Tropical fruit

Which avocado varieties have the best future prospects?

"Should we be content with what we have, or should we keep moving forward?"

Is there life after the current commercial avocado varieties? That is the question University of California researcher Mary Lu Arpaia posed to global industry representatives at the recent World Avocado Congress in Colombia. "Should we be content with what we have, or should we keep moving forward?" she…

Australia

Top End's multi-million-dollar mango industry in race to adapt to climate change

Australia’s Top End's mango industry is worth $122 million a year. However, according to industry figures, the sector is under threat from climate change. One of the Northern Territory's largest mango farms is already confronting the effects of climate change. "Rainfall is declining as a trend and…

Total EU avocado supply - update

Chilean Hass still major part of EU avo supplies

Since week 35, the inflow of South African Greenskin avocados is back to the projected amounts. This in contrast to the Peruvian Greenskin estimates vs the actual shipments, that were approximately 50,000 4 kg-cartons lower than projected. Click here for a larger image. Compared to the 2018 Hass supply, this…

Joep Jongmans, Special Fruit

"Mango Market recovering from huge supply of Brazilian produce"

The mango market had changed completely in recent weeks compared to the end of August. From no mangoes, to a few that were available in August, and then to a huge supply of Brazilian Keith mangoes. “Brazil has sent more mangoes than usual this year. Especially in the big sizes 6 and 7 there was an…

180 million kilos expected this campaign

PDO Kaki Ribera del Xúquer may stop new plantations

The kaki production has grown dramatically in recent years in the region of La Ribera, becoming a more than profitable alternative to the declining citrus crops. However, the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) "Kaki Ribera del Xúquer" does not want to die of success. Therefore, the objective is to…

Spanish scientists begin trial to obtain stoneless mangoes

Mango cultivation in Spain is carried out mostly in the province of Malaga, which accounts for 97% of the national production, grown on 4,300 hectares. Almost the entire volume, approximately 90%, is exported to the European Union. The harvesting generally starts between mid and late August with the…

Government in Dominican Republic looks to improve income of avocado growers

This last Sunday, President Danilo Medina of the Dominican Republic pledged assistance to 75 area producers to improve their income by planting coffee and avocados. The…

Hazel Technologies announces partnership with WP Produce

Hazel Technologies Inc., a company developing new, USDA-funded post-harvest technologies to extend shelf-life in fresh produce, announces a partnership with WP Produce, a grower and distributor of tropical avocados from the Dominican Republic. As part of the partnership, WP Produce Desbry brand tropical…

Xavier Equihua - CEO World Avocado Organisation

"80 per cent of the 650m kg avocados consumed by only 11 of 28 countries that comprise the EU"

The World Avocado Organisation (WAO) believes that there is a bigger potential for growth in Europe for the fruit, than in the United States. Addressing the World Avocado Congress in Colombia, Chief Executive Officer Xavier Equihua says the fruit has become the star of the produce aisle, and the icon of…

Plans to invest US$95 million to fund expansion

Navis Capital has acquired Malaysian durian producer

Navis Capital has acquired Malaysian durian producer Hernan Corporation with plans to invest US$95 million to fund expansion plans that include acquiring 10,000 acres for…

Peru sends two-thirds of all of its mango production to Europe

According to forecasts of the Association of Peruvian Mango Producers and Exporters (APEM), the country will export more than 204,000 tons of fresh mango in the 2019/20…

Ethiopia should start pushing avocado growth and exports

Experts say Ethiopia's climate makes the country perfect for avocado farming. However, its export potential has not really been exploited yet. Now a project aimed at small-scale farmers is trying to change the trend. Click here for a short clip.

China: Persimmon harvest kicks off with more larger sizes

The first new season persimmons hit the market earlier this month. This year's harvest officially began in Hebei, Shaanxi, and Taiwan at  around the same time as last year. However, the market prospects for Chinese persimmon are not positive. Wang Lei from Lei Lei Farms shared his thoughts on the current conditions…

Mission Produce to talk innovation

Mission Produce, Inc., announced it will be talking innovation at PMA Fresh Summit by discussing its latest solution: a technology the company says extends the shelf-life of avocados and reduces food waste. This post-harvest product was designed by Hazel Technologies, Inc. Mission Produce and Hazel…

Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur hotel creates Durian Room

The Corus Hotel Kuala Lumpur became the first hotel in Malaysia to have a room for durian tasting. Malayan United Industries Bhd (MUI) chairman and chief executive officer Andrew Khoo said durian was a national pride and it should be given importance. The MUI Group owns and operates Corus Hotel.…

