MyFresh: Bedfordshire fresh food company brings in administrators

Less than one year after its acquisition by potato business Tuber Group, UK fresh produce company MyFresh has entered administration. MyFresh has hired Conrad Alan Beighton…

Malaysian research turns pineapple leaves into fabric

Politeknik lecturer Ibrahim Sultan and his team have transformed pineapple leaves into fabric, which can be used to produce fashion accessories. Abu Bakar Abdul Hamid, a senior lecturer in fashion design, said the venture started 13 years ago and it took them about three years just to research ways to…

New single-serve salad kits hit store shelves

Taylor Farms, a producer of ready-to-eat healthy fresh foods, has launched Mini Chopped Salad Kits, a new product platform introducing smaller, single-serve salad kits. Building off of the success of all chopped salads, these new kits offer customers a restaurant experience and artisanal flavors in the…

Vegetable ice cream, featuring pumpkin and cauliflower combats waste

Ice cream featuring pumpkin and cauliflower was served to more than 3000 people at the nation’s annual Hort Connections event in Adelaide. The two gelato flavors -…

Summer campaign characterized by lack of raw materials and lack of labor

"A demand for raw materials that is exceeding supply and the lack of labor are the two issues that characterize our vegetable production and processing campaign, especially when it comes to dried tomatoes," reports Gianluca Manfredi, president of La Cupa cooperative. The manager has reported difficulties in the organization of the next dried tomato campaign: "Demand…

German machine manufacturer to host in-person showcase of fresh produce machinery

After the last Customer Day in 2021 had to take place solely online due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Kronen GmbH is inviting customers and interested parties to experience the event in person again this autumn at its headquarters in Kehl am Rhein, Germany. Participants from all over the globe are expected to…

Agreement reached for the price of processing tomatoes in northern Italy

An agreement has been reached for the price of processing tomatoes in northern Italy for the 2023 growing season. Representatives of the agricultural sector expressed content…

US orange juice sales fall while price climbs

US orange juice retail sales have decreased by 13.2% this season to 27.17 million equivalent gallons. OJ’s average season-to-date price has climbed 12.6% to $8.61 per…

Tiger Brands corroborates plan to sell loss-making fruit canning plant

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company Tiger Brands has reopened the process to sell the troubled Langeberg and Ashton Foods (L&AF) deciduous fruit factory in the Western…

Nine constituencies in Andhra Pradesh to receive food processing centres

The Andhra Pradesh Food Processing Society (APFPS) is setting up nine Common Facility Integrated Production Centres in as many Parliamentary constituencies, with the support…

Two vegan chopped salad kits introduced

Braga Fresh, home of Josie’s Organics, is introducing two organic, vegan chopped salad kits to its family of products just in time for National Salad Month. The Aloha BBQ kit has the familiar flavors of a Hawaiian barbecue with tangy sweet pineapple bits and vegan coconut bacon. Braga Fresh is the first…

Greenyard to serve 100% pure-plant gelato

Greenyard, a global supplier of fresh, frozen and prepared fruit and vegetables, has expanded its pure-plant product range with the acquisition of the Dutch - Italian start-up, Gigi Gelato. It is said to be a game-changing brand that pairs fruit and vegetables in innovative ways, to create a healthy alternative…

Montosa presents the new design of its tropical fruit processing brand

Montosa, the Spanish company that specializes in avocado and IV range products, is presenting the new design of its Native brand at PLMA's World of Private Label 2023 fair,…

New pomegranate, strawberry and raspberry juice available in three formats

A new Lome Super Fruit juice mix with pomegranate, strawberry and raspberry has just been launched on the market in the 200, 250 and 500 ml formats.  FreshPlaza has talked about it with Dario De Lisi, sales manager at Masseria Fruttirossi, a leading pomegranate producer boasting over 300 hectares.  "The first supplies will…

Vitasafe GmbH

"Despite a growing market, we don't want to accept longer transport distances"

The market for ready-to-eat fruit is still in its early stages, he said, and especially in Germany, innovations are accepted only slowly and with skepticism. "It is a long process until a product innovation is actually accepted by the trade, placed accordingly and also accepted and demanded by the…

U.S. blueberry industry pushes on tariff amendment ahead of trade mission to Japan

Following a U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement formed in 2020 that eliminated Japan’s tariffs on fresh and dried blueberries but left tariffs on frozen blueberries, the U.S. blueberry industry is turning up the heat on this issue. “We hope that USTR will take action to resolve this issue now that Congress has…

"After a dismal apple season, it's great to end on a positive note"

Much has been written about Belgian apples' issues. It was a tough season, but that negative trend seems to be mostly reversed. Several traders are optimistic about the new season, and growers, too, are experiencing some sunshine after the rain. "Not everyone appreciates the longer wet spring, but the…

Lack of raw materials and labor among the most serious problems

“Consumption is recovering, with considerable requests coming in from abroad. The Italian produce is growing in parallel with the quality parameters required by a market that is particularly careful to the food/well-being ratio. People now pay particular attention to products, not just to recipes.…

"The later the potatoes are planted, the riskier the transition to the new crop"

