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'First Greek peaches and nectarines arrived in southern Germany'

In line with the seasonal situation, Spanish shipments predominated for both peaches and nectarines. They were flanked by Italian goods. The first fruits from Greece appeared in Frankfurt and Munich, but the quality was not always convincing. According to the BLE, availability had expanded slightly…

GPG signs raspberry deal for Mexico

UK-based IP company Global Plant Genetics has recently extended its representation of the raspberry varieties from James Hutton Ltd. This was by way of taking on the…

Tight supply in some apple varieties expected

A tight supply of some apple varieties could be coming. “We had a lower crop in 2022-2023 and coming up we have a later crop so it could happen. We think a few varieties could get very tight before new crop becomes available,” says Mac Riggan with Chelan Fresh, who notes that the apple category is seeing…

Metis® plum season kicks off despite the unfavorable weather conditions

The Metis® brand made its appearance in Europe almost nine years ago with only one variety present at the end of the season: Sunset Sky. Since then, the range has been expanded with four additional varieties, making it possible to offer continuity of the supply from June to November. There are three growers…

Higher volumes and strong demand for Turkish stone fruit

It’s been a strong start of the Turkish stone fruit season, Akin Soyleyen, marketing manager for Turkish exporter Aksun, states: “Looking at the first weeks of the Turkish stone fruit season, this year has started very promising. The weather was significantly cooler than it had been in the past few years…

Tuyen Quang Province focuses on specialty fruit development

The northern province of Tuyen Quang is focusing on developing fruit farming, particularly local main fruit crops and specialty fruits with high values, in the 2025-2030…

Blueberry industry booms in Majiang County

More than 5,666 hectares of blueberries have recently entered the harvest season in Majiang County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou Province. Fruit…

Jammu and Kashmir cherry farmers suffer huge losses as hailstorms affect 60% of crops

Last month’s inclement weather and hailstorms played havoc in J&K. President of North Kashmir Fruit Growers Association Fayaz Ahmad Malik stated: “[The] Cherry crop has…

Portugal hosted the pear and apple contact group's annual meeting

The contact group from Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal met in Santarém, Portugal, on Monday and Tuesday to analyze the data from the 2022/2023 campaign and forecasts for…

Chilean Pink Lady apples arrive at Aartsen

Aartsen has been importing apples from across the globe for years in both Europe and Asia. They bring in well-known varieties like Royal Gala, Fuji, and Granny Smith, but also exclusive club varieties such as Kanzi, Dazzle, Kiku, Koru, Ever Crisp, Envy, Jazz, Cosmic Crisp, and Ambrosia. “We're also a…

“Sweden and Morocco are new Xenia pear sales markets”

The Dutch Xenai pear sales season ended earlier than expected, in late April. Xenia Europa's sales manager Raymond van Ojen reflects on a good sales season. "The harvest was similar to last year. Scandinavia and the German-speaking countries have always been our biggest markets, but this season we made…

Moroccan berry exports up to April plummeted by 28%

According to Amine Bennani, the president of the Moroccan Association of Berry Producers, Morocco exported 157,616 tons of fresh and processed berries in the first four months…

Strawberry prices collapse in Ukraine

Strawberry harvesting rates have recently accelerated in Ukraine thanks to warm weather, as reported by EastFruit. Thus, the supply of strawberries started growing rapidly,…

In the absence of Spain, Italy is the supplier of mini-watermelons to Europe

"Due to the bad weather in Spain destroying many mini-watermelon crops, demand from the foreign and domestic retail channel has shifted to Italy. Quotations have increased, but the produce is not enough to meet demand," reports Alberto Nocera, president of Agrieuropa in Terracina (Latina). "In general, the…

Melon consumption increasing despite insufficient volumes

"The melon sales trend started improving in early June with increasing consumption. The organoleptic qualities of the product are good, however volumes remain far below those of June 2022, meaning they do not meet demand," reports Pietro Paolo Ciardiello (at the center of the photo), director of Coop…

VIP apple sales gain speed after reorganisation

It has been almost six months since VIP, the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Cooperatives of Val Venosta, embarked on a new strategy, by centralising the sales of the product. It is now time for an evaluation with the new Head of Sales Kurt Ratschiller and the Head of Production Peter Stricker: was it…

Fraunhofer develops automated processes and digital solutions for strawberry cultivation of the future

