is waiting to see what the new top fruit season brings," begins Raf Rutten, sales manager at the Belgian tree nursery Carolus Trees. The top fruit sector is facing a challenging time, he says, mentioning things like the high energy and labor…

Uruguay planning to scale up production for off-season pears

The first signs of Uruguay being able to produce 'Williams Precoz' ('Early Bon Chretien') pears during December as an alternative to imported pears has shown good results, according to Julio Pisano. He is a private advisor from the Pintado Growers Group in the Department of Artigas, Uruguay, “the goal…

Australian stonefruit industry sees a turnaround with favorable weather and market expansion

The Australian stonefruit industry, encompassing peaches and nectarines, is witnessing a significant revival this season, thanks to favourable weather conditions and expanding markets. Trevor Ranford, CEO of Summerfruit Australia, looks forward to a promising season ahead. "The crops are substantially…

Not just Taiwan farmers feel effects of China's limit on fruit exports, but political candidates as well

In the aftermath of Beijing’s 2021 ban on Taiwanese pineapples, China has been limiting imports of Taiwanese fruits. Also, cross-strait tensions have increased, in what appears to be a move to influence the farm vote in favor of the Kuomintang Party (KMT). The KMT is widely seen as pro-Beijing and thus…

First week of Northern Cape grape harvest

Nice and hot – 36°C yesterday – just the way grape farmers in the Northern Cape like it.“No rain is predicted for the next two weeks and we expect the grapes will ripen earlier,” says a manager in the Northern Cape grape industry who asks not to be named.“We started packing on Monday with Prime and Early…

"Grape season will be slow until end of December"

The grape season in India has kicked off. Samir Singh, business promoter for Indian grape exporter Mersel Foods, states that the current grapes that are being exported are mostly not destined for the European market. “The grape season in India has already started, with limited volume available in Satana,…

Sales down at Koyambedu wholesale market due to monsoon season

According to Koyambedu market wholesale traders, the number of customers has dropped over the past few days and the cost of fruits dipped by around 30 percent. Sales have dropped due to the rains as more consumers avoid fruits during the monsoon season. The temperature and weather conditions play a…

Tajikistan reports bumper fruit harvest, but prices soar

In Tajikistan, the Ministry of Agriculture reveals a remarkable increase in fruit production, surpassing last year's yield by 47,000 tons. As of November 20, over 456,000 tons of various fruits have been harvested, with cherries, apricots, apples, plums, and lemons leading the surge in output. However,…

"Warm September created Belgian strawberry supply gap"

The Belgian strawberry supply is currently lagging slightly. Lit cultivation has yet to get well and truly underway, and the fall crops are genuinely coming to an end. Also at the Demedts - Demey nursery. "We still have some standing, but not as much as other years," begins Benoit Demedts. Benoit grows strawberries…

"Higher prices don't deter pear consumption"

"The unprecedented high temperatures during harvesting caused some anxiety about bringing in all the fruit on time. Now, however, we can say that, bar a few exceptions, most…

Climate change poses a direct threat to the Peruvian blueberry industry

Climate change poses a direct threat to the Peruvian blueberry industry and other countries' fruit markets globally. The industry has experienced adverse meteorological effects, leading to crop destruction, slowed production processes, and reduced yields. Intense rains, hail, and high radiation rates…

Queensland bananas and melons make groundbreaking voyage to Japan market

Queensland-grown bananas and melons have been shipped to Japan, in an Australia-first trial aimed at breaking into the potentially lucrative Japanese market. The red-wax-tipped Ecoganic® bananas, grown in north Queensland by Pacific Coast Produce, have been sent to a banana tasting and promotion event in…

Like Peru, Chile will also see less blueberry volume this season

The supply of blueberries in North America is looking good with product coming right now from both Peru and Argentina. In addition to those countries, Chile is also getting started with its blueberry supply. “There is about 30 percent less volume from Peru this year vs last year,” says Katiana Valdes, marketing…

“Ondine is perfectly positioned to capture new customers from the young families"

WA Farm Direct and N&A Group will start the 2023 season of Ondine series of flat peach and flat nectarine varieties in the Australian market this November.The varieties are the perfect snack sized summerfruit and have a perfectly balanced “semi-sweet” flavour and vibrantly coloured skin, as well as a…