Belgian potatoes are pricey at present. This affects the fresh as well as processing sector, including Waltson Chips, which specializes in local artisan chips. "Stocks are very limited and might get even more expensive in the coming months. Who knows," says Joost Debeuckelaere of potato wholesaler Agro…

BBQ purple sweet potato snack awarded among the world's best candy and snack innovations

The BBQ-flavored purple sweet potato chips from the Spanish brand Genuine Coconut have won the third prize for Best Innovation at the international fair ISM 2023, the world's largest trade fair for candy and snacks, held in Cologne, Germany, in recent days. "This award is given by an international jury of…

Stronger cooperation between Florida and the Agrimola group

The cooperation between the Florida company and Agrimola group continues. In 2021, Florida soc. coop. agricola became part of Agrimola and, in 2022, it supplied it with 400 tons of summer fruit, which were then processed by the Agrimola facility.  Luca Sassi and Giovanni Pasquariello Florida boasts 40 partners…

Far-reaching implications of proposed EU marketing standards for pre-cut fruit and vegetables industry

Freshfel Europe warned the European Commission this week on the far-reaching implications of its draft proposal on marketing standards if rules on mandatory country-specific…

Ocean Spray and Hershey launch new partnership

Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., the agricultural cooperative owned by roughly 700 farmer families, has today announced a new partnership with The Hershey Company, an…

Maine Congressional Delegation presses Biden Administration to expand markets for Maine blueberries

U.S. Senator Angus King is leading a group of lawmakers, calling on the Biden Administration to expand markets for Maine blueberries and reduce barriers facing farmers who…

"In Extremadura, we have been lucky that this year the flowering has been delayed in all the trees"

The Spanish stone fruit season is starting in Extremadura, where Frutas Biomova has just begun harvesting its biodynamic fruit. "We are going to have good production volumes of all fruits, except for the first nectarines that are harvested in May," says Jesús Moreno, of the Valdelacalzada-based company…

Hepatitis A outbreak traced to organic strawberries spreads

A hepatitis A outbreak traced to frozen, organic strawberries continues, as do public health warnings about the implicated products. Although the outbreak is progressing slowly, with nine patients across three states now, public health officials are concerned that consumers may continue to face a threat.…

lēf Farms recalls “Spice” packaged salad greens because of possible health risk

lēf Farms of Loudon, N.H. is voluntarily recalling a single lot of the lēf Farms "Spice" Packaged Salad Greens ("best by" date 5/5/23, lot number SP10723- 1RGH1, UPC 8 50439 00709 1) produced in its Loudon, New Hampshire greenhouse because they have the potential to be contaminated with Escherichia coli…

Costco Taiwan blueberries also tainted with hepatitis A

Earlier this week, we reported how the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration suspended Costco frozen berry mix imports from the US due to health concerns. Now, more than 15,000 kilograms of frozen blueberries imported by Costco Taiwan have tested positive for hepatitis A. On Monday (May 1), Costco Taiwan…

The market is no longer rewarding organic products as it used to

“We are currently focused on the tomato campaign in Puglia which - temperatures and weather permitting - is looking positive for a series of reasons: transplant operations started in early April, we paid producers 20 eurocents/kg already two months ago for the traditional Birba F1 and Angos F1…

Cambodia: Mango processing plant set for Kampong Speu’s south

A proposal for a mango processing plant in southern Kampong Speu province’s Choam Sangke commune has fueled hopes among the private sector for a boost in exports in finished…

DiMuto closes deal with Montana Fruits to finance the company’s trade and exports to the European market

DiMuto, a global Agri-FinTech company, strengthens its presence in Latin America with the latest financing of Colombian fresh produce exporter Montana Fruits. The deal will first see DiMuto leverage its AI-powered financing solution to finance Montana Fruits’ exports to Europe, before expanding to its…

Possible Hepatitis A contamination leads to frozen blackberry recall

Patagonia Food LLC, of San Luis Obispo, CA, is recalling certain frozen blackberries because of possible hepatitis A contamination. According to the company recall posted by…

NZ chips manufacturer Bluebird receives $66 mln for expansion

Bluebird has revealed that parent company PepsiCo has invested over $66 million into the development of its Auckland factory, with a $26m-plus vending machine packing machine…

"We collect and pay for your rejected and damaged avocados across Europe.”

Importers and distributors of avocado’s in Europe need not worry about carrying the costs of rejected and damaged products anymore, Procesavo will collect and pay you for them instead. “We use any type of avocado regardless of its origin, size, or whether it has suffered any damage during the exportation…

Danish BAR DJUS supplies 100% natural lime, lemon, and ginger juice to food service

What's in a name? Bar(e) does not only mean 'cocktail bar' in Danish, but also 'only', and djus is a misspelling of 'juice' except in the Faroe Islands. This autonomous archipelago within the Kingdom of Denmark, but not part of the European Union, is the first export market for BAR DJUS's freshly…

Cranberry juice can be effective in preventing repeat urinary tract infections

A global review by medical scientists from Flinders University in South Australia and The Children's Hospital at Westmead in New South Wales found cranberry juice or…

"Besides health and convenience, enjoyment is becoming more important"