Cambodian mango farmers hopeful for permission to export to Chinese market

Cambodia has obtained permission for direct transport of Cambodian bananas to the Chinese market. Now there is news in the Cambodian fruit industry that mangoes may become the next fruit to obtain permission for direct transport to China. Fruit traders in Cambodia and China alike are raising their heads…

New Mexico - US

La Luz pomegranate farm will produce wine and brandy

Somewhere in the beautiful landscape of La Luz, New Mexico, 60 acres of land are covered in pomegranate plants laden with fruit that will soon be used to make wine and brandy.…

Cultivar has become the main European importer of mango by plane

"Avocado and mango could become commodities like pineapple or kiwi"

The Cultivar company, which distributes around 9 000 tons of mango per year, has become the main European importer of mango transported by airplane, which it markets via its Exotic Premium brand and other reference brands. The company also markets avocado, papaya, and pineapple in its assortment of exotic…

"Mangoes tell us when they are ready to be harvested through their color and firmness"

After a lively start of the campaign, the mango season in Sicily is coming to an end with the most suitable cultivars for this part of the year. The prices reached at the start in August did not stay too high for the rest of the season, but production in the Thyrrenian area was truly satisfactory. Mango…

Lively demand and low volumes for persimmons

Prices are high for persimmons, pushed by a lively demand and low availability. "Grades 24-26 are sold at €1.70-2/kg wholesale. It is a good price, but we also need to bear in mind that it is the start of the campaign," explains Mirco Zoffoli from Mi.Frutta. Things are anyway looking good, as production is…

Dominican Republic

Prices of plantains skyrocket due to drought and tornadoes

Plantains and other agro crops have been affected by a drought and tornadoes that have impacted growers in the Dominican Republic in recent months. This has made market prices…

Vegeland vegetable shop in Christchurch

New Zealand avocado lovers buy 26,000 avos in one week from Vegeland

An incredible 26,000 avocados were sold at a Christchurch vegetable shop this week. Why? Shoppers rushed to get the fruit at 29 cents apiece. Earlier this week, Marshland Vegeland claimed it was selling the cheapest avocados in the country.  Co-owner Tony Kiesanowski said avocado lovers flocked into the store…

Most pineapples from Panama shipped by air freight in a single month

Record for air-freighted pineapples broken

A new record has been set for pineapple exports by air freight in a single month in the country of Panama, according to that nation’s customs office. The record-setting amount…

Resulting in enough guacamole for 20 people

Maui family grows world record avocado

The behemoth avocado was grown in Kula -Maui- by the Pokini Family; it is now recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s heaviest avo, weighing in at a…

The avocado industry has been going through a "golden era"

If the world was to increase its consumption of avocados to the same level that the United States has over the past three decades, there will need to be more than 52 billion pounds (23.8 million tonnes) of the fruit produced worldwide to meet that demand, according to the California Avocado Commission. Speaking…

Mexico: Farmers in Chihuahua replace marijuana with avocados

Various farmers in the Mexican state of Chihuahua are giving up growing marijuana and planting avocados instead. According to the mayor of Guadalupe y Calvo, farmers in the…

Cambodia seeks support for Japanese for mango shipments

Cambodian mangoes could soon be consumed in Japan. The Cambodian government recently requested Japanese authorities to accelerate the greenlighting of the fruit imports. If Japanese authorities accept Cambodia’s request, Japan would become one of the few East Asian countries importing Cambodian mangoes.…

Protests in Ecuador causing issues for exporters:

"Roadblocks are preventing us from getting our product to the ports"

Protests in Ecuador are still ongoing, and the violence has not yet died down. Roadblocks have been put into place since October 3rd, causing difficulties for producers and exporters because they are unable to move their product. Depending on the product, some companies have already experienced losses,…

Retail sales of avocados increasing by 72 per cent each year in China

In the next three years, China could pass the United States and become the number one avocado consumer country in the world, according to major retail company Pagoda. General Manager Peter Zhu told the World Avocado Congress in Colombia that for a young avocado country, demand in China is increasing so…

Lower persimmon volumes expected in Emilia-Romagna

The weird weather in spring with heavy rains and low temperatures has affected persimmon setting in Emilia-Romagna, where Cristian Caligari has already started harvesting. "My volumes are lower than normal by around 30-40% because of the rain in May which caused excessive drops. However grades are larger…