Top tier prices again for South African blueberries

“You get to know blueberry trends but this year I had to throw my blueberry marketing manual, with all the trends and the statistics, out the door,” says Tiaan Rossouw, managing director of Rainbow Superfood, a berry exporter.Exactly a year ago Tiaan told FreshPlaza that he didn’t know how farmers would…

USDA

US cranberry production down 5 percent in 2023 forecast

US cranberries are harvested in autumn, just in time for the holiday season. The 2023 US cranberry crop is forecast to be 7.62 million barrels, down 5.4 percent from the previous year, but equal to the 2020–22 average. The top-producing state, Wisconsin, typically harvests around 60 percent of the annual…

Volume of Tunisian fruit exports declined by 44% in 2023

From the start of the year to November 20, Tunisia’s fruit exports have declined by 18% in value and 44% in volume. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the value of Tunisian fruit exports stands at TND 142.2 million, down from TND 173.8 million for the same period last year. Exports have also…

"As long as Italy's woes continue, Polish volume is no threat to Belgian pear production"

"The world and season looks much rosier for Belgian top fruit growers this year. The sizes and quality are good, as are prices for this time of year," begins Xavier Laduron, a grower who is responsible for Fairebel's fruit sector committee. "It's important to keep it that way so we can cover costs and maybe even earn a little. Then we can all look to the future." "We usually dare achiev…

Envy’s growing footprint expanded to help meet Chinese demand

With increasing global demand for T&G Global’s premium Envy™ apple brand, the company continues to invest in its dual-hemisphere multi-sourcing strategy, with the first commercially produced Chinese Envy to be sold in China this month. T&G Global Chief Executive, Gareth Edgecombe, says the opportunity…

"Prices of apples in India to touch an historic high this year"

India’s apple production has been 30 to 40 per cent lower this season. Prashant Gidwani, director at Indian fruit trader Fresh Fruit Alliances Pvt. Ltd., states that the weather has caused most of the issues. “Apple is a climacteric fruit that needs the correct physiological maturity. The abnormal warm…

Cherry grower gains early data advantage

As Chile’s cherry harvest ramps up, producers and packers are gaining the benefits of a new AI solution, Spectre for Cherries S.A. Built specifically for the South American cherry industry, the technology is delivering critical cherry size and color data, earlier than ever before. Hectre developed…

CF Dallas, LLC, recalls select Fresh-Cut Fruit products due to possible Salmonella contamination

CF Dallas, LLC is voluntarily recalling select fresh-cut products made from whole cantaloupe subject to a previously announced product recall initiated by Sofia Produce, LLC dba Trufresh due to potential Salmonella contamination. All CF Dallas fresh-cut fruit products associated with the recalled whole…

Sofia Produce expands fresh cantaloupe recall because of possible Salmonella risk

Sofia Produce, LLC of Nogales, Arizona, which does business under the name “Trufresh” has expanded its recall of all sizes of fresh cantaloupes packaged in cardboard containers labeled with the “Malichita” label, and also labeled with the “Rudy” label to include all cantaloupes sold between the dates of…

Surprisingly, Zimbabwe becomes a global leader in blueberry export growth

EastFruit analysts draw attention to an unexpected fact – currently the world leader in the growth rate of blueberry exports is a country that is better known for its record breaking hyperinflation rates and poverty. However, this country was once very rich and had a highly developed agriculture, so its…

"The expectation is for a great year with very good quality fruit"

The Australian grape harvest started in mid-October in Central Queensland, these grapes are mainly for the domestic market. The harvest of the export grapes will start in January. Sunraysia is the main production region with 75% of national production but 99% of exports come from Sunraysia. "The weather…

"Too many apples on the Indian market"

After a good start for the Polish apple season, exports currently seem to have calmed down recently, according to Jakub Krawczyk, export manager for Polish apple exporter Appolonia: “The apple trade slowed down a bit in the last two weeks. Orders from Europe are not too big at the moment, we see that…

US apple prices plunged 7.9 percent in September to October period

According to the latest Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from September to October, prices for various products in the US went up, but apple prices plunged 7.9%. This year, apples are plentiful thanks to great apple-growing weather in the spring. That, coupled with typical…

A good year for Italian grapes is prompting farmers to invest once again

Lorenzo Gassi, a farmer from Rutigliano (Italy) with about 10 hectares of traditional and seedless varieties, is not exuberant about the 2023 grape season, but he is serene and less worried. He is closing the season more than two months early. "There was a considerable hoarding of Italian grapes,…

