Management

US offered help

Georgia announces success in combating stink bug

“We have been fighting the stink bug for three years and this year we have finally successfully combated it”, said Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze today in the w…

New Zealand consumers could pay more than double the price for strawberries this season

New Zealand consumers could be paying more than double the price for strawberries this summer, as one of the country's biggest growers fears sh e will be forced to shut down…

Pakistan: Strategy in the works for boosting horticulture exports to $1bn

The Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) is working on a comprehensive plan to enhance exports of fruits and vegetables to $1 billion mark within the next three years. The five products identified by PHDEC include kinnow, mangoes, dates, onion and potatoes. “We have almost…

National African Farmers Union

No expropriation of productive white farms without compensation

Motsepe Matlala, president of the National African Farmer's Union of SA proposes that white farmers be compensated at a discounted price in land reform. White farmers who are…

Startup is backed by Y Combinator

Startup aims to cut out middlemen between farmers and restaurants in Indonesia

Eden Farm is a startup with the ambitious goal of building a food distribution network for Indonesia, where many restaurants currently rely on markets for fresh ingredients. But this means high markups and unreliable supplies for restaurant owners and lower profits for farmers, co-founder and CEO David…

California defies White House to ban controversial pesticide

California will outlaw the use of a pesticide linked to developmental problems in humans after President Donald Trump's administration scrapped plans for a nationwide ban,…

INC research grant is now open

The International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) has just launched its Annual Call for Research Projects (€300,000) to fund clinical, epidemiological, basic and/or strategic research that may…

‘Trade war could last a decade’: why Chinese firms are preparing for long haul

Shanghai-based fruit importer Lucas Liu is on the front line of the US-China trade war. The cost of American cherries, for example, has risen by roughly half, prompting him to cut back on what he orders from the United States. Liu, who sells American cherries, apples, oranges, prunes and plums to Chinese…

Investment company sees response to lower interest rates

The prospect of historically low interest rates is driving record enquiries for cash yielding real assets, according to syndicator, MyFarm Investments. In the same week the…

AHEFS Director laments neglect of vegetable sector

The Director of the Agency for Health and Food Security (AHEFS), Kwaku Asante has expressed worries over the country’s negligence in putting more efforts in promoting Vegetable production in Ghana. He stressed that the country has done less in improving on the production of vegetables such as tomatoes,…

The judicial resolution will be made public at the beginning of November

Mexico's tomato producers await ruling on US tariff increase

Several greenhouses of the Middle zone await the resolution of an international instance to avoid paying and to recover the compensatory fee of the 17.56% tariff that the US…

No processing facilities were tested

FDA releases results of romaine lettuce sampling assignment in Yuma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released the results of a sampling assignment that tested romaine lettuce grown in the Yuma, AZ agricultural region for pathogenic…

Arjan Zoutewelle looks back at 5 years of the Russia boycott

"Europe has become less important for the better Russian customer"

Exactly five years ago Russia placed a boycott on all fruit and vegetables from the EU, the United States, Australia, Canada and Norway, as well as other products. The import…

Euler Hermes:

“German gauge: global recession continues”

The German economy is the perfect thermometer to check the health of the global economy. According to the ‘German Global Trade Momentum’ (GGTM), something has to quickly…

"Escalating Sino-US trade war has limited impact on fruit import and export companies"

The Sino-US trade war is currently in full swing. The USA increased custom tariffs for many types of Chinese products. In response, China also increased custom tariffs for many types of US products. The two parties will begin a new round of trade negotiations next month. The Sino-US trade war has an…

Crimea to enter into economic cooperation agreement with Syria in August

The Crimean authorities plan to sign an economic cooperation agreement with Syria at the 61st Damascus International Fair to be held on August 28-September 6, Deputy Chairman of the Crimean Board of Ministers and Crimean Permanent Representative to the Russian President Georgy Muradov told reporters on…

NZ: Government announces plan to protect food-producing land

The Government has unveiled plans to protect prime food-growing land, amid growing concern about the impact of urban sprawl. The issue is especially bad in the vegetable…

What does the trade war mean for California Valley agriculture?