Mangoes and avocados, the target of thieves in Malaga

Agricultural farms devoted to the production of olives, citrus and tropical fruits in the Malaga regions of Antequera, the Guadalhorce valley and the Axarquía have been targeted by thieves in recent years, since some of these products reach high prices in the market, according to Antonio Rodríguez, of…

Supply from the Mediterranean is increasing rapidly

"Nice demand and a healthy supply of pomegranates"

The supply of pomegranates from the Mediterranean region is  gradually gaining momentum. The Spanish batches have been available for a few weeks, and supplies from Turkey are growing rapidly. In parallel with the abundant supply, demand is also gradually picking up, observes Murat Demirel, head of Bremen-based wholesale…

Fruit and vegetable export figures from Vietnam slip

During the first nine months of this year, Vietnam saw a 4.3-per-cent decline in vegetable and fruit export value. According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association,…

Camposol expands their avocado production:

“Developments in Colombia allow us to supply year-round”

Due to the size of the continent, South American countries often produce similar products in different windows. The avocado season is an example of this and collectively, South American countries are able to produce the product year-round. Peruvian-based producing and exporting company Camposol has…

West Pak Avocado partners with Fairtrade America

West Pak Avocado of Murrieta, California recently received the Fairtrade Mark. Offered by Fairtrade America, this independent sustainability certification features a predominate Fairtrade logo. If a business meets all of the organization’s rigorous standards, they are permitted to use the Fairtrade Mark…

Low-maintenance - high yields

South Africa’s dwarf avocado trees

Simon Dunshea, the farm manager of Twycross farm in Schagen, Mpumalanga, was looking for ways to increase the yield in his orchard, when the first dwarf variety of avocados were planted on the farm. Dunshea cultivates 125ha of avocados on the family farm, of which 50ha are planted to Hass, 15ha to the…

Paul van Groningen (Green Food Iberica):

"Spanish persimmon harvest has more than doubled in the last two years

Spanish persimmons are heading for record volumes this season. "The recent floods of hurricane Dana seemed to throw a spanner in the forecast, but now that we are taking stock after a few weeks, the persimmon harvest does not seem to have been heavily affected, and  so the volume expectations remains unchanged,"…

Spain's Delicatessen Fruit consolidates its exports in Europe

The Nules-based company Delicatessen Fruit Import-Export is a company specialized in the export of fruits and vegetables. In just five years since its creation, the firm has…

Peak of Brazilian mango shipments to US approaching

Mangoes from Brazil, Ecuador and Mexico are steadily streaming into the United States as supplies remain steady for now. There is very little volume left from Mexico, with only a handful of markets carrying the fruit. The majority of supply is now coming from both Brazil and Ecuador, with Brazil…

Vietnam tries to get US export licence for avocados

According to the Vietnam Trade Office in the US, Vietnam is in the process of getting a licence to export avocado to the US. The Vietnam Trade Office’s branch in San Francisco…

Ekumfi Pineapple Factory in Ghana will start operations within weeks

According to the Director of the Ekumfi Pineapple Factory, Frederick Kobbynah Acquah, the factory management has given itself up to six weeks to start full production, so that by Christmas, Ghanaians will be able to enjoy fresh pineapple juice from the factory. He told this to a delegation from the Ghana…

2019 Total EU avocado supply update

Israel green avocado supply to EU is picking up

With the Peruvian  Hass avocado shipments to the European Union now almost done, Argentinian Hass avocados are now the main segment of the total EU supply at this time. In a comparison of the 2018 and 2019 Greenskin supply; they are almost comparable. The percentage of Greenskin vs Hass avo’s this week is…

Zander Ernst - Allesbeste

Trellising in avocado orchards is “pushing the boundaries of production"

A major South African avocado producer believes that trellising is the way of the future, especially as new generation cultivars become available for growers. Zander Ernst, Director of Marketing and Production at Allesbeste told the World Avocado Congress in Colombia that the key to his company's…

Avocados from Chile extends partnership with Joaquin Niemann

The Chilean Avocado Importers Association (CAIA) is excited to announce a second year of partnership with Chilean PGA Tour golf professional Joaquin Niemann. Joaquin will play a key role in Avocados from Chile social media and advertising programs. CAIA first started working with Niemann in the Fall of…

Alejandro Clavero, of Trops: "The promotional campaign is having a great impact"

"Mango demand is already increasing considerably in Spain"

The mango campaign is underway in Malaga, the only area capable of producing this exotic fruit under optimal conditions anywhere in Europe. Although production is lower this year, sales have not been easy during the first weeks of the campaign due to the great supply from third countries. Brazil has…

Vietnam: Removing barriers on plant quarantine has achieved many positive results

Over the last few months, the negotiations aimed at removing barriers on plant quarantine to open export markets for Vietnamese agricultural products has achieved many…

Dominican Republic hopes to export more than US$ 357 mln worth of agri products a year to China

The Dominican Republic is preparing to export to China agricultural products worth more than US$ 357 million annually. This was reported by the Center for Export and…

US retailers experience - World Avocado Congress

"How do we maintain the continuity of supply, and stability in the pricing?"