Fruit cultivation is an important economic factor for rural areas. However, as the demands surrounding environmental protection, food quality, and sustainability are increasing, while acreages, fossil resources, and, above all, skilled workers are limited, the industry is facing ever greater challenges.…

Oman Ministry of Agriculture pays great attention grape cultivation in north Al Batinah

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources is paying great attention to grape cultivation in north Al Batinah. According to Ahmed bin Ali Al Miqbali, Head of…

No exports for Israel 2023 table grape harvest as Egypt market closes for them

While Egypt has totally closed the window for Israel’s 2023 table grape exports, producers and exporters are not worried due to strong local market demand. Israel’s 2023 harvest started early last month with the earliest greenhouse grown grapes being harvested. A young block of table grape vines in…

Freeze-dried berry snack to be launched

Wish Farms looks forward to attending the Organic Produce Summit every year. The company has a year-round offering of organic strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. Organic strawberry supply has increased over the last few weeks and the berries are sizing well up from previous years and…

Free online mini symposium on melon quality

On Friday, June 30, Normec’s produce specialists will host a free online symposium on melon quality. The melon world is continuously developing in order to have year round…

Grapes are Ninh Thuan's key crop, accounting for about 20% of total production value

Ninh Thuan is a province with a very harsh climate, with little rain, a lot of sunshine and wind. This land is often considered "the most unique sandy grassland in Southeast…

Upcoming Polish apple harvest expected to be lower in volumes

As some Polish apple exporters are getting rid of the final stock, others are fully focused on the new upcoming season already. Jan Nowakoski, manager of Polish apple distributor Genesis Fresh, states that the weather conditions have been positive for the new crops: “So far, we’ve had quite good…

Stone fruit harvest ongoing in Central Valley

In California’s Central Valley, the stone fruit harvest is in full swing right now. But instead of climbing up and down ladders, the workers picking peaches and nectarines…

More than 90% of this year’s Georgia peaches lost after extreme winter weather

According to Dario Chavez, an associate professor of Horticulture at the University of Georgia, the Peach State has lost more than 90% of this year’s crop after abnormally…

Table grape breeder to open research laboratory this summer

Table grape breeder International Fruit Genetics LLC (IFG) will open a new breeding and research laboratory this summer that will be a part of IFG’s $19 million campus, Fruitworks| IFG Discovery Center in McFarland, California. While the campus is set to open in the spring of 2024, the laboratory will be…

“India could be a new China for Chilean cherry”

India stands out as a potential destination for Chilean cherries. As highlighted by ASOEX, it only receives 0.1% of the cherries that Chile exports but it's experiencing a 30%…

TikTok

Australian consumers incredulous about cost of strawberries at Coles

Frustrated shoppers have blasted Coles online after noticing a steep increase in the price of strawberries. Supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths confirmed supply chain disruptions had resulted in strawberry prices being higher than usual. Showing the expensive strawberries. / Image: TikTok. The price hike…

Spain: Strawberries get into politics

What started as a campaign supported by 150,000 people in Germany encouraging supermarkets to stop buying Spanish strawberries could become a more serious problem. Following this boycott attempt to avoid contributing to the drying up of the wetland Doñana, a group of German MPs is visiting Spain this…

County Armagh growers see their crops struggle under summer sun

The rise in temperatures over the last ten days has put crops under threat. Daytime temperatures have rarely fallen below 20°C for more than a week, including in Northern…

Lack of rain is affecting strawberry and sweet corn farms in Northeast Ohio

With 16 days of no rain and a late frost this spring, strawberry and sweet corn crops have had their challenges in Northeast Ohio. Some farms have already said that they won’t…

Agroberries acquires shares in BerryWorld

Agroberries, a vertically integrated producer and marketer of berries, with a best-in-class portfolio of proprietary and exclusive berry genetic varieties, acquired a minority…

Yarra Valley Cherries profits from addition of gpVision grader

Yarra Valley Cherries is a grower in Victoria with 20,000 trees and over 35 varieties. The company focuses on selling premium, ultra-fresh cherries at their Farm Gate Shop as…

Increased consumption and steady quotations for melons and watermelons in Italy

The bad weather put a spoke in the wheels of the melon and watermelon campaign, leading to several diseases in the field and reducing the fruit set of the earliest transplants to a minimum. "Rain was recorded for two consecutive weeks and open field melons were either in flowering or fruiting. There was…

