China and Argentine strengthen cooperation in agricultural development

The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, carried out a state visit to Argentina on December 2nd. Xi met the Argentinian president Mauricio Macri for a talk in Buenos Aires. The two…

Fyffes denies allegations of abuse at Honduran plantation

This Thursday, The Times Ireland reported that the Dublin-headquartered fruit company strongly rejected allegations of abuse at its Honduran melon plantation, saying the safety of its workers is a “core value”. The paper reported that Fyffes had its fair-trade certification suspended after allegations that workers had…

Reactions are mixed

Egypt raises customs' duties

The Egyptian Ministry of Finance has raised the customs dollar exchange rate [used to calculate customs duties on imports] for non-essential and luxury goods, tying it to the Central Bank of Egypt’s dollar…

Belgian and Dutch importers affected by 'Yellow Vest' protests

Three weeks ago, the protests of the 'yellow vests' started in France as a protest against the rise of fuel taxes. Currently, the protests are on hold, as the tax increase has not been added to the 2019 budget. Last week, a protest by Belgian activists also started spontaneously in Brussels. The…

UK government to ration ferry space under no-deal Brexit

UK prime minister May’s cabinet is drawing up plans to ration space on ferries carrying vital supplies to Britain, amidst preparations for a no-deal Brexit that could leave…

USDA announces 2019 trade missions to expand export opportunities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will sponsor seven trade missions in 2019 to expand export opportunities for U.S. agriculture across the globe, Under Secretary for…

20,000 Moroccan temporary laborers will harvest Spanish strawberries in 2019

Next year, the Moroccan government plans to send 20,000 seasonal laborers to Spain to harvest strawberries and other red fruits, as announced by the Minister of Employment, Mohamed Yatim, after meeting with the National Employment Agency (ANAPEC), responsible for the selection of candidates. The institution published a…

It could impact the fresh fruit sector

Chile: US retail begins to demand blockchain technology

On September 24 of this year, Walmart's suppliers of green vegetables received a letter stating that, starting that month, Walmart would require they have a traceability system that would allow tracing their product (lots of products) to the garden in seconds and not days. To do this, they added,…

China confident it can clinch US trade pact

This Wednesday, China expressed confidence it could reach a trade deal with the United States, despite fresh warnings from president Trump that he would revert to more tariffs…

Panasonic designs blinders for office workers

Tired of always getting distracted in those noisy open office environments? Panasonic has come up with the perfect solution. Wear Space is designed with both blinders against visual distractions and noise-cancelling headphones to block out those pesky chatting co-workers. Although seeing row after row of workers wearing…

Korea could purchase more agricultural products from Argentina

President Mauricio Macri held a bilateral meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in, at the Olivos Presidential Residence, where they discussed the possibility of…

The economy suffers from the ‘yellow vests’ protests

Since the beginning of the ‘yellow vests’ movement, many people are being penalized by the actions of the protesters. For more than two weeks, retailers have been experiencing…

Ghana Plant Department warns vegetable & fruit exporters: 'No association, no exports'

From January 2019 onward, all vegetable and fruit exporters will be required to register to an association before being allowed to export produce from the country, says…

USDA announces $3.7m in financial assistance to fruit and vegetable growers in 16 States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it will provide $3.7 million of assistance to fruit and vegetable growers in 16 states through a GAP Assistance…

Market explorations during ICOP 2018

During the last ICOP 2018 the market was explored by the producer organizations. "We operate in a supply and not in a demand market," said moderator Andrade Goncalo, president of Portugal Fresh. The market and trends were discussed by Cindy van Rijswick of Rabobank and Wilco van den Berg of the…

Extenda

Spain: In order to reach certain markets, you have to keep an eye on the competition

Almeria is often called the orchard of Europe, since 80% of the production of this Spanish province is exported to EU countries. Nevertheless, Extenda, the Andalusian Foreign…

Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK)

Kenyan supermarket owners now face jail for failure to pay suppliers

In Kenya, a special governmental unit has been set up to oversee the retail industry. Owners of supermarkets and other retail outlets that do not pay suppliers on time will…

Bulgarian producers receiving state help to certify their crops

At an event organized by Lidl Bulgaria on the occasion of the eighth anniversary of the chain's presence in the country, the Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture, food and…

South Africa: Agri-parks, a saving grace for black land reform farmers

The Gauteng Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has rolled-out the Agri-park programme, an incubator for smallholder farmers in the Gauteng region, trying…

South Africa:

MEC Beverley Schafer welcomes water allocations for agricultural, domestic and industry use

Minister of Economic Opportunities Beverley Schafer welcomes the new water allocations for agricultural, domestic and industry use. The allocations, done in November every…

Implementation of several measures for Moroccan seasonal workers in Spain

Following numerous harassment problems against female Moroccan seasonal workers last year, Morocco and Spain have just committed to working together to improve their working…

Wholesale market Düsseldorf:

After the decision of the court, it is now the city's move

The management of Großmarkt Düsseldorf Zwei.Null GbR , supported by the mandate of a majority of marketers, expects the city administration's aid to, in the foreseeable future, come up with a legally secure construction to restructure the wholesale market and to make it sustainable. The Administrative Court of Dusseldorf has stopped…

NZ government: National standard for organics

A national standard for organic production will be progressed as a Government bill next year, Agriculture and Food Safety Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “A national standard gives…

Copa and Cogeca make statement on Brexit process

On November 25th, the endorsement by the European Council of the Withdrawal Agreement is a new step forward an orderly Brexit, further minimising the prospect of a 'no-deal’…

Agri Western Cape relieved that water restrictions have been lifted

Agri Western Cape is relieved that agriculture’s water restrictions have been lifted to 10%. This will help the sector a great deal with recovering from damages caused by the…

German Bundeskartellamt to investigate Amazon dominance

The Bundeskartellamt , whose task it is to ensure fair and open competition, will examine how Amazon operates in Germany. The main concern is that Amazon is an online retailer itself, but it also has opened its German marketplace for external vendors. The question is whether Amazon is abusing its market…

Agrupost loses lawsuit against Sanifruit once again

Last July, the ruling on the case against Sanicitrus S.L., better known as Sanifruit, was brought to light in a lawsuit filed by Agrupost for "misleading advertising and…

USDA invests in innovative management of California water supply

US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing more than $449 million to help build an innovative water management system that will increase the reliability of the California water supply and create more than 560 jobs in the Sacramento Valley.…

South Africa: Treasury loses out on more than R1 billion in VAT through drought

The South African government has lost out on more than R1bn (€63.6 mln) in VAT from drought-stricken farmers who were forced to cut production after their irrigation water…

Zimbabwe does not have capacity to compensate displaced white farmers

According to Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, the Zimbabwean government is engaging international financial institutions and other stakeholders, hoping to mobilise resources to…

'Agriculture’s licence to operate'

APAL wants to protect workers in Australia

Apple and Pear Australia Ltd (APAL) has categorically condemned the mistreatment of agricultural workers and denounced unscrupulous operators who damage the ‘clean, green’…

Brexit could give SA-UK trade agreement more scope

Nigel Casey, the British High Commissioner to South Africa, has reassured that his people are working hard to ensure there is no disruption in trade between Southern Africa…

Trans-Tasman biosecurity alliance

Led by Australia’s Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative (PBRI) and New Zealand’s Better Border Biosecurity (B3NZ) and cemented by a Memorandum of Understanding between Australia and New Zealand, a new joint initiative will focus on biosecurity Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) efforts at…

EU trademarks & IP rights will still apply in UK under Brexit Deal

Under the pending Brexit deal between the two sides, EU trademark and design rights holders will keep their intellectual property protections in the UK. Trademarks, community designs, and…

Pilot with Kenyan avocado supplier

Eosta takes the lead on living wages

Eosta, an importer and distributor of organic fruits and vegetables, is one of the first agricultural trading company to conduct a living wage research pilot in close…

Combined market share of Lidl and Aldi reaches all-time high

The U.K. is one of the most sophisticated grocery retail markets in the world. Hence, it is particularly noteworthy that the combined market share of Aldi and Lidl reached an all-time high in the 12 weeks to November 4, 2018, according to Kantar Worldpanel. Aldi’s sales increased by 15.5% compared to the same period a year…

Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market

Setbacks for market in South Africa

The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) does not have the R1.2 billion (€76.6 mln) needed to complete the Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market. The agency has…

Spain: The threats of post-Brexit for the agro-food sector

In addition to market instability and political and economic uncertainty, Brexit entails some risks for the agro-food sector, depending on the "clauses" of the divorce and the…

China: Cross-border online trade still monitored on a personal basis in 2019

An executive meeting of the State Council on November 21st decided to continue the current policy of monitoring cross-border online trade. This policy was first implemented on…