New marketing strategies to boost struggling apple sector

After some difficult years for Okanagan apple growers, the BC Fruit Growers’ Association wants to return to the growth, making sure the apple sector remains part of the economy. The BCFGA received government funding to engage an independent consultant, who has come with three suggestions to try help the…

Lake Ontario Fruit pushing for $5.5 million addition to Gaines facility

Lake Ontario Fruit is actively working on another expansion of the apple packing business on Route 104. The company is working on a 28,070-square-foot addition of controlled atmosphere storage. The new storage space is necessary as many of the new apple trees that were planted in recent years are coming…

New production estimate for Chilean cherries

The Chilean Cherry Committee, which represents more than 85 percent of the volume of global Chilean cherry exports, released its second estimate for 2023-2024. The new estimate considers the impact of rains this season. The Committee forecasts global exports of 81,477,564 million boxes (5 kilos each), a…

Ukrainian berry growers must invest in cooling

The berry business in Ukraine continues to be a promising direction in the agricultural sector. Despite significant capital investments in recent years, producers have reaped substantial profits. Andriy Marushchak, the commercial director of "Van Dijk Technics," specializing in berry storage and…

Deepfake Photo

Hungry black bear picking apples

On November 3 in Georgetown, California, a black bear was recorded by Dayna Hawes' Ring camera, foraging for apples in her backyard. The bear, captured on film climbing and shaking an apple tree, was exhibiting behavior typical of hyperphagia—a feeding frenzy state common in black bears during fall, as explained by the…

Estimates are the rain in November damaged 30% of Chile's early cherries

The fruit guild has already begun to estimate the possible damage that the intense rains that affected the central and southern areas of Chile last weekend will have on the…

"Clients are fighting over the first Egyptian strawberries"

Yesterday, the first shipment of Egyptian strawberries arrived at Bij LuBa Fresh in the Netherlands. "They barely touched the ground. Customers fought over them; I even had to turn some away, but fortunately, we got another load today," says Lucien de Wit. "The minimal Dutch supply contributes and demand…

Brazilian government declares phytosanitary emergency due to fruit flies

In Brazil, fruit flies have experienced a dangerous population increase in recent months. This situation has prompted the government to declare a phytosanitary emergency in the states of Amazonas, Pará, Roraima, and Amapá. If it spreads throughout the country, this might mean a potential annual loss of…

Growers from South Canterbury enter apple orchard joint venture with Rockit Global

Turley Farms co-owners Murray and Margaret Turley have turned dryland crop and stock properties into high-value vegetable and arable operations. Now, after running a trial with various varieties, they’re investing in apple-growing and have settled on the fruit managed and marketed by Rockit. The Turley…

Port International Group

"Export decline of around 20 per cent for Brazilian grapes"

The first overseas grapes from Brazil arrived at Port International in week 42. The Hamburg-based company sources the majority from its exclusive partner farm GVS. "In general, we at Port International have a similar amount of goods available as in previous years, but we are seeing a decline in exports…

Landgard eG

Good quality and shelf life for apples

While the harvest of late apple varieties is coming to an end, Landgard member farms in the West are generally positive about the 2023 apple season. "The quality is very good and the fruit is beautifully coloured, stable and therefore also easy to store. The cold spring delayed the blossoming,…

"Up to 4,000 boxes of strawberries shipped weekly to domestic customers"

The high prices of strawberries in late fall have confirmed the predictions of Loris Gentile, managing director of the Gentile Group, who warned in one of our articles in early September that transplants of early varieties would be down by 50 percent. Current crop situation - bare root plants "After several years…

Ecuador’s blueberry industry is the 'new kid on the block' with 52 weeks supply advantage

In only its third season of blueberry exports to some world markets Ecuador’s industry is the proverbial 'new kid on the block', with the advantage of having 52 weeks supply available. According to Ing. Sebastian Muñoz, from the Ecuadorian Federation of Blueberry Producers and Exporters, (FEPEXA)…

New solution adds value and ease to machine-harvested blueberries

The global trend towards the machine harvesting of blueberries has brought challenges. Although machine harvesters are faster and less costly than manual picking, they also harvest debris and fruit clusters which cause disruption on packhouse production lines. Machines also harvest unwanted green and red…

Lack of winter chill worries farmers in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

As per India Meteorological Data (IMD), there could be gradual decline in the minimum temperature over the next one week in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The minimum temperature could reach 15 degrees Celsius by November 25, a statement from the Met department said. However, in the past weeks, temperatures…

Strawberries are increasingly a greenhouse crop

Strawberry farming has noticeably shifted from open to covered cultivation in recent years. Along with tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers, strawberries are now a fully-fledged greenhouse crop. There are notable expansion projects with high-tech glass greenhouses. For several reasons, that is, however,…

“Our Chilean export of peaches and apricots should begin this season, following the Chinese inspections.”