Cape Cod cranberry growers are phasing out older cranberry varieties

David Ross, a Cape Cod cranberry grower that has been harvesting the Cape's iconic fruit for more than 40 years, is replanting two acres with high-yield cranberries this year.…

Yakima Valley turned Covid-period experiment into a full-fledged strawberry business

Cody Edwards, owner of the Yakima Berry Company, has turned a Covid-time backyard experiment into a full-fledged business, harvesting between 6,000 and 8,000 pounds of…

Chilean technical cherry tours to Spain in full swing again

Chilean producers and exporters traveled to Spain again to view the performance of the latest cherry varieties. This shows agricultural technical tours, a crucial activity that was halted due to Covid-induced lockdowns and travel restrictions, has now resumed fully. Lorena Pinto with Luis Lasarte Alonso,…

"Limited good-quality Spanish fruit makes for high prices"

"I wouldn't know which fruit to call cheap currently," says Henk Vlaeminck of the Belgian importer Van Dijk Foods. He sees imported fruit prices rising while consumers are more reluctant to pay a lot for groceries. "Spanish cherries, stone fruit, kiwis or oranges. Fruit is becoming a luxury item.…

Government Murcia estimates storm damage from the last few days to come in at €47 million

In the Region of Murcia, damage caused to crops and farms by the storms over the last few weeks is estimated to amount to more than 47 million euros. Acting Regional Minister…

New Zealand organic apples will help supply short US market

In a typical season, the US brings in offshore apples from Argentina, Chile, and New Zealand. “The breakdown between these three countries of origin varies a little bit every year, but this year, we are seeing a different pattern,” says Maureen Royal with Bridges Organic Produce. “Prior to the harvest…

Uzbekistan: assortment of imported exotics and local fruits and berries continues to expand

EastFruit experts draw attention to the growing assortment of fruits on the shelves of supermarkets in the capital of Uzbekistan, the city of Tashkent. The growing income…

BAPL

Tonnes of British apples sold to UK supermarkets by BAPL growers in April 2023

British Apples and Pears presents monthly data as a percentage of all British apples sold, by supermarkets. There is also a comparison data point of the grocery market share for that supermarket. We would expect the share of British apples sold to be about the same as the supermarket’s grocery market…

"Interest in cherries from Aragon has increased after the rains affected production in Extremadura”

The harvest of the latest cherry varieties in the highlands of Aragon will start this week. “We expect to produce around 1,000 tons of cherries this year. We'll begin to harvest the Santina variety between June 5 and 7. This is a well-known mid-season variety that has good caliber and a lot of sugar…

ExPa-Frucht GmbH

"The eventual competitive advantage will only become apparent later in the season"

Similar to other years, the first Greek sweet cherries arrived at ExpaFrucht in Ottobrunn shortly after Pentecost. Turkish cherries are also being traded in parallel. According to the Greece specialist, the omens for this year's harvest are quite good. "The stock is in good shape overall and if the…

Dittmeyer´s Frucht-Plantagen GmbH & Co. KG

"The listing with Grand Frais was the initial spark for market access to the French food retail market"

On June 1, the first blueberries of this season were picked at the French location of Dittmeyer's Frucht-Plantagen Ltd & Co. Since the late 80's, the Dittmeyer company has been engaged in blueberry cultivation in the pine forests south of Bordeaux. The plantation called 'Domaine des Myrtilles'…

40 to 50 percent crop loss for stone fruit, but nice quantities of watermelons

"In the Emilia-Romagna region, many fields are under water, which has caused the loss of some crops such as melons and stone fruit. In Sicily, peaches and nectarines are also produced, and the flowering has been equally affected by the weather. Accordingly, there will be less produce," says Paride…

Trees near Mitzpe Ramon are now offering cherries

The cherry season has recently started all over Israel, but there is one place where people are especially excited: Ramat HaNegev, a municipality in the Negev desert. Yankel’e…

"It's a golden time for the stone fruit sector"

Although Alvin Frutta has an extensive catalog of seasonal fruits and vegetables to provide customers with a year-round supply of product, stone fruit is still the flagship product for this southern Italian-based growing and trading company. Giuseppina Zito, a businesswoman who runs this young company…

"Optimistic about the current citrus season"