Chile and Brazil sign free trade agreement

Chile and Brazil have signed a free trade agreement that scraps red tape and tariffs between the two South American economies. Brazil President Michel Temer traveled to…

Meanwhile, UK markets worry about future

Finance Minister Olaf Scholz says Germany is ready for all kinds of Brexits

Britain and the European Union are frantically trying to agree on how to avoid a chaotic breakup in March. Germany's finance minister has said Berlin is prepared for the worst possible outcome. Germany is certainly prepared for a chaotic British exit from the EU. Britain and the remaining 27 European Union countries are…

Japan in dire need of foreign farm workers

With the Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform, announced in June 2018, the cabinet of PM Abe Shinzō unveiled plans to admit lower-skilled foreign workers…

Sino-Philippine joint declaration: Expansion of tropical fruit exports

A "Joint Declaration by China and the Philippines" was announced on November 21st. The declaration states that in the field of trade China will accelerate the approval of…

Government and Agri partner for innovation:

New paperless system saves South Africa’s fruit export sector R250m

After a successful pilot and implementation by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), the roll out of a new e-Certification IT platform to the fruit…

Citrus Management Committee

Spain: Proposal for "pickers" agreement to affect competitiveness of citrus sector

The Citrus Management Committee (CGC) and Cooperatives Agroalimentàries de la Comunitat Valenciana, the two associations that have been negotiating the renewal of the "pickers" agreement with the class unions (UGT-PV and CCOO-PV) for some weeks, have warned that the proposals as regards salaries and…

Half of surveyed businesses breaching workplace laws

Australian Fair Work report: Widespread non-compliance in horticulture sector

In Australia, a Fair Work Ombudsman inquiry into workplaces was done along the nation’s Harvest Trail. Unfortunately it has found widespread non-compliance, with inspectors recovering more than $1 million in unpaid wages for over 2,500 workers. The damning report reveals that during the inquiry, FWO took court action…

Australian berry growers welcome Federal Government support for fresh produce

The peak industry body representing Australia’s fastest growing fresh produce sector – berries – has welcomed the federal government’s confirmation of a $650,000 assistance…

US closes busiest Mexico border crossing to install security barriers

The United States closed off northbound traffic for several hours at the busiest border crossing with Mexico to install new security barriers on Monday, a day after hundreds of Tijuana residents protested against the presence of thousands of Central American migrants. The U.S. also closed one of two pedestrian crossings at…

South African market: Tshwane fresh produce market rakes in billions annually

The Tshwane fresh produce market was well on its way to meeting the R30 billion (€1.87 bln) turnover target set for 2025 by the metro’s former mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa. “The Tshwane fresh produce market is on the road to recovery boasting a turnover of approximately R3 billion (€186 mln) per annum,” the current mayor…

US: Leaders in Hawaii want to double food production by 2020

In the remote island state of Hawaii, despite a year-round growing season, just 15 percent of the food supply is grown locally. The rest will arrive on huge container ships, putting the state in peril every time there's a hurricane or shipping strike. As recent as 2012, a California port strike led to…

USDA lifts PACA reparation sanctions on California produce business

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that Amon Foods Inc. satisfied a reparation order issued under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). The Hayward, Calif.,…

Moroccan & Spanish delegations:

Preparing to recruit Moroccan seasonal workers for Huelva

A Moroccan delegation from the Ministry of Labor and one from the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills conducted a two-day visit this week to Huelva, where Moroccan seasonal workers work on farms over the harvest seasons. The delegations aimed to prepare for the next campaign to recruit…

UK: Big chains raise prices at their smaller branches

According to a BBC investigation, shoppers are being charged more for buying from big-chain convenience stores. In one case, a trolley of groceries cost almost £10 more in a…

Gabriel Villaseñor, President of APEAM:

"We have reached an agreement to end the strike, producers will accept market prices"

The 17-day strike that threatened the supply of Mexican avocados in the United States seems to have come to an end. This is thanks to an agreement reached between producers…

Philippine Chamber of Commerce seeks support for agriculture

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is reiterating its call for industry stakeholders to beef up the country’s agricultural sector as popular products like fruits…

Commissioner Black testifies to International Trade Commission on NAFTA 2.0 concerns

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black traveled to Washington, DC last week to testify on behalf of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA)…

...and try to hold on to them longer

US farmers seek more temporary H-2A workers

When US farmers are unable to find the labor they need, the federal ‘H2A visa program’ allows them to bring in workers from foreign countries. The visas are costly and the process is time-consuming, yet the number of visas granted continues to climb. For more than 100 years and five generations, Bruce Talbott’s family has…