"Consumers are increasingly focused on health and convenience. But the enjoyment aspect is becoming more and more relevant," according to Wim Kleinjan, Managing Director, and William de Vries, Commercial Manager of Fruity Pack. "We're working hard to further develop our innovative convenience concepts.…

Freshly pickled products are conquering the market

They have much to offer each other, Marcel van Bruggen of vanRijsingenfreshservice and Arend van den Berg of Bikl Foods quickly realized when they got talking. So much so that the vegetable processor and pickled product maker, both based in the Netherlands, are now joining forces to market fresh pickled…

New Zealand: Ice cream made from cauliflower

Jenni Matheson and Mrinali Kumar's New Zealand company EatKinda processes surplus New Zealand-grown cauliflower into vegan ice cream. Jenni Matheson experimented with pumpkins…

Chopped Salad Kit line introduces five new flavors

Dole Fresh Vegetables introduces five new flavor varieties to its DOLE® Chopped Salad Kit product line. In addition to the new flavors, the new kits feature a new package design to deepen Dole’s resonance with salad customers, especially Millennial and Gen Z salad users. They’re designed to delight…

All-Australian grape juice launched into the Japanese market this week

A Victorian table grape grower is launching a new grape juice in Japan this week that uses different-grade grapes to help minimize waste across his production season. Budou Farms co-owner Enrique Rossi says the juice called 'RE:BUDO' also includes loose berries, as this fruit is always edible and has…

"Fruit and vegetables' importance - and convenience - keeps growing"

"Given all the raw material price increases, it’s been quite a challenging time," is how Jantine Heemskerk answers when asked about how the sector is faring. She is from Heemskerk fresh & easy, a Dutch company that focuses on washing, slicing, and packaging fresh fruit, vegetables, salads, and fresh…

"From the grower to our client's end process, that's where our focus lies"

The Dutch company Snijpunt was founded 25 years ago to add value to bell peppers innovatively and, in the process, unburden clients, says General Director Mark van der Salm. He notes that these principles are still surprisingly current. "We still have these values. Our function in the chain is to…

FDA says the hepatitis A virus in this year’s frozen strawberry outbreak is identical to one from 2022

Federal officials have confirmed that the strain of hepatitis A virus found in frozen organic strawberries involved in a multi-state outbreak this year is the same strain that…

"We're very excited to see how this will be received"

The Eggers vegetable farm from Ochsenwerder has part of its harvest refined into sauces, pesto and salt. The vegetable farm is launching a total of 13 products on the market.…

Five Barrel Brewing announces special edition ‘Spud’ potato beer

Hoping to launch the Robertson Potato Festival with a bang, Wollongong based Five Barrel Brewing has announced a special edition potato sparkling ale. ‘Spud Sparkling Ale’ is being brewed using potatoes from Hills Family Farming in Robertson. The potatoes will be added, very fittingly, in the mash tun…

Meijer recalls select pre-made salads due to potential health risk

Meijer, in conjunction with its supplier, Revolution Farms, is announcing a voluntary recall of select Fresh From Meijer premade salads because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall is part of a broader Revolution Farms lettuce recall and includes premade…

Communication is important to promote niche productions

“The fair season continues and, after Cibus, we attended Vinitaly to promote our productions expression of culture, identity and tradition. Our leading product continues to be Bergamot oranges. We sell them fresh, processed as juice or mixed in functional products. They are in fact one of the ingredients…

OPI Frutta snack and smoothie range - just like fresh fruit

"Our product range includes snacks and instant smoothies: the first are destined to final consumers in the apple, pear, pineapple, cherry, peach and peach/banana flavors, while the second are destined to the H&R sector and include 5 recipes with freeze-dried fruits and vegetables," explains Corso…

Will the price of processing tomatoes in Spain affect negotiations in Italy?

"Italy has always had the most expensive prices in the world when it comes to fresh tomatoes destined to the processing industry. The announcement of the signing of contracts for Spanish tomatoes at €150 per ton, due to the water crisis, has had a disruptive effect on the market, precisely because it came in the midst of ongoing negotiations in northern Italy, which is an ar…

Brazil: Court case against alleged orange juice cartel

Several large firms, including Citrosuco, Cutrale and Louis Dreyfus Co. in Brazil have become defendants in a class-action lawsuit seeking billions in damages over an alleged…

California shipper reopens facility after last year’s fire

Taylor Farms, a North American producer of salads and healthy, fresh foods, will re-open its foodservice facility on Abbott Street in Salinas, California following the devastating fire that occurred in April 2022. The facility is scheduled to be in full operation at the end of this month.     Taylor Farms' new facility. "Thank…

Employees at Belle Glade sweet corn producer return to work after chemical leak

On Thursday, one day after a chemical leak forced everyone to evacuate, the employees at one of the largest sweet corn producers in the world returned to work. The incident…

Making use of the nutritional properties of fruit in a beverage

A new line of fresh HPP (i.e., obtained by treating under high pressure) fruit extracts named Natural Wellness recently presented at Cibus Parma 2023 has raised great interest. These are healthy references that use the nutritional properties of fruit, ideal for meeting specific consumer needs and…