Trump, through tweets and via his trade representatives, is dueling with China over allegations that Beijing steals trade secrets, forces foreign companies to hand over…

UK: Ghanaian goods could receive tariffs after Brexit

Ghanaian businesses that export products to the UK will be compelled to pay tariffs on their goods exported from next year after Britain exits the European Union. This is will…

Equitable Food Initiative updates labor standards to include Ethical Charter Addendum

Equitable Food Initiative has released revised certification standards, including a new Ethical Charter Addendum, to help growers demonstrate that they abide by all the principles of the Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices. The Ethical Charter provides members of the fresh produce industry…

South Africa: Current state of reservoirs

The South African Department of Water and Sanitation have issued the current state of the country's dam levels. Click here to find the full update.

Lennart van den Heuvel of the Dutch Hoofdman-Roodzant, about the 5-year Russian boycott

"It will never be as it was, but it doesn't have to be, to be successful in Russia"

It has been five years since Russia introduced a boycott of, among other products, all fruit and vegetables from several countries. These countries include the EU, the United…

Government of Canada supports research in Nova Scotia's apple industry

Recently, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, was joined by Keith Colwell, the Nova Scotia Minister of Agriculture, at the Kentville…

Payment card replaces paper vouchers

New healthy food support launches

Pregnant women and families with babies and children receiving certain benefits are to be offered increased access to healthy foods. The new Best Start Foods payment replaces…

Vanuatu union encouraged by seasonal workers' rights win

Vanuatu's National Workers Union has been encouraged by the increased organisation of seasonal workers in neighbouring countries in asserting their basic rights. Thousands of Pacific Islanders go to New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme, but other visa categories have become harder…

Kees Boonman of the Dutch Zeeland Fruit about the 5-year Russian boycott

"As long as politicians are too stubborn to meet, the boycott will continue"

Five years ago, Russia placed an embargo on, among other things, all fruit and vegetables from the EU, US, Australia, Canada, and Norway. This boycott was to have lasted for a…

NZ: Biosecurity to step up fruit fly response

As the end of winter closes in, Biosecurity New Zealand’s fruit fly response in the Northcote area is about to step up again, with the focus on maintaining controls and resuming baiting and more intensive trapping. Since 26 April, an area of Northcote has been under a Controlled Area Notice, restricting…

Fiji increases number of fruit orchards to stimulate economy

Fiji's Minister for Agriculture Mahendra Reddy said on Thursday that the government was working to set up more fruit orchards around the island nation, so more fruits could be marketed. He said that for the last five years, Fiji had imported around 16.3 million Fijian dollars (about 7.4 million U.S.…

Brexit will be good for South Africa, according to UK High Commissioner

UK High Commissioner Nigel Casey says that post-Brexit, South Africa and the SADC-Mozambique bloc will be able to negotiate one-on-one trade deals with the UK, and not be tied…

Over $30 million dollars being invested for the beds

Hawke's Bay apple industry is building 1500 new beds for RSE workers

The Hawke's Bay's apple industry says it is investing over $30 million into building more than 1500 new beds for Recognised Seasonal Employment workers, which they say is already helping fix the region's housing crisis. Right now Hawke's Bay growers are awaiting the Government's imminent decision on…

Flooding funding for Wainfleet and Yorkshire

NFU Vice President Stuart Roberts said: “The Government’s offer to help farmers affected by the devastating floods in Wainfleet and Yorkshire is great news for farmers in…

Former Sainsbury’s CEO

"You can't cope if the product isn't in the UK,"

Justin King, former CEO of Sainsbury’s and food director at Marks and Spencer, said there will be “gaps on the shelves within a week” if there is no deal in place by…

Germany plans to ban plastic bags

A German federal minister said she was working on laws to ban plastic bags, German news agency DPA reported on Sunday. "My ministry is currently working on the legal regulations for a plastic bag ban," German's Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Svenja Schulze…

Kenyan trade experts worry about commitments to China

Kenya-China trade experts have raised concerns over trends and negotiation deals in trade between the two countries. Kenya Business Guide (KBG), Oscar Otele cast doubts on the…

Serbian apples and corn to gain access to China in November

Serbian Agriculture Minister Nedimovich has signed an agreement with the General Administration of Customs in Beijing, as reported by Nantong News Agency. From November…

Scottish Lib Dem Rennie urges Johnson to lift the cap on migrant workers

Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Will Rennie is urging UK prime minister Boris Johnson to lift the cap on the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme following frustrations at…

Head of Greenyard Fresh UK retires

Alan Forrester is to retire from his role as managing director of Greenyard Fresh UK, four years after taking on the role. Parent company Greenyard Group said that it would…