EU ministers back 'fair' Brexit deal with UK

In a momentous moment of unity in Brussels, the 27 national European Union ministers backed the draft of the terms of Britain's exit from the bloc. At least that is what the…

Australian Pacific Labour Scheme expansion welcomed by farmers

Australia’s federal government is extending the scope of the Pacific Labour Scheme, aiming to strengthen that nation’s ties with Pacific Island nations. Australia has recently announced a…

APHIS issues final environmental impact statement for National Fruit Fly Cooperative Control Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) completed the final environmental impact analysis required under the National…

Gert Mulder (GroentenFruit Huis) about the upcoming Brexit:

"Prepare for the worst, hope for the best"

That the Brexit is looming - in whatever form – is certain. The big question now is whether a transition period will come first. "My feeling is that it will come," says…

Canadian grocers & innovators want to save $31 billion in food from being dumped each year

Last week, Vancouver hosted the Zero Waste Conference, where the focus in part was on reducing food waste. About 40 per cent of all food produced in Canada, totalling some $31 billion goes to waste. More than half of that occurs before it gets to the dinner table, when it's discarded by farmers, food…

Opposition questions government relationship with Cavendish Farms

The Canadian Progressive Conservatives are questioning the province of Prince Edward Island's relationship with Robert Irving and Cavendish Farms, after the company requested…

Laurens Maartens, NBWM:

Brexit: May falters and the pound takes a hit

On Wednesday, a Brexit accord still seemed within easy reach. Yesterday, there appeared to be an increased chance that Great Britain could soon exit the European Union (EU)…

Relationship between MPI and US facility now heading in the right direction

The nursery and fruit-growing companies at the heart of the legal action against MPI over seized apple and stonefruit plants and plant material have been working hard to…

European Union decides on binding CO2 reduction targets for trucks

The EU Parliament has voted in favour of binding CO2 limits for trucks. CO2 reduction targets are now binding for trucks, with a 20% reduction by 2025 and 35% by 2030. Earlier this year,…

South Africa:

Committee gives green light for Constitutional amendment on land reform

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday, dismissed accusations by opposition parties that the process which led to the adoption of a draft report by members of…

Agri SA releases video:

Agri SA blasts recommendation to amend Constitution

Agri SA will today roll out the next phase of its tactical plan against expropriation without compensation (EWC). The recommendation of the Constitutional Review Committee on…

Tulare County, California

US: Psyllid infestation found near Visalia

In a section northwest of Visalia this past week, a large population of Asian citrus psyllids and nymphs was found. Tulare County and California officials immediately started…

British cabinet agrees on interim Brexit deal

After a meeting that lasted for many hours, the British cabinet has come out in support of the provisional Brexit agreement. It was presented to them by the British Prime…

European Commission makes €191 million available to promote agri-food products

The 2019 programmes for the promotion of EU agri-food products will focus primarily on markets outside the EU with the highest potential for growth. The European Commission adopted the 2019…

Tehran denies claims of Iran-UAE trade problems

Iranian sources rule out rumors of a ban on exports from UAE to Iran. Supposedly, these were caused by US pressure. "There is no prohibition, restriction or commodity separation between Iran…

Minister for Agriculture pays visit to new La Linea Verde facility in Serbia

The Serb Minister for Agriculture Branislav Nedimović, together with the Head of the Economic Office of the Italian Embassy in Belgrade Matthias Claivaz, paid a visit to the new Serb production site of Italian group La Linea Verde, a leader in the ready-to-eat fresh produce and dish market. The…

Mexico: "We have to diversify agricultural food trade with Asia"

Hector Padilla Gutierrez, the former president of the Mexican Association of Secretaries of Agricultural Development, spoke about the importance of diversifying Mexico's…

British cabinet meeting today after reaching preliminary agreement

Brexit deal: Brits could remain in the customs union for longer

British and European negotiators have reached an agreement over Brexit. A cabinet meeting is planned for today at 14:00 GMT. Here, the British Prime Minister, Theresa May,…

USDA cites Frutera Del Litoral USA LLC in Florida for PACA violations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Frutera Del Litoral USA LLC, operating out of Miami, Fla., for failure to pay for produce. The company failed to pay $698,992 to five…