Costco Wholesale has revealed that avocados are the number three item in their fresh produce department, in terms of sales - both domestically and internationally. Senior Buyer, Mark DeCosta, took part in a presentation involving three major United States-based retailers and food service providers the…

Industry continues to expand

Mango season heating up in the Northern Territory

In Australia’s Northern Territory the mango season is heating up, with farms around Darwin's rural area reaching their peak harvest period. More than 200,000 trays were…

Kenneth Meyer, Natural Tropic:

"Despite bad market, mango lovers can still afford to buy Spanish Osteen"

The expectations for the Spanish Osteen mango season were high. Prices were low, and the market was empty. "A month before the start of the season, prices even went as high as about €9. Unfortunately, Brazil then turned on its turbocharge. Prices plummeted. These mangos now sell for under €3," says…

Avocado demand continues to climb: “The issue right now is providing a continuous supply”

The avocado market has been thriving over the past few years as the fruit’s popularity soared worldwide. According to Juan Escorcia, from Avocados Aguirre the demand is almost impossible to satiate. “Right now the issue with avocados is not selling them – they sell themselves. The issue we have right now…

Local Cambodian mangos ready for shipping to South Korea

According to Korean exporter Hyundai Agro, Cambodian mangoes are ready for export to the South Korea market with the first shipment officially kicking off in early November. Managing director of Hyundai Agro Chang Hoon Lee said last month the company has now received final approval from the Korean…

Panama's pineapples bound for China

On Tuesday, October 1, the first container of Panamanian pineapples destined for Chinese consumers set sail for Beijing. They came from the ​​La Chorrera and will be followed…

Over 1,000 workers laid off

Philippines: banana firm shuts down operation

The Al-Sahar Agri-Ventures Inc. (ASAVI), a large banana business venture in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), has ceased its operations since last…

Ghana’s mango industry risks collapse due to Bacterial Black Spot

According to experts, Ghana’s mango industry could be wiped out completely in the next five years if the Bacterial Black Spot (BBS) disease is not treated as a national agriculture emergency. Fruit processing company Blue Skies issued this warning on the back of a severe drop in mango exports to the EU…

Tropical storm Narda causes flood damage to western Mexico

Tropical storm Narda continues to make its way along the west coast of Mexico. Narda initially made landfall last Saturday in Oaxaca before moving offshore and subsequently weakening. However, it strengthened again on Monday and has since traveled along the coast from Guerrero as far as Sonora. Winds of…

Early season Australian mango quality still high despite cool spring weather

The eating quality of early season Australian mangoes is still very strong, according to the Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA), despite some challenging cool weather for growers throughout the first month of Spring. Darwin growers are now in full production and it is expected to last for the…

Bevan Jelley - NZ Avocados

"Our story in Asia is of premium avocados from New Zealand"

NZ Avocados Market Manager, Bevan Jelley explained that in the past 10 years, the market in Asia has risen from US$148million to US$608million in terms of avocado import values, in which New Zealand is aiming to become involved. "New Zealand is a small producer, but we are focused on export," he said.…

Which Latin American countries play a dominant role in US avocado supplies?

Supplies of avocados in the U.S. look to be healthy right now. Domestic production hailing from California is projected to be 350 million pounds for 2020—the “heavy” year of their alternate-bearing cycle. This year California growers, whose season starts in February and runs through September, harvested…

Sam Gielen, Frutas Tropicales Europe:

Hopefully the mango market will pick up; first Brazilian Kents expected next week"

The avocado market is still going strong. Mango prices, however, have fallen sharply in the last week. "Prices were still very good at the end of the West African season," says Sam Gielen of Frutos Tropicales Europe. "That is when the Brazilian season started too. But then, the Israeli and Spanish mangos…