"The grape packing season is slowly coming to an end, and is expected to continue until week 26. Meanwhile, the apple season is in full swing," says Rene Tunker, of Looije Packing. "Foodtainers, flowpacking and repacking are currently the main services requested, but packaging solutions such as Carton…

“We've strengthened our presence in the United States with our a la carte substrates for blueberry and greenhouse horticulture”

Originalius, a division of the Caliplant Group that designs, manufactures, and markets agricultural products and technology, together with its North American partner Florep, has strengthened its privileged position in the substrates sector in the United States thanks to its proposal to develop on-demand…

A complicated start to the French tomato campaign

Many summer products are weather sensitive, including tomatoes, for which the demand was not particularly strong in May. "The last few weeks have been difficult, with rather average prices, but we have still managed to sell our products," explains Christophe Rousse, president of the Solarenn cooperative.…

International blueberry summit in Poland has 20 countries on board

The 2023 International Blueberry Organization (IBO) Summit, starting on July 3 in Poland, promises to be a truly global meeting of the blueberry industry. It is the first IBO Summit in Europe, and also the first opportunity for the global blueberry community to meet in person since 2019. “This meeting can…

Alluvial sands create excellent soil conditions for grapes on Yellow River plains

Recently, China's domestic fruit industry has been improving in, not only output, but also quality. One of the trends is growing domestic grape production across the country. Shandong province in the North East is proving to be an excellent region for grape production. He Heng oversees a number of new grape orchards…

China blows a fresh breeze into South African pear industry

The start of the topfruit season wasn’t auspicious but, as poorly as it had started, it could be heading to a strong run for South African pears.Marketing the early Williams or BC crop was complex, with Packhams from the previous season still available. That in itself is not unusual, says a pear exporter…

Due to spring frosts, the situation for agriculture in Latvia is critical

The Latvian Association of Agricultural Cooperatives summed up the information on the situation in crop production in connection with the impact of spring frosts on fruit and…

Russia: The import of fruits from Turkey, Chile, and South Africa has doubled

Since the beginning of this year, 180 tons of apricots, nectarines, peaches, and plums have arrived in the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation from abroad, according…

Kazakhstan is buying fruits from Peru and the Netherlands

In the first quarter of this year, Kazakhstan purchased nearly 133,000 tons of fruit, which is 1.2% less than in the same period last year. The most imported fruits were…

Extreme winter temperatures affect Nova Scotia peach crop

Following extreme temperature fluctuations over the winter, Nova Scotia looks as though it won’t be seeing a stone fruit crop this year. “The winter was extremely mild and we didn’t have the cold hardiness develop in the orchards that we generally have,” says Emily Lutz, executive director for the Nova…

"Currently this is a favorable time for Qingdao blueberries to go on the market"

In China's blueberry market in June, as the blueberry production season in Yunnan and Dalian has come to an end, blueberries in Qingdao have taken over and entered the peak period. Greenhouse blueberries are currently the main ones, and open-field blueberries will be available in late June. "Qingdao's blueberry…

American cherries go on the market, mangosteen arrives and the market declines

American cherries have arrived in the market this week; Vietnamese durians and Thai mangosteens have dropped in price as the arrivals increased; in addition, seasonal domestic fruits such as Shandong blueberries, Sichuan plums, Yunnan Summer Black grapes, and domestic Kyoho grapes have also entered the…

Rain and hail for the start of the French apricot campaign

The first French apricots were harvested around May 15th, but the weather conditions have severely affected the start of the season. After a long period of drought, a strong storm and rainfall arrived around the 18th of May. For the past 10 days, thunderstorms have followed one another on a daily basis,…

Sonora grape volumes rebounding after slow start

After a delayed start to the Mexican table grape season, producers are bouncing back with normal production moving into the month of June. Production is currently coming from the northern and coastal districts of Sonora, areas that were delayed due to cooler spring weather. Grape volumes are quickly…

The Ukrainian blueberry crop has already reached maturity

The berry season in Ukraine is gaining momentum. Traditionally, the first berry to appear on the market is the garden strawberry. Even though the blueberry season has not…

Robust export season expected for Canadian cherries

British Columbia experienced warm weather during cherry bloom. “One morning, the trees started blooming and by the next day, we were at 100 percent bloom,” says Julie McLachlan with Jealous Fruits. A so-called flash bloom is very uncommon, and the impact is significant. Usually, about 10 to 15 percent of…