Beneficiaries cultivate 851,000 acres of farmland

Liberia’s Youth Opportunity Project

Over 10,000 rural youn g farmers, benefiting from the government of Liberia’s Youth Opportunity Project (YOP), have cultivated 851,000 acres of farmland. Prominent crops are…

$1.2 million in cuts upsets Alaskan farmers

Farming in Alaska has never been easy due to a short growing season and unfavorable conditions, but it’s about to get even harder. With the growing season already short, now…

The cost of China’s tariffs for every single state in the US

President Donald Trump’s administration imposed tariffs on many imports into the U.S., and the nations impacted by those tariffs have retaliated with tariffs of their own, driving up costs on both sides of the table. The U.S. imposed tariffs on approximately $250 billion in goods imported from China, and…

NZ: Kiwifruit contractor to be penalised for exploitation of migrant workers

A well-known horticulture and viticulture contractor in the Hawke's Bay and Eastern Bay of Plenty areas is to be penalised for failing to pay four young female Singaporeans in…

China refusing US agricultural goods is opportunity for Turkey

China’s decision to halt purchases of US agricultural products in the latest salvo in a year-long trade war has potential for Turkish farmers to export products to the East Asian giant. On Monday, China announced it was suspending purchases of agricultural goods from the US and threatened more tariffs on…

Egypt and Japan hold talks to end ban on Egyptian citrus fruits

On Wednesday, the Head of the Egyptian Trade Representation Office in Tokyo, Hossam Negm, said that Egypt and Japan are holding talks to lift a Japanese ban on Egyptian citrus…

California grape acreage is changing

Although the Golden State still dominates table grape production, the acreage is down due to residential development and growers turning to higher-margin crops. For those who…

UK food products which may be affected by no-deal Brexit

A no-deal Brexit could result in a shortage of perishable goods and hard-to-grow products on British shelves. The UK food industry said the main impact of such a departure…

Undersecretary Jesús Seade:

“Tomato inspections prevent new accord between Mexico and US”

According to a top Mexican official, a US demand to inspect all imported tomatoes is preventing producers from the Latin American nation and its northern neighbor from…

Major refurbishments on the cards for Joburg market

The Joburg Fresh Produce Market will soon receive a major facelift. This follows the approval of a mid-term expenditure framework allocation of R300 million for the recapitalisation of mission-critical infrastructure that support the Market’s core business. The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for…

Chinese withdrawal from US agriculture is blow to struggling sector

Agriculture has been a weapon of choice in the escalating trade war between the world’s two largest economies. With China officially pulling out of buying US agricultural products, American farmers are losing one of their biggest customers. It could be a devastating blow in an already tough year for…

Philippines: Hopes for more vegetable trade in Benguet trading center

Benguet remains the top producer of temperate vegetables in the country, with P200 million (€3.42 mln) worth of vegetables already being sold at the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) since 2015. Violeta Salda, BAPTC chief of operations, said the facility serves as center of trading, inter-trading…

Major fresh produce employers commit to sustainable and ethical practices

With the release this week of data which shows Australian Fresh Produce Alliance members employ in excess of 22,000 people across more than 100 different production locations, the Alliance has committed to working with retailers, suppliers, government and their grower networks to ensure that industry…

Agriculture can save South Africa from its unemployment crisis

Agri SA is concerned about the rising unemployment rate and wishes to remind the government that investor confidence, especially in agriculture, is imperative to get job…

US labels China as “currency manipulator”

Devaluation Chinese yuan will hurt US farmers

This Monday, the American stock markets experienced the worst day of the year. In response to the US decision to extend import tariffs to more Chinese products on September 1, China announced a reduction in the value of the yuan. Is there a currency war threatening now that China is throwing its own…

2014-2019 - Five years of food embargo

Results and growth strategies for Russia's agriculture

In August 2014, Russia slapped a slew of measures on the European Union, the US, Australia, Canada and Norway. It was a response to the EU’s and US’ sanctions, with the list…

Swedish krona at lowest level vs euro in about a decade

The Swedish krona has reached extreme lows against the dollar and euro, Some media are labelling it a "junk currency". Here's what that means for Sweden's international…

Kenya & Jamaica to open trade links

One of the results of president Uhuru Kenyatta's visit to Jamaica is the opening of windows for trade that was so far non-existent between the two countries. Kenya and Jamaica are now exploring opportunities in import-export market, investment, tourism, agriculture and financial services. This will be…