Turkish producers aim to export 5 million avocados next year

Gazipasa, Antalya, a city located in southern Turkey, exported avocados for the first time this year to Russia, Georgia and Ukraine. The district produces one thousand tons of avocados per year in an area of 250 hectares. Producers in Gazipasa switched from vegetables to tropical fruits since they are…

Hass Avocado Board releases Q2 holiday sales figures

Shoppers celebrated the holidays during the second quarter with a variety of avocado dishes generating retail sales for Easter, Cinco de Mayo and Memorial Day, according to…

Pakistan’s mango exports increasing by 42% In 2019

According to Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC), Muhammad Ashraf, mango exports during the current season have increased by 42% in 2019 compared to the last year. "We had a record mango export season this year and more than 115,000 tonnes of mangoes…

Mango industry members invited to Annual Mango Industry Reception

The National Mango Board (NMB), in conjunction with the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, will host the Annual Mango Industry Reception during PMA’s Fresh Summit International Convention & Expo in Anaheim, CA. The reception will take place on Friday, October 18, 2019 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.…

Jen Scoular - NZ Avocado

"We need to look after our people, environment and economies to ensure this industry is healthy in 100 years."

New Zealand Avocado says the global industry needs to create best practice so the fruit is grown in ways that consumers know are sustainable. Chief Executive, Jen Scoular told…

The harvest will start in a week

Spanish kakis unaffected by recent storms

Although the trees are not far from the affected areas, luckily Spanish kaki production and marketing was not damaged by last weekend's storms which hit Alicante, Almeria, Murcia, Valencia. "Despite the heavy rainfall, there was no damage reported to the trees and fruit. The severe thunderstorms have…

Growers who saw trees stripped, crops destroyed

New South Wales: Hail-stricken avocados won't be an earner for years

For avocado grower families the Tidemans and the Ryans, whose orchards face each other across a valley on the New South Wales mid-north coast, face the prospect of no income for at least three years. Around three-quarters of an hour of hail devastation on the Comboyne Plateau has resulted in workers…

Francisco Sánchez, manager of Onubafruit:

"This will be a campaign with a great kaki production in Spain"

Just like the Region of Valencia, the province of Huelva also expects a full kaki production. The Rojo Brillante campaign will start in mid-October for Onubafruit, which estimates a production of around 10,000 tons, and will come to an end in December. “This will be a campaign with a great kaki production…

Kerala, India

Muthalamada mango hub now in a ‘limbo’

A Rs 5 bln project with NABARD assistance for a fruit and vegetable processing hub in Muthalamada had started in 2016. Its aim was to help 8,000 mango farmers with 6,500ha of…

Middle East is top importer of Pakistani mangoes in 2019

Accounting for over 70 percent of the share of total mango exports this year, the Middle East has remained the top export destination for Pakistani mangoes. The production of…

Avocado, cocoa, mango, pineapple and bananas

Officials start process to export Dominican agricultural products to China

The Dominican Republic and China began the process of sanitary validation to export five agricultural products of local production to the Asian nation. The Ministry of Agriculture said the negotiations are carried out within the framework of the new diplomatic and trade relations established between both…

US Scientists unlock avocado DNA

Scientists in the United States and Mexico have mapped the DNA sequences of several types of avocados, including the popular Hass variety. It now means avocados can be custom designed to survive…

Mexico's cartels fighting for control of avocado business

Four competing drug cartels are extorting avocado producers in Michoacán, Mexico. This really shows how the fruit is becoming an increasingly important source of illicit…

Mango exports from Pakistan face problems with freshness

News from the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers, and Merchants Association shows that the mango exports from Pakistan to China reached a new high this…

Pragasy Exim ships Indian pomegranates to Hamburg from December

"We are open to both wholesale and food retailers"

Pomegranates are seeing an increasing popularity in German and (Western) European trade and are developing into a year-round product at a rapid pace. During the cold season, therefore, more and more pomegranates from overseas countries will find their way to European wholesale markets and into food retail.…

Mexico-based supplier continues to grow tropical fruit category

The rising demand for tropical fruits has inspired one company to continually increase their fruit offerings. Headquartered in Mexico, Coliman has been shipping tropical fruit for more than 50 years. "Coliman has been in business since 1963," said Victor Heredia of Coliman. "We started with bananas and…

Ghana coconut farmers complain about diversion of free seedlings

Through the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), the central government has started the free distribution of coconut seedlings to farmers as part of efforts to increase…