Chile is one step away from being able to export peaches and apricots to China with Chinese inspectors currently visiting orchards in the South American country. This is part of the final verification step where after the first shipments can start. According to Iván Marambio, the president of Frutas de…

Kashmir apples see increased demand in Bangladesh

Currently, over 30 trucks laden with apples are leaving for Dhaka and other cities of Bangladesh daily from Kashmir. Some 12,000 tons of apples are exported to Bangladesh while around 8,000 tons are exported to Nepal. The apples are transported to Bangladesh along the border with West Bengal. Bangladesh…

South Korean Keumsil strawberries quite popular overseas

Keumsil is a strawberry variety developed by the Gyeongnam Agricultural Research & Extension Services in 2016. According to K-Berry, the organization for Korean strawberry exporters, the export value of strawberries in the first half of this year reached $49,970,680, accounting for 90% of the total…

Wild weather ride affects Minnesota apple volume

Following good spring bloom weather, Minnesota saw a roller coaster of weather events this season and in turn, its apple crop is down. “It was a difficult growing season,” says Aaron Brand of Brand Farms in Farmington, Minnesota. “We were very dry all summer--once we got into the middle of June, the rain…

Import footprint in North America expanded with eight new licensees

Sun World International announced it has added eight importers to its panel of North American licensees. These include Canadawide Fruits, Direct Source Marketing, Flavor Farms, Fresh Latina, International Produce Group (IPG), Pandol Bros, Sbrocco International and Sun Fresh International. The…

Good demand from the Middle East for Greek Granny Smith apples

The harvest for the Greek apples is just about finished. According to Matoula Katsika, export and sales manager for Greek fruit exporter A.C. Kissavos, there are lower volumes available this season: “We have reached the end of this year's apple harvest season. As we can see from the quantities that…

USDA announces appointments to the National Watermelon Promotion Board

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the appointment of nine members to serve on the National Watermelon Promotion Board. The appointees from District 1, Importers and Public Member will serve three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2024, and expires on Dec. 31, 2026. The newly appointed members are: District…

India to ship more grape volumes to Europe than in previous two years

India has experienced favorable weather conditions ahead of their grape season. Amit Chopde, CEO of Indian fresh produce exporter Chopde Farms and Exports, is positive about the effects it’ll have on the quality: “India has made thorough preparations for a bumper grape season! We’ve been fortunate to…

Revised Chilean blueberry estimate issued

The Chilean Blueberry Committee, together with iQonsulting, have updated their export estimate for the 2023-2024 season, forecasting exports of 76,500 tons of fresh blueberries. This new figure reflects a decrease of 7% compared to the first estimate made in October, and a decrease of 13% from 2022-23.…

Numbeo's ranking reveals global disparities in apple prices

Numbeo, a widely recognized database for global cost-of-living comparisons, recently released a ranking of countries based on the cost of apples. According to data analysed by Energyprom, a Kazakhstan-based agency, as of November 13th of the current year, Ukraine emerged as the country where apples are…

Moroccan blueberries will arrive in North America early December

For the very first time, US-based Frutta Group will be sourcing blueberries in Morocco this winter. “We’ve made a collaboration agreement with Grupo Cheers Portugal who is experienced in growing and importing blueberries from Morocco,” says Juan Eduardo Sainz of Frutta Group. “Morocco has quicky become…

"Class I and II pear prices hardly differ"

Dutch top fruit market prices look good. "The strong Class II market is especially distinctive, and that price hardly differs from the Class I. That's truly unbelievable," says Aart Blom of the Dutch company FruitPartners Blom. "There's much more of a difference in apples. There, the Class II fruit…

“Blueberries are going through a transition in Mexico”

Former president of the National Association of Berry Exporters of Mexico (Aneberries), José Luis Bustamante, now serves as the executive responsible for Naturberry SA de CV, (subsidiary company of Naturipe Berry Growers) dedicated to the marketing of fresh strawberries. The fruit is destined both for…

Azerbaijan remains a key supplier of tomatoes, persimmons, apples, cherries, and berries to Russia