Russia bans Chinese fruit due to contaminated products

Russia will suspend imports of pome and stone fruits from China starting August 10 due to cases of contaminated products’ deliveries. A representative of the country’s veterinary and phytosanitary watchdog Rosselkhodnadzor told reporters on Wednesday the ban will be extended on plums, nectarines,…

United Kingdom and Central America sign a new agreement

Within the framework of the Brexit international scenario, on 18 July the Association Agreement between Central America and the United Kingdom (Aacru) was signed, a…

Jamaican government allocates $15 million to farmers for ongoing drought

The ministry of industry, commerce, agriculture, and fisherie s, through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), is spending $15 million to assist farmers…

Jamaican food service industry feels effects of drought

The effects of the shortage of ground provisions caused by the current drought are now being felt in the Jamaican food service industry. One restaurant chain has already…

China: No more purchases of US agricultural products

On August 5th, China said it would no longer buy US farm commodities, signalling another escalation in a more than year-long trade battle with the US. President Trump’s recent…

Thailand: Certification speeded up to keep the Chinese market

Thailand’s Department of Agriculture has paved the way for increasing the value of fruit exports to the Kingdom's biggest market, China, by meeting the standards set by that…

US farmers vs Mexican tomato growers

US-Mexico trade tensions continue to escalate

Currently, the United States and Mexico are on the brink of yet another trade war. This time US farmers are pitted against Mexican tomato growers and importers. The debate…

Vitacress launches pilot project with Uber Eats

Portuguese company Vitacress is launching a pilot project with Uber Eats; the aim of the partnership is to facilitate the healthy food choices with practical proposals that come directly from Odemira. Being where the consumer is, whether at home, at the beach or at the office. This is the main objective…

PACA violations: what you need to know

As a statute, the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) plays a key role in the produce industry: it enforces fair trade business practices and helps companies resolve business disputes. According to Travis M. Hubbs, violating the PACA statute, which falls under the United States Department of…

Zimbabwe: Power cuts cost the nation US$200 mln weekly

Captains of in dustry have warned that more companies will shut down within a month if government fails to come up with an urgent solution to the current massive power…

“Mr Johnson has an opportunity to develop a new agricultural policy that works for Britain"

The announcement of Boris Johnson being elected as leader of the Conservative Party has promoted plenty of reaction in the world of food and drink. Here's what leaders in the…

Canada: 435 insurance claims from Okanagan tree fruit growers so far

The rain damage this season to Okanagan fruit crops has been noticed by the Ministry of Agriculture of British Columbia. As of July 18, the Ministry of Agriculture production insurance offices have received approximately 435 insurance claims from tree fruit farmers in Kelowna and Oliver. The insurance…

Regarding certificates of origin:

Japan simplifies steps for lower farm exports tariffs

The trade ministry has begun simplified procedures for issuing certificates of origin for Japanese agricultural exports, making it easier for producers to apply for lower tariffs for goods heading to Japan's partners in economic partnership agreements.The move is expected to speed up exporting processes…

Scottish fears that Brexit will cause fields of rotting fruit and veg

A Tayside MSP has warned a re cent upturn in exports of Scottish soft fruit could collapse if an expected scarcity of workers becomes a reality. Graeme Dey, SNP representative…

Deputy President David Mabuza

South Africa: Release of state owned land to be prioritised

Deputy President David Mabuza says the release of government-owned land will be prioritised in a push to meet the objectives of accelerated land reform. He said this when he…

EPA will not ban chlorpyrifos

Last Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will not ban the use of chlorpyrifos, rejecting a request from environmental groups to prohibit the pesticide. The action came in…

UK and Central America sign continuity agreement

Yesterday, the UK government signed a trade and political continuity agreement with Central America. Trade between the UK and Central America was worth £1bn in 2018. The…

European Commission facilitates EU agricultural exports to Japan

Following the entry into force this year of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the EU has stepped up efforts to address agricultural market access interests…

Union negotiates improvements for workers at Dole Ecuador

Workers at Dole’s Megabanana plantation division in Babahoyo, Los Ríos, Ecuador will see better benefits and rights than other plantation workers in the country, thanks to a…

Up-and-coming Australian food businesses grow through Future Food program

Up-and-coming food and agriculture businesses from across South East Queensland are taking their next step through the Future Food Initiative. The FFI is an industry…