Ghana: €3.1 billion in exports to EU market recorded in 2018

After his announcement that Ghana recorded a 48 percent rise in export in 2018 alone, Head of Cooperation for the European Union (EU), Zoltan Agai, says programs are being initiated and supported to boost export margins in the country. Ghana is one of the West African countries taking part in the West…

“After durian, Malaysia’s next major fruit crop is the banana”

According to the Malaysian Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama), durians rank at the top of fruit products cultivated, while banana farming is number two. These were…

Photo report IX World Avocado Congress

Last week the ninth edition of the World Avocado Congress was held in Medellin, Colombia. The event surpassed the eighth edition of the held in Lima four years ago by increasing the number of companies exhibiting from 12 to 72 and welcomed 3,247 attendees from 50 countries. 152 speakers attended 187 lectures…

‘Association of Kenya Mango Traders’

Kenyan mango farmers form association

Traders, farmers and other stakeholders from 14 Kenyan counties have formed an association to promote commercial farming of mangoes and bargain for better prices for their members. Association of Kenya Mango Traders (AKMT) founding chief executive Linah Mukami said mainstreaming of the mangoes as a key…

Shipments exported to Australia

Vietnam Trade Office warns of packaging mistake on longans

The Vietnam Trade Office in Australia has sent a warning to enterprises about a packaging mistake on longans exported to Australia. The first batch was already stopped at…

A chance to show off papaya varieties

Lance Peterson just likes to put a face to the voice. “The Fresh Summit show is a way for us to see customers and help match those voices on the phone with faces,” says Lance Peterson of Pharr, Tex.-based Super Starr International. “And it’s not only seeing our customer base but it’s seeing people in the…

New Zealand to host next World Avocado Congress in 2023

On the last day of the World Avocado Congress in Medellin it was announced that New Zealand would host the next edition in 2023. They won the vote against stiff competition from Mexico and Kenya. Juan David Mondragón, president of the Organizing Committee of the Congress, announced the result during the…

China authorizes imports of Dominican fruits

The Minister of Agriculture, Osmar Benitez, stated that the Government of China had notified the Dominican Republic, through its Department of Commerce in Santo Domingo, that…

Mission Produce plants avocado orchard at Ventura College

Mission Produce, Inc., has teamed up with Halter-Encinas Enterprises, Inc., Coast Water Solutions, Brokaw Nursery, LLC, and Quality Ag, Inc. to plant an avocado orchard at Ventura College. In doing so, Mission Produce hopes to inspire an interactive learning environment, advance academic research and…

Kenya among world’s fastest growing avocado exporters

Kenya ranks among world’s fastest growing exporters of avocado, which is hopeful, as demand for the fruit is still growing in China and Europe. Colombia tops the list of world’s fastest growing avocado exporters, followed by Morocco. Kenya comes at position three, being the only country in East and…

Olhos D’Água in Mateus Leme

Brazilian lychee farm’s first export destination to be Dubai

Brazilian lychee farm Olhos D’Água, in Mateus Leme, Minas Gerais, has been selling fruit within the country since 2014. This year’s crop, due for harvest in December, will…

Global Witness campaign

Demand for palm oil & pineapples threatens indigenous lands in Southeast Asia

This week, human rights groups wanted the international press focused on the fact that palm oil plantations in Indonesia and commercial fruit orchards in the Philippines have uprooted indigenous people and rural communities from their land. This is being done despite laws put in place to protect them.…

IX World Avocado Congress

Biggest problem facing avocado sector in coming years will be supply, not demand

The second day of the IX World Avocado again saw many interesting speakers take to the various stages and the sessions were very well attended, as were the trade show stands. As well as sessions on post harvest monitoring and increasing shelf-life, water use and the effective pruning of trees, there were…

Seeka sells kiwi orchard for $15.5 million NZD

Seeka Limited has entered into an agreement to sell a 20 canopy hectare Kerikeri SunGold kiwifruit orchard to Booster’s listed Private Land & Property Portfolio, which is the…

Miguel Gonzalez, MG Fruit:

"People want pineapples with more color"

Dutch pineapple importers are currently trying to process a large volume of these fruits. "Costa Rica always has a high production at this time of year. A fair amount is also coming in left and right," says Miguel Gonzalez of MG Fruit in Barendrecht, the Netherlands. "This additional supply is coming…

Thai mangosteen is a huge hit in Taiwan

Thai mangosteens have become an instant hit among Taiwanese consumers after the fruit went on sale there recently for the first time in 15 years. Department of Agriculture…