According to materials from the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), the head of the organization, Sergey Dankvert, visited Azerbaijan on a working visit from November 15 to 17. As of October 29, 2023, Azerbaijan's agricultural exports to Russia…

Vacaria works hard to ship Brazilian apples to the world

Agropecuária Schio is one of the largest apple exporters in Brazil. The company has been part of Frutas do Brasil since the beginning, the internationalization program of the Brazilian Association of Producers and Exporters of Fruits and Derivatives (ABRAFRUTAS). Currently, the company exports apples to…

Controversial downward revision of apple production forecast for Moldova

At the final stage of the harvesting campaign in Moldova, the Moldova Fruct Association (MFA) has significantly reduced its forecast for the 2023 apple production in the country. Which came as a major surprise for the market participants. EastFruit recently spoke to many influential market participants…

Obstbau Blum

"There were many factors this year that were rather unusual"

Fruit producer Marcel Blum on marketing his redcurrants:"There were many factors this year that were rather unusual"This year's soft fruit season at Obsthof Blum in Zülpich ends with the processing and delivery of the last redcurrants from CA long-term storage in week 45. "We can look back on a strong…

Taoying Village, the hometown of Agate Red cherries

Located in China, Guizhou Province, Bijie City, Nayong County, Taoying Village is renowned as the hometown of Agate Red cherries. During the cherry season, the busy villagers of Taoying are bustling with activity. Xiao Jun, the Party Branch Secretary of Taoying Village and the Director of the Village…

South Africa's blueberry industry faces significant challenges

South Africa's burgeoning blueberry industry is encountering significant challenges due to weather disruptions, port delays, and power outages, while neighboring countries like Zimbabwe are rapidly expanding their blueberry production. Delays in ports are negatively impacting the industry, leading to…

Strategic vegetable stockpiles ensure market stability in 2024

Since the beginning of 2023, the functioning of the Regional Agricultural Cooperatives has undergone restructuring, introducing new approaches to forward financing for agricultural producers. These measures involve providing timely funding for farmers, with an advance of 70% of the total amount of the…

"Polish apples getting more expensive by the week"

Polish apples are in demand all over the globe, says Aleksandra Pawlica, responsible for sales of Polish apple exporter Refal: “For us, the new season actually started only recently, in September. We’ve finished harvesting apples and are slowly starting to sell them. We continue commercial relations, but…

Organic top fruit: demand exceeds supply

"Demand for organic top fruit exceeds demand," is how René Laan, Stoker Organica's Managing Director sums up the market in late September. This Dutch company sorts, packages, and markets organic fruit. He is especially optimistic about the apple market. "The apple season got off to a rough start. There…

Argentine apple and pear exports to Brazil skyrocket

According to data from the first 9 months of 2023 offered by the Argentine Chamber of Integrated Fruit Growers (CAFI), there's been a notable growth in apple and pear exports…

The Lovita® plum arrives on the Spanish market

The first volumes of Lovita® plums were sold on the Spanish market at the beginning of November, two years after the first plantings. “Nearly 120 tons have already been sold and the plantings planned over 3 years are 60 hectares. The forecast tonnage for the next two years is 1,000 tons,” according to…

Arrivals of air-freighted cherries down, Australian nectarines hit the market

The arrival of air-freighted cherries this week was relatively concentrated, with a significant increase in quantity, specification and variety compared to previous weeks. In addition to Brooks, the varieties on sale include Santina, Royal Dawn, and Bing, among which Santina accounts for a relatively…

Apple production in China has increased in 2023

According to the USDA, in 2023 China harvested 45 million tons of apples, which is 1% or 500 thousand tons more than a year earlier. However, EastFruit experts note one nuance – the previous estimate for the 2022 production in China by the same source was much lower. In a report published on November 6,…

Azerbaijan's trade in fruits and vegetables for the period of January to September

Azerbaijan's trade in fruits and vegetables for the period of January to September was reported by the State Statistical Committee. Imports to the country during this period totaled 91,328 thousand tons of fruits (a 9% decline) valued at $92.16 million (a 4.5% decrease), 21,764 thousand tons of…

USDA

Movement of blueberries from Peru expected to remain about the same

This year, consumers are expected to pay a little more for their Thanksgiving dinner when compared to last year. Although 2023 estimates are not yet available, the Consumer Price Index shows food at home prices up 2.4% this year. A year ago, the average cost for 10 people was around $64.05. Labor and…