Mexican farmers block highways protesting financial aid cuts

Thousands of farmers erected blockades at 42 locations in 14 Mexican states today to demand that the government release additional funds to support the agricultural sector. Protests started just after 8:00am on roads in the states of México, Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Sinaloa, Morelos, Jalisco,…

South African water quality and quantity reaches crisis levels

According to a water specialist, the billions of litres of raw sewage flowing into the country’s rivers daily has reached crisis levels, and poses a threat to the country’s agricultural exports. Prof Anthony Turton is a water resource management specialist, who has stated that sewage is the real crisis…

Four steps to achieving successful demand forecasting

The Grocery Code Adjudicator states that suppliers to UK grocery retailers deserve to receive timely and accurate forecasts. Its Grocery Store Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP)…

Selling without fixed prices is a common illegal practice

Spanish organization UPA denounces illegal sale of thousands of tons of fruit

The Union of Small Agricultural Producers and Cattle Ranchers (UPA) has reported the imbalances that are again resurfacing in the summer fruit production and distribution chain. The agrarian association denounces that the Law of the food chain is not being respected in this sector. This rule requires the…

Quick temperature checks en route

The new Bluetooth loggers, model “B1” from Cydiance, can be quite useful when intermediate checks are needed in the fruit logistic routes. Cydiance B1 – Bluetooth temperature logger with USB PDF report "You may now use mobile phone to access to the temperature history, without stopping or even touching…

Moldovan apricots and cherries reach German market for the first time

A first batch of Moldovan apricots and cherries, delivered by Fani SRL and Farm Prod SRL, arrived in Germany on July 15. The fruit was imported by OGA / OGV NORDBADEN EG…

Florida governor DeSantis announces $100 mln in Irma recovery for citrus

In what governor Ron DeSantis Wednesday called “…great news for our citrus industry … showing our commitment to ensuring Florida growers make a full recovery,” the Florida…

Environmental activists:

"EPA greenlighted wider use of pesticide that could decimate pollinators"

Just day s after another federal agency suspended its periodical study of honey bee populations, the EPA greenlighted the wider use of a pesticide that environmental activists…

They propose imitating Peru's agricultural export model

Frutas de Argentina demands measures to increase exports

The leaders of the newly constituted fruit corporation, Frutas de Argentina, which brings together the chambers of producers and exporters of citrus fruits (Federcitrus), pears and apples (CAFI), cherries (CAPCI), and blueberries (ABC), have held a meeting with the Minister of Production, Dante Sica, to…

$10M funding injection to support the eradication of Qfly

Australian research into sterile insect technology has been strengthened through a $10 million collaborative project managed by Hort Innovation, with significant cash contributions by Western Sydney University (WSU) and the Government of South Australia. Funded under the Hort Frontiers strategic…

Russia – Korea: IPP Association integrating the agricultural sectors

The IPP Association is actively developing international business cooperation, giving priority to the expansion of cooperation between businessmen of the two countries. On…

The EU won't reconsider the negative impact of the Mercosur agreement on citrus fruits

The European Commissioner of Agriculture, Phil Hogan, has been harshly criticized by the Valencian Association of Agricultural Producers (AVA-Asaja) after saying on Monday…

Chinese Academy of Sciences help lift rural areas out of poverty

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have helped lift many rural areas out of poverty by supporting the local agricultural industry with advanced science and technology. By the end of June, the academy had provided scientific assistance in 68 poverty-stricken villages in areas including Huree…

Ukrainian agriculture ministry will compensate UAH 120 mln to farmers under horticulture program

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine intends to allocate UAH 119.8 million for reimbursement of expenses to 112 business entities under the program to support the development of viticulture, horticulture and hop production, the press service of the ministry has reported. The ministry's…

Spain: EU-Mercosur deal very “complex”

The process to ratify the EU-Mercosur trade pact will be “complex” due to the discontent of EU agricultural sector and the domestic politics of countries like France, Argentina and Brazil. This is the opinion of an expert from the Spanish think tank Elcano, Carlos Malamud, an expert on Latin America-EU…

Use of dimethoate to be banned in EU

The European Co mmission has adopted a measure on the non-renewal of approval of the active substance dimethoate. This compound is used as an insecticide, mainly against the…

Morocco - US FTA deal seeks to boost trade

On Tuesday, July 16, a joint committee for the follow up of the Morocco-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) convened in Rabat. Minister of Industry and Investment Moulay Hafid…