Australian Purple Bravo apples ready for international markets

Bravo apples, first were planted in commercial quantities in Manjimup eight years ago, have already been sold in Australian supermarkets for several seasons. The pleasantly…

16 tons of infected strawberries from Serbia were not allowed into the Kaliningrad region in Russia

Employees of the regional administration of agricultural supervision discovered a dangerous quarantine pest in a batch of strawberries from Serbia, according to the…

EastFruit

Georgian sweet cherry prices stabilize as harvest season progresses

The first harvest of Georgian sweet cherries arrived on the market in mid-May accompanied by higher prices compared to the previous season. EastFruit price monitoring data from the week of May 12 revealed an opening price of 20 GEL/kg ($7.68) for large caliber (>26mm) fruits, marking a substantial…

Watermelon exports from Uzbekistan were record high in May and could exceed 100,000 in June

Exports of Uzbek watermelons to foreign markets began in the first ten days of May 2023. This is nearly one week earlier than usual due to very hot weather in the country. The…

Nottinghamshire strawberry grower stops production due to labor troubles

Starkey's Fruit, near Southwell, in Nottinghamshire, has been producing soft fruits for 75 years. In recent years, it was growing about 800 tons of soft fruit in polytunnels.…

For the first time, sweet cherries from Uzbekistan were delivered to Yekaterinburg by air

In addition, three trucks carrying sweet cherry, cherry, and peach went through customs control. Ural's customs officers inspected fresh fruits for defects and spoilage and…

"Consumption of traditional Galia melons will increase exponentially over the next few years"

"The development of traditional Galia melon crops was optimal up until mid-May. The temperature was good and conditions were favorable for flowering, fruit set, and fruit development. However, in the past two weeks, the weather has been unstable and it has rained heavily in the southeast of Spain,”…

Kashmir sees inclement weather damage 20% of strawberry crop

Kashmir strawberry farmers harvested a bumper crop this season. However, incessant rains in the last month caused a loss to the tune of 20 percent.  According to the Meteorological…

Himachal Pradesh growers happy as storage rates for Shimla and Kinnaur apples is reduced

The storage rates for Shimla and Kinnaur apples have been reduced by Rs 0.40 per kg per month in the Controlled Atmosphere (CA) stores operated by the Himachal Pradesh…

Azerbaijan has prospects for the export of agricultural products to Germany

Azerbaijan is a promising exporter of various agricultural products to Germany, according to Olga Hunger, Regional Director for Eastern Europe at the International…

Multinational shipper expands its presence in new markets

After several years of consolidation in its traditional markets, Camposol is dedicated to opening new markets, mainly in Latin America, with a view to strategic diversification. The company is resuming the supply of markets where it had previously had commercial contacts, such as Brazil, Chile and Costa…

National Agricultural Advisory Services say Uganda must properly brand its fruit exports

Uganda’s National Agricultural Advisory Services (Naads) has said it will engage stakeholders on proper branding of fruits and vegetables and other agricultural products. Ms…

Fourth Red Fruit Festival will be held in Kénitra, Morocco

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development and Forests, the Regional Office for Agricultural Development of GHARB, the Moroccan…

East Texas blueberry crops struck hard by late season freeze

With the Nacogdoches Blueberry Festival just over one week away, this year’s blueberry crops look a little different. In mid-March, deep East Texas was affected by a freeze…

Chinese scientists provide dietary recommendations for consuming fruit peels

A group of Chinese researchers has looked into the inclination of Chinese consumers toward consuming fruit peels. In the research, published in the journal Food Research…

British Columbia cherry pollination shortened due to hot weather

“This year, it felt like we moved from winter into summer without any spring at all – during and since blossom we experienced unseasonably warm weather,” says Richard Isaacs with Global Fruit in British Columbia. “Things are moving quickly now.” “We are happy to report that we are seeing a good crop…

Connecticut hopes for disaster relief after severe mid-May frost

According to the state Department of Agriculture, frost and sub-freezing temperatures on May 18 destroyed millions of dollars in crops in Connecticut. The frost primarily…