Packages of California grapes in cold storage down 40 percent over last year

On November 15, a total of 6,283,493 packages - bags, clamshells, plain packs, wrapped and other packages - of grapes were held in cold storage in California. It's a reduction of almost 40 percent compared to a year ago. On November 15, 2022 the number equaled 10,140,303 packages. Click here to read the…

Southern Urals takes strict measures against infected imported fruits in 2023

In the Southern Urals, over 45,000 tons of imported fruits have been inspected since the beginning of 2023, revealing eight types of quarantine objects in 44 cases. The regional service Rosselkhoznadzor reported that legal measures were taken against infected sub-quarantine products of foreign origin.…

New UC studies estimate production and harvest costs for coastal apples

Two new studies that can help Central Coast growers and other readers estimate costs and potential returns for both organically and conventionally produced apples for processing were recently released by University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, UC Cooperative Extension and the UC Davis…

"We have a shift system in place between customers"

For the OP Zuccarella cooperative, the new strawberry season has been underway for about two weeks now. Supply and demand are currently unbalanced. There is a strong demand for the product from both Italian and foreign operators, according to sales manager Luca Zuccarella. "The quantities are gradually increasing.…

Deep Fake

Special cranberry beer for Thanksgiving

Cranberry beer is becoming an innovative addition to Thanksgiving tables in New Jersey, leveraging the state's status as a top cranberry producer. Craft breweries, focusing on local ingredients, are turning to cranberries, which flourish in the state's acidic, boggy soil. Toms River Brewing, prioritizing…

South African exporters open new cold storage facility in Kenya

Two South African fruit exporting companies, together with local Kenyan partners, recently opened the doors of a brand new cold storage facility in Kenya. The new facilities are worth US $1, 5 million and launched on Sunday, 22 October, 2023. Fruitbox Ltd., a Kenyan importing and distribution company, was…

Private terminal equips itself to handle more containers at Cape Town

South African private terminal operator FPT has acquired another reach stacker to boost their quayside efficiency. Reach stackers are much less sensitive to wind than straddle carriers; during peak summer, the port of Cape Town experiences winds of high speed. The new equipment will assist with the…

Peru’s blueberry industry already wondering about El Niño effect for next season

The peak of Peru’s blueberry harvest has started, according to an exporter, as the latest statistics up to week 45 (6-12 November 2023) shows conventional volumes down by 51% and organic 61% lower compared to last season. Their saving grace this year are higher prices that will help to cushion the…

HMC Farms recalls whole peaches, plums and nectarines sold at retail stores in 2022 and 2023

The HMC Group Marketing, Inc., which does business as HMC Farms, is voluntarily recalling peaches, plums and nectarines sold in retail stores between May 1 and November 15, 2022 and between May 1 and November 15, 2023. The fruit is being recalled because it has the potential to be contaminated with…

Various brands of Fresh Cut Fruit recalled due to Salmonella

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says whole and pre-cut cantaloupes have caused dozens of cases of salmonella infection, including 17 hospitalizations, in 15 states and in Canada. The most recent illnesses in the outbreak began November 6. A total of 43 cases have been reported, the…

Kazakhstan will be able to export apricots and peaches to China under specific conditions

Kazakhstan has drafted a Protocol outlining phytosanitary requirements for exporting apricots and peaches to China. According to the document, these crops must adhere to Chinese safety standards and be free from quarantine pests. All orchards and packaging facilities seeking to export must be registered…

Trufresh expands recall of all sizes of fresh cantaloupes

Trufresh has expanded its recall of all sizes of fresh cantaloupes packaged in cardboard containers labeled with the “Malichita” label, to include the following additional sales order numbers distributed between October 16, 2023 and October 23, 2023 because they have the potential to be contaminated with…

"Italian blueberry production up in 2023 and to increase in 2024"

In these days of mid-autumn, at the Sant'Orsola cooperative, the evaluation of the 2023 harvest and the forecasts for 2024 are overlapping. The focus is on the blueberry that the cooperative produces from the north to the south of Italy, on the farms of its 800 members. The strategies adopted will allow…

"Fräulein is a German apple discovery and brand variety that is produced in all German growing regions"

The new "Become a Tasty Discoverer" campaign for the German apple discovery 'Fräulein' was launched in week 45. "Over 1.5 million apple trees have been planted in Germany so far. No further significant planting activities are planned for the time being. This is because we first want to build up and…