Agri SA welcomes Minister’s intention to work with organised agriculture

Agri SA is heartened by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza's budget speech delivered in Parliament today. President of Agri SA, Dan…

South Australian irrigators likely to gain 100 percent allocations

River Murray water allocations for South Australian irrigators have been increased: farmers are now likely to get almost their full entitlements. Allocations have been…

British Growers

Seasonal worker challenge: Finding solutions

British Growers’ C hief Executive Jack Ward has been in meetings with officials from the Home Office looking for practical solutions to the challenge of securing adequate…

NFO:

"No appetite for trade agreement with South America"

NFO reports that at the end of June negotiators from the European Unions and the four Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) came to a trade agreement. The countries produce a lot of agrarian products. NFO president Gerard van den Anker finds this decision hard to swallow. "We are…

Government combats rejection of Nigeria’s produce exports

On Monday, Nigeria’s federal government launched an initiative in Calabar to stem the rejection of agricultural products and produce in international markets. The News Agency…

Spain: UPA Extremadura calls for action if producer conditions do not improve

Ignacio Huertas, General Secretary of UPA-UCE, denounced yesterday the problems affecting Extremadura fruit producers, specifically the fall in prices and the lack of contracts with fruit and vegetable centres. Huertas accused Afruex of being responsible for the "stagnation" of the market because instead…

Mexico and the EU will adjust sanitary certifications to increase agro-exports

Given the commercial volume of horticultural-product exports between Mexico and the European Union, both parties are working on the adjustment of the sanitary and agricultural food quality certification schemes so that all the changes in the agreed commercial treaty generate an increase in exports. The…

Russia’s VAT on fruit and berries to be reduced to 10%

The Government of the Russian Federation will reduce the VAT on fruit down to 10%. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev tweeted that he had decided to reduce the VAT on fruit and…

Also lifts PACA reparation sanctions on Tennessee Produce Business

USDA restricts PACA violators in Florida, Hawaii and Texas from operating in produce industry

As part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the Department of…

The measure aims to reactivate regional productive economies

Argentina's government cuts tariffs on export of horticultural products

Argentina's government, via decree 464/2019, published in the Official Gazette, has lowered export duties from 4 to 3 pesos per dollar exported for 207 tariff positions of the regional economies. This decree annuls the additional withholding tax imposed last year and lowers it from 9.3% to 7%, according…

There still are no details on the dismantling of tariffs or reciprocal phytosanitary conditions

Uncertainty about basic aspects of the Mercosur-EU agreement

In the framework of a meeting organized by the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), representatives of the Subdirectorate General for Trade Policy of the EU Ministry of Industry spoke about the most relevant aspects of the political agreement reached between the European Commission and…

Advice from industry veteran: “Don’t listen to the naysayers.”

When you make the jump from the fashion industry into produce, it’s a heck of a leap. “I kind of fell into it by accident,” says Jeannie Smith of E Foods in Altamonte Springs, Fl. While she had a four-year degree in marketing and fashion merchandising and was working in the fashion industry, a…

Spain's spinach production threatened by ban on the use of lenacil

The ban on the use of the herbicide lenacil in spinach cultivation and the need to look for alternatives and strategies to continue with the crop's production and supply has brought together 25 producers of spinach from different parts of Spain, several operators of the productive chain and a…

Cranberry growers vote to continue federal marketing order

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that cranberry growers recently voted to continue their federal marketing order program for Cranberries Grown in…

Government of Canada supports innovation in British Columbia's berry industry

Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Jati Sidhu, Member of Parliament, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon visited the Berry Haven Farm, where they…

USDA Files Action Against Coram Deo Farms Inc. in Arizona for Alleged PACA Violations

As part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the U.S. Department of…

Bulgaria to enforce stricter controls on traceability of fruit and veg imports

Bulgaria is planning to create a register of fruit and vegetable traders and will track the importers' goods from the border to the counter. It will be checked whether the…

Spain: Lack of laborers takes a toll on marketing of Aragonese fruit

The lack of agricultural labor is taking a negative toll on the harvest of Aragonese fruit. Consequently, there is fruit that is being harvested a few days after the optimum moment, which reduces the marketing options, forcing the entrepreneur to sell it in domestic or nearby markets, as reported by UAGA…