AVA Magnum® grows perfectly in the Scottish climate

The Scottish strawberry season got off to a later start this year, as did the whole UK crop. This was due to the low light levels and colder weather, but picking is now in full swing at Angus Soft Fruit’s Arbroath farms. “We started picking on 6th of May,” said Allen Innes, Farm Manager at East Seaton…

Californian growers forced to pick cherries later than usual

Near Easton, in Fresno County, California, rapidly ripening cherry crop are showing off their deep red color. Tony Yasuda, field operations manager for the Rivermaid brand,…

Domestic cantaloupes also starting late this spring

Joining the many crops that are late this year coast to coast, the domestic cantaloupe crop is seeing a delayed start as well. “Typically we start around the first or second week of May. This year we didn’t start packing until May 23,” says Justin Bootz with Legend Produce LLC. “We didn’t change planting…

Extreme precipitation is ruining apple cultivation in Kashmir

This year, cold weather and extreme precipitation are persisting longer than usual, which is worrying farmers in the Kashmir region. During the months of April and May, cold…

Serbian blueberry exporter looking to expand in Europe during 2023 season

Late spring rain and cooler weather in Serbia, is making the mainly blueberry producers anxious as they hope to have a good season, which is due to start in two weeks’ time. According to Sladjana Vuković, CEO of the Serbian exporting company Srbovoće: “Some blueberry producers might start a bit earlier…

European apple stocks in May were 17.4% lower than in 2022

European apple stocks in May were 17.4% lower than in 2022 according to WAPA, the World Apple and Pear Association, who released the apple and pear stock figures for 1 May 2023. The figures show that in Europe apple stocks decreased by 17.4% compared to 2022 to reach 1 270 523 T, while pear stocks…

"Sicilian grapes off to a good start in empty market"

The market was virtually empty when the first Sicilian grapes arrived at Zoutewelle in the Netherlands two weeks ago. "The overseas season, including that of seedless grapes, was a done deal. Egypt had yet to start, so those Italian grapes arrived at just the right time," Bertus Schipper says. "Price-wise,…

"Problems with early stone fruits in Italy, but the late season will see Le Meraviglie."

In the case of cherries, the situation is compromised, while problems for apricots are limited to the early segment; for the medium and medium-late crops, however, yields should meet quality requirements. This is a snapshot of the situation provided by Vincenzo Finelli, director of Italy's Orogel Fresco…

Protecting blueberry blooms from extreme heat injury using overhead irrigation

Michigan’s blueberry industry has been increasingly affected by climate change with spring heatwaves, long dry periods and heavy rains all causing a potential for yield losses. To illustrate this, in February-March 2012 daily high temperatures were the hottest on record since 1880, according to the…

International Blueberry Seminar shows desire for reinforced growth

With the completion of the second day ended the XXVI International Blueberry Seminar in Guadalajara this May 31 and June 1. On the first day, there was the important analysis…

Obsthof Spinner

"Compared to strawberries, a bit of seasonality has been lost with raspberries"

In week 21, the first tunnel raspberries of this year's season could be harvested at Obsthof Spinner in Oberkirch. "We started a few days later than last year, but the stands and budding are all very nice. Overall, we are expecting quite a bountiful yield of both raspberries and strawberries this year,…

EastFruit

Georgia wants to become a global blueberry market player

A massive harvesting of blueberries will begin in Georgia in a week. In the last two seasons due to relatively cold weather and rains in producing regions, the beginning of the harvesting season moved to June. However, the early harvest is already sold on the local market. Growers avoid making a…

"Exhibiting at OPS is a natural fit for us"

Sage Fruit Company, a grower, packer and shipper of Washington tree fruit, is gearing up for the highly anticipated Northwest cherry crop. This season, the industry will see a significant increase in volume after a year when the crop was marred by Mother Nature. During the summer months, Sage Fruit will…

Pennsylvania fruit company celebrates 110 years

The fresh produce industry is made of a patchwork of family narratives, stories stitched together by a generation of people making a life for themselves in America. These founding farmers took what they knew from their homeland and created a legacy that continues to this day. Rice Fruit Company is one of…

Italian stone fruit exports will go back to normal in two weeks

The shortage of Italian stone fruit is messing up the plans of Italian suppliers and European buyers. We spoke with Claudio D'Alba, CEO of Plantis Group, a company from the southern Italian region of Apulia specialized in exporting Italian fruits and vegetables. "It has not been a normal start to the season,…