Short crop and high prices for California avocado season

California-based avocado marketer, Index Fresh has wrapped up its California season, with good prices and high quality fruit observed by the company. The prices this season broke all records on a dollars per carton basis, it added. “With a smaller crop, you can usually expect higher prices, due to simple…

Ghana’s Western Region needs factories to maximise forex coconut revenues

Tuesday Ghana’s the Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah urged entrepreneurs to set up factories to process coconut in the area. This Western Region produces…

IX World Avocado Congress

Colombia has access to 45 countries and continues to open new markets

The first day of the IX World Avocado Congress took place on Tuesday, 24th September, in Medellin, Colombia. The event was a sellout and extremely busy with standing room only in some of the sessions. This is a fantastic result for a city which only 2 decades ago was too dangerous to visit. This…

Mexico: Michoacan exported a total of 88,700 tons of mango in 2019

Michoacan's mango producing sector achieved a record mango production and export volume this year after sending 88,700 tons of mangoes to international markets, according to the Ministry of Rural and Agricultural Food Development, Sedrua. 85% of the total volume was sent to the United States. Ruben…

Kenya has to try and exploit China's avocado export opportunities

When President Uhuru Kenyatta recently signed a deal with China to export avocados, there was a celebratory mood, as Kenyan growers anticipated a new and large market for the…

Del Monte disappointed as court throws out land case

The Del Monte pineapple plantation company argued that on October 1, 2012, it made the requisite applications for extension of the terms of various leases to the relevant…

Ripe and ready mango program introduced in Arizona

Vision Produce Company has announced that it is now offering ripe and ready mangoes following the protocol established by the National Mango Board (NMB). The company has launched the program in the Phoenix area, saying that one retailer has experienced a 60 percent increase in sales. “We are excited to…

Arab companies join Apex Fruit Industry B2B event

Last Thursday, mangos, lemons, avocados, bananas, apples, grapes and papayas were exhibited at the Fruit industry Buyers Project by Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) at an event room in Grand Hyatt hotel in São Paulo. Twenty-eight exporting companies that participated also…

Mount Tamborine - Queensland

The ‘Money Tree’ and Australia's avocado obsession

Australia’s ABC Landline came out with a short item about an 85-year-old avocado tree and the role it has played in the development of Australia’s avocado industry. In a good year…

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

Philippines to build P306 mln pineapple packing plant in Lanao Sur

The Regional Board of Investments of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOI-BARMM) has approved the registration of the Wao Development Corp. (WDC) for the…

South African avocados are beginning to make inroads in new markets

When Tracey Davies took over as CEO of South Africa-based avocado specialist Halls in May 2018, she could not have foreseen that her first few months at the helm of the…

Mexico: Veracruz loses 5,000 hectares of pineapples due to drought

The drought in the Mexican state of Veracruz, the leading pineapple producer in the country, has caused the loss of 5,000 hectares of fruit and a decrease in sizes, the leader…

Mango display winners announced

The results are in for the National Mango Board’s (NMB) ninth annual Mango Mania Display Contest. The Board noted that participating retailers built impressive, eye-catching displays for at least one week during the month of June 2019. Over $1,500 in cash incentives were awarded to the winning stores. Every store was a winner…

University of Florida - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Researchers continue to work on protecting avocados

A team of researchers at University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences have been at ground zero of a pest problem that is endangering the sustainability of…

Ghana pineapple exports drop by almost 49%

In Ghana, Non-Traditional Export (NTE) generated US$ 2.813 billion in 2018 as compared to the US$ 2.556 billion earned in 2017 representing 10 percent growth rate. This was…

Russia opens its market to Cuban tropical fruits and citrus

Cítricos Caribe SA and the Russian Company Mashpriborintorg signed, within the framework of the I Exhibition of Cuban products in Moscow, the first contract to export tropical…

Orders of Guatemalan papaya stay high after summer

Papaya supplies continue to steadily arrive from Guatemala. “We’re seeing the same steady volume. We usually do eight to nine containers a week and then we saw a bit of a dip two weeks ago. It just went from seven to eight containers a week and now we’re back up into regular production. I don’t know why…

Pakistan's mango exports reach an all-time high

Mango exports in Pakistan hit an all-time high this season, with numbers reaching over 100,000 tons. The global demand for this exotic fruit is increasing and Pakistan is…

Mexico invests to improve the mango production chain in Michoacan

With the aim of improving the state of Michoacan's mango production chain, the Ministry of Rural and Agricultural Food Development (Sedrua) will implement processes and training among producers to improve the market and achieve more competitive sales. In this last season, the price paid to mango…