Ecuador and Chile negotiate an FTA

Ecuador and Chile are taking the first steps to negotiate an FTA to replace the current Economic Complementation Agreement (ACE) with the objective of increasing bilateral exchange and diversifying the exportable supply, giving the negotiations a clearer, more modern and transparent legal framework. Last…

USDA restricts PACA violators in four states from operating in produce industry

As part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the U.S. Department of…

Afruex estimates increase of production costs at 25%

Fruit growers in Spanish region of Extremadura uproot their trees due to higher minimum wage

The Association of Fruit Growers of Extremadura (Afruex) explained in a press release that the impact of the higher wage costs has started becoming visible in the region's fruit farms. In fact, some growers have started to uproot their trees because they claim to be unable to cope with the rise of the…

China's Deputy Minister of Agriculture, FAO's new Director-General

The Chinese candidate and Vice Minister of Agriculture, Qu Dongyu, beat the candidates from France and Georgia in the election to head the UN Food and Agriculture Organization…

Strategic cooperation agreement between Chile and China

Chile's Association of Fruit Exporters AG (ASOEX) has signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Sichuan Pingchang Haiyue Agriculture Co. Ltd, an entity committed to…

EU set to sign trade and investment agreements with Vietnam

The Council of Ministers approved the EU-Vietnam trade and investment agreements, paving the way for their signature and conclusion. EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia…

UK: Public do not back imports of sub-standard food, new survey reveals

As new figures show that 86% of the public believe future trade deals must ensure imported food is produced to the same standards as in the UK, the NFU is today asking why the…

PMA A-NZ launches The Fresh Produce Industry: State of the Industry Report 2019

Darren Keating, CEO of the Produce Marketing Association Australia-New Zealand (PMA A-NZ), launched the Fresh Produce Industry: State of the Industry Report at Hort…

Spain: Good garlic season expected

The Albacete garlic season is expected to be good this season. The province has 9,500 hectares under cultivation this year, leading Spanish garlic production with an estimated…

USDA files action against PACA violators in North Carolina and California

As part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the U.S. Department of…

Grocery store display contests run throughout the summer

London asparagus display chosen by Ontario consumers

Ontarians have chosen the winner of the best grocery store asparagus display in the second Consumers' Choice Contest of the season. The award goes to Food Basics #681 in London for building the most creative display of Ontario asparagus. "Congratulations to Food Basics #681 in London for showcasing…

USDA files action against Wayne Bailey in North Carolina

As part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the U.S. Department of…

Italy has lost €112 million worth of exports since start of the Russian ban

In 2013, Russian imports of Italian produce grew by 124% compared to 2009, but the Russian ban put at end to it all. The Ismea analysis performed using COMTRADE (db ITC) data is clear: the economic loss for Italian produce exports after the start of the Russian ban is of €217 million. Fresh fruit alone…

COAG asks Brussels for stricter border controls

Spain on alert due to growing import of pests from third countries

The Coordinator of Organizations of Agricultural Producers and Cattle Ranchers (COAG) has taken advantage of its participation in the Tomato Experts Group of the EU, held in Brussels, to warn about the unstoppable increase in the "import of pests from third countries" and the deficient control of…

U.S. agricultural trade balance projected to fall to $8.0 billion in fiscal 2019

U.S. agricultural exports are projected to total $137.0 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2019 (October 2018–September 2019), while agricultural imports are expected to total $129.0 billion, according to ERS’s latest Outlook for U.S. Agricultural trade. The $8.0 billion surplus projected for FY 2019 is the…

Scottish fruit farm named as third Strategic SmartHort Centre

A Scottish fruit grower will work with AHDB to highlight how horticultural growers can increase efficiency and reduce their reliance on labour. Blairgowrie-based grower Thomas…

One-time tractor accident inspires award-winning NZ business concept

An unfortunate accident on a Nelson kiwifruit orchard has led to a business idea: We’re talking about PICMI, a software platform which helps manage labour issues in the horticulture industry. It has now won accolades for its innovation. The idea is the brainchild of Nelson woman Genevieve Griffin-George…

Goulburn Murray Valley hosts 7th Australian Biology of Tephritid Fruit Flies Conference

‘Blue sky research’ merges with practical solutions to combat fruit fly at national conference

The Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Project recently hosted the 7th Australian Biology of Tehpritid Fruit Flies Conference which brought together key research, findings and emerging opportunities in the management and control of the pest. The two day conference was held in Shepparton, Victoria the pome…

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