Phytosanitary inspections support citrus, grape and mango producers in Brazil

The inspection work out by the Agricultural Defense Agency of Bahia (Adab) follows the flow in the Territory of Piemonte Norte do Itapicuri. The team made up of state…

Taiwan: Kaohsiung again fines Costco over frozen berries

The Kaohsiung Department of Health has fined Costco NT$4.5 million (US$146,000) over contaminated frozen strawberries. The Food and Drug Administration said that although the…

GEM-Pack & Well-Pict Berries combine forces

GEM-Pack Berries, LLC and Well-Pict Berries are forging a new partnership, combining companies to build an industry leading team of berry expertise. GEM-Pack is excited to welcome the Well-Pict team and its impactful brand into the company’s already dynamic assemblage. In 2020, Gem-Pack added Red Blossom…

Bhutan’s drop in cash crop production puts export targets at risk

Bhutan’s production of the top three cash crops, apple, areca nuts and mandarin orange, has declined. Apple, mandarin, and areca nut are the leading cash crops among the fruit…

"A hailstorm impacted part of our apricot production"

The stone fruit sector has been mainly concerned about the drought for the 2023 campaign. But for Anthony Oboussier, who produces cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines and kiwis in the Drôme department of France, this year’s harvest has been severely impacted by the excess of rainfall. “Since the…

Seasonal worker program essential part of Canada's ag industry

“It’s a very important program for us. It has enabled our industry to grow and if we did not have access to these workers who do great jobs and want to work here, we could not have large orchards in the apple industry.” So says Cathy McKay, chair of the Ontario Apple Growers and a grower with Nature’s…

Envy apples gain brand following

CMI Orchards’ CatStats report shows Envy™ apples are growing as a popular apple. Originally from New Zealand and crafted through natural plant-breeding methods, this cross between Gala and Braeburn is sweet and crunchy, with white flesh that stays white even after being cut.    According to NielsenIQ, the demand for this apple is growing. “Envy’s…

More British Columbia blueberries expected for the fresh market this season

British Columbia blueberry growers, packers and shippers see some new opportunities in the fresh market for the 2023 season. “We anticipate fresh market pricing in the peak season to be more competitive than what it has been the past two years,” says Rhonda Driediger of Langley, B.C.-based Blueridge…

Interfresa releases a statement regarding the German campaign against Spanish strawberries

"Interfresa would like to clarify some things regarding the campaign carried out by Campact (the German platform) urging citizens to ask German supermarkets not to sell…

Brazilian apple exports in April did not surpass volumes of 2022

Brazilian fresh apple exports in April showed growth compared to March, which is a typical trend. However, they did not surpass the volume recorded in the same month of the previous year. According to data from Secex, the total exported amount reached 23,000 tons. This can be attributed to the decision…

Industry meeting focuses on solutions to shortcomings

At the XXVI International Blueberry Seminar in Guadalajara, an interesting Round Table was held: "Mexican leaders analyze the present and future of the blueberry industry".…

"We have never had to commit so many organic pears so early for next season"

Whereas Belgian organic apples are still having a tough time toward the end of the season, organic pears are already in particularly high demand. "We have never had to commit so much volume so early for next season," says Gunther De Vadder of the Belgian Fruit Auction (BFV). "Severe climatic problems seem…

"Last year's lack of water caused a large part of Italian pears to be of smaller calibers"

"We have pears on offer all year round. Through a supplier called Sandri, who grows pears himself, we will obtain our goods from Italy. As soon as the Italian season is over, we purchase overseas produce from Argentina and Chile, via the same supplier. The next season for Italian produce will start in…

“We want to offer tastier and more resistant melon varieties”

Gautier Semences offers a complete range of melon varieties, particularly adapted to the three main production basins in the southwest, center-west and southeast of France. All of these varieties meet resistance and productivity criteria. “We wanted all our varieties to be resistant to the main pests and…

British strawberries: Larger and sweeter after cool spring and recent sunny days

The British strawberry season has arrived a bit late, but it seems that the fruit will be larger and sweeter than in previous years. According to British Berry Growers, the…

Researchers design a robot to optimize the blueberry harvest

A team of researchers from the Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego (UPAO) managed to field test a mobile robot to optimize the harvesting of blueberries, which has the ability…