Pakistani mangoes see great demand

Pakistan has set new record by exporting more than 100,000 tons of mangoes this season. As world demand is increasing, the nation’s growers were able to break all previous…

Northern Territory: Mango crops destroyed by fires

Northern Territory mango farmers have been left devastated after strong winds and fires decimated their crops. According to Australian Mangoes Chief Executive Robert Gray it’s left the industry in shock. “One orchard has lost about a third of their trees, which is a couple of thousand trees,” Mr Gray…

Manjimup - Australia

Packing company expands to cope with increase in avocado production

Last season, Advance Packing and Marketing Services packed 1.4 million trays of avocados. This number is expected to increase to 2 million this season. Furthermore, a $2.5…

EU avocado supply Update

Total 2019 EU Greenskin & Hass supply nears lowest point of the year

In week 38, the inflow of Argentinian avocados are starting to make a difference on EU markets. The total 2019 EU Greenskin & Hass supply is almost at its lowest point of the year. Click here for all the sheets Source:  avocado.co.za

Import Promotion Desk (IPD) sets organic focus:

Great organic offer from IPD countries at the Fruit Attraction

The demand for organic quality in the fruit and vegetable sector is growing steadily. Experts expect in the next five years with an annual increase of nine percent (study "Global Organic Fruits and Vegetables Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast" by research firm Research and Markets). The Import Promotion…

Bigger anticipated 2020 California avocado crop is focus of PMA discussions

The California Avocado Commission (CAC) is preparing for the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fresh Summit event in its home territory this year. Fresh Summit will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif., from October 16 through 19, and the Commission will have a booth (#3937)…

Despite stagnant sales and declining prices

Vietnamese growers expand dragon fruit acreage

In 2018 and in the first nine months of 2019, the prices of dragon fruit have always been at lower level in comparison with those in previous years. The price has dropped…

Astrid Antillon about the pineapple season in Costa Rica

“It’s smart to import pineapples ahead of spike in demand”

For Costa Rican pineapples, the peak of the season is usually at the end of the year, during the winter months. This means prices are about to increase for the holiday season. One importer makes sure she has enough stock once this happens, so she can still offer the pineapples at a good price. During the…

US wants security guarantees for avocado inspectors in Michoacán

After threats and violence against inspectors in Michoacán, the United States Department of Agriculture is threatening to suspend its avocado certification program. The USDA issued a travel warning for 38 Michoacán municipalities, most of which have significant avocado production. There are 58 USDA…

Greenyard USA/Seald Sweet and Valvilla Produce announce partnership

Greenyard USA/Seald Sweet has announced a long-term strategic partnership with Valvilla Produce. “Our initiative is to develop and strengthen our business by offering direct programs with the growers while adding value and supporting a transparent relationship that benefits all parties,” says Mayda…

Research on pawpaw cultivation and the viability of its production in Spain

The pawpaw, whose scientific name is Asimina triloba, is an exotic fruit native to the southern and central parts of the United States. It belongs to the custard apple family…

Ecuador exports 92% of its mangoes to the US

Ecuador's mango campaign officially started on Thursday, September 12, 2019. Ecuador produces three main varieties of mango in 5,000 hectares devoted to this fruit and the…

Spanish cooperatives Alzicoop & Exagro to merge citrus and kaki productions

The Horticultural Cooperative of Alzira (Alzicoop) is seeking a new merger with the Cooperative of Villanueva de Castellón (Exagro) to work with both citrus fruits and kakis, following its precipitous break-up with Fruxeresa. The search for a new association is motivated by the obligation of cooperatives…

Ghana Exports Promotion Authority gives out 11.3 million pineapple suckers

The Ghana Exports Promotion Authority (GEPA) has given out 11.3 million suckers to exporters and outgrowers to increase the value of exported pineapples from the country. The Authority gave various types of pineapple suckers such as MD2, Smooth cayene, and Sugar loaf to more than seven exporters and…

Hong Kong: Avocado-themed Avobar

Those interested in all things avocado will be pleased to know that avocado-themed restaurant Avobar opens in Hong Kong today at the new K11 MUSEA mall in Tsim Sha Tsui. The originally London-based restaurant, which strives to provide customers with fresh and delicious avocado eats in a casual setting, will offer such tasty…

Avocado prices are back to normal levels

Just in time for this past Monday‘s National Guacamole Day, the average national price of a Hass avocado Friday was $1.16, down from $2.10 in July. This means that, after a…

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