Kashmir cherry harvest brings economic relief

Cherry cultivation is quite significant in the Kashmir Valley, a Horticulture Development official emphasized. "Cherry holds a crucial position in Kashmir's horticulture…

Massachusetts fruit growers evaluate frost damage

In Massachusetts, fruit farmers are assessing damage to their crops in the wake of a hard frost May 18 that has affected grape, apple and blueberry growers. In Whately,…

More Nova Scotian Honeycrisp apples in 2023

Gala apples are in demand. “We see Gala movement going really well and will lead to strong summer pricing for them,” says Michael Van Meekeren of Van Meekeren Farms. “On pricing, some varieties are higher than average and probably influenced by the shorter volumes out of Washington, for example, Galas.”…

A large part of the cherry harvest in the Jerte Valley was damaged by the rains

Heavy rains in Extremadura are severely impacting cherry plantations in the Jerte, Hurdes, and Vera Valley, which is currently in the middle of the campaign. Nearly 70% of the production, which still has to be harvested in the coming weeks, has been affected by the excess humidity and hopes are now…

Peruvian table grape exports have increased by 35%

According to data from Fresh Fruit, last week Peru exported 508 tons of grapes, i.e. 3% more than in the same week of the previous year. So far this season, the country has…

The Ferrovia cherry variety harvest in Apulia has just started

After weeks of bad weather that compromised several volumes of the early and intermediate varieties, the harvest of the Ferrovia cultivar is now underway for the Apulian cherry season. The current situation of the Ferrovia variety in its orchard "Last Friday, 26 May 2023, I picked the first Ferrovias. At…

Greater trust in cooperation: the case of Consorzio Uva di Puglia Igp

"Many agricultural businesses have been applying to join the consortium lately to enjoy greater contractual guarantees or more profitable commercial opportunities. We are talking about 3-4 applications a day, so much so that we believe certified vineyards will reach 3,500 hectares next year, i.e. almost…

"The price of apples in the northern hemisphere has risen, and products with a long shelf life are more popular"

The apple production season in the northern hemisphere has just started, but many production areas are facing big challenges. Producing areas such as Germany and Poland had to increase product prices due to rising labor and agricultural materials costs. Even so, many exporters are still optimistic about…

"Demand for the Clery variety is extremely high in the retail sector"

The Clery variety seems to have become increasingly established in the German retail trade. "The demand for Clery is always extremely high, as it is characterized by an excellent taste as well as very good coloring," buyer and seller Granit Sumaj of Früchtewelt GmbH, an operation in the Munich market…

Sparer Obstvermittlung KG

Fewer apples exported from South Tyrol to Egypt

The South Tyrolean apple industry is now preparing for the final phase of the 2022/23 marketing season. "We had a relatively small yield overall, which is why some varieties will be cleared relatively early," said Michael Sparer, who works as a fruit broker in the global apple market. "In Red Delicious,…

New automatic packing robot for peaches and nectarines

The MAF RODA Group has been innovating and developing robotics systems for years to automate the tasks of fruit and vegetable processing plants. “Robotics is one of the group's six major lines of innovation, which also include electronics, automation, electricity, mechanical engineering, and…

Dole sponsors Disney spring run

Spring is approaching, and the Shanghai Disney Resort is adorned with beautiful spring scenery. In May of this year, Shanghai Disney Resort launched a parenting activity as a warm-up for the popular "Disney Run." Adults and children who embrace an active lifestyle gather at Disneyland to experience the joy of outdoor running.…

"May had very ordinary melon prices"

On the European melon market, May was nothing to write home about. "That applies to not only the overseas season's tail end," says Leon van den Hombergh.  "But also the Spanish season's start." Leon is the Dutch company Frankort&Koning's commercial director. "The initial high temperatures in Spain accelerated production,…

Jordan: Melon farms in the Wadi Rum region swept away by floods

Last Monday, floods swept away crops and affecting roads in parts of Jordan, while large hailstones added to the destruction. Heavy overnight rain on Sunday in the southern…

West Michigan expects record blueberry yield this season

West Michigan blueberry fields are inching closer and closer to peak blueberry season. Farms throughout the region have had to suffer weather problems, but this season, the…

Port Augusta's fruit fly facility to double in size

The $3 million expansion of the National Sterile Insect Technology (SIT) facility at Port Augusta is now underway, helping to drive down fruit fly numbers in South Australia.…