Zimbabwe: Zim-China Wanjin Agriculture Company targets increased value addition

The target of Anhui State Farms of China, being set up by the Zim-China Wanjin Agriculture Company in partnership with the Zimbabwean government, is to establish a hub for value addition to agricultural produce. Once operational, the industrial zone is expected to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills from…

European Food Safety Authority

EFSA expands simplified food safety management system

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has expanded coverage of a “simpler” food safety management approach to help small retailers and food donations. The approach uses flow diagrams to…

Chile Week in China

Fedefruta visits the Chinese markets that receive Chilean fruit

The President and Vice President of Fedefruta, Jorge Valenzuela and Carolina Dosal, said that participating in Chile Week in China had been an excellent opportunity to learn about the impressive economic dynamics in which the Chilean fruit moves in the Asian giant. The representatives of Fedefruta were part of the public-private delegation…

Sudan and Egypt mending frayed relationship

Sudan’s vice president, Maj. Gen. Abdul Rahman al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, expects an increase in the trade exchange volumes between Egypt and Sudan. “Sudan is Egypt’s gateway to…

Contraband from Poland via Belarus stopped

Belarusian financial authorities have stopped the supply of banned goods to Russia, which for two years had been handled by a group of Russians and Ukrainians, reports the…

China declares openness to Polish imports, including fruit and veg

"China has confirmed that it is now more open to imports, I talked about expanding our export range with many products, including fruit and vegetables," said the Polish…

Egypt allowed to export dates to China in January 2019

The Egyptian companies that participated in the first China International Import Expo, especially in the field of agricultural crops and food industries, succeeded in expanding new opportunities for export to the Chinese market through successful new partners, said Mohsin El Beltagy, head of the…

Italy and Brexit drag European currencies down, US Dollar at a 1,5 year high

The U.S. dollar took flight on Monday, hitting its highest level in about 1 ½-years, as political uncertainties in Europe— Italy’s budget dilemma and Brexit—drove the British…

Kenya: Horticulture earnings hit Sh104bn in eight months

Horticulture export earnings rose by a third to hit Sh104 billion in the first eight months of 2018 compared to Sh78.2 billion earned during a similar period last year. Much…

Michael Every of Rabobank:

'New Zealand could be forced to pick a side between US and China'

The US-China trade conflict is developing into a ‘cold’ war for global economic supremacy and could result in New Zealand being forced to pick a side between the two global…

Macron: "Euro is not a clear alternative to US Dollar"

French President Emmanuel Macron said that the euro is not “a clear alternative” to the dollar thanks to the U.S. currency’s international “strengths.” “Until now, we fail to make the…

South Africa: Citrus farmers complain about lack of water licenses

Citrus farmers in Limpopo have complained that a lack of water licences is a paramount problem hampering food production. The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Gugile Nkwinti, has vowed to establish schedule 3 institutions to accelerate the issuing of water use licenses. The matter was one of the most critical outcomes of…

China signs agreements opening access to Kenyan exports

China signed accords with Kenya that will allow access for farm produce from the East African nation, a presidential aide said. “After a week of delicate negotiations, formal sanitary and phytosanitary agreements have been signed between Kenya and China for Kenya’s agricultural produce to enter the Chinese market,” the…

Moldova: New standard labeling and sorting system for fruit and veg

Fresh fruits and vegetables sold in Moldovan markets and stores will be sorted according to varieties and sizes, and they will be given labels. The National Agency for Food…

Moldova exporting apples to Saudi Arabia for the first time

The Republic of Moldova is exporting apples for the first time to Saudi Arabia. The first 18 tons were expected to reach their destination last week. The exporters are six…

Creating more space for growth of import

China will further reduce custom tariffs

China will further reduce custom tariffs and loosen restrictions on market access to create more space for growth in the import industry. Chinese president Xi Jinping expects…

AliBaba announces 200 billion USD worth of US import in next 5 years

AliBaba Group (NYSE: BABA) announced their economic figures in a press conference during the first China International Import Exposition in Shanhai on November 6th. The…

Hopes for allowing fruit and vegetable exports

Moldova wants to re-establish ties with Russia

This Thursday, a Moldovan diplomatic mission will arrive in Moscow for the first inter-ministerial talks since April 2017. At that time, Moldova froze its relationship with…

Vietnam: In search of Israel’s hi-tech farming assistance

Hanoi wants Israeli firms who always pioneer in applying science and technology in agricultural production to cooperate with and support the city in hi-tech farming. This was said by Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Doan Toan at the November 7 conference attended by officials of the…

Fepex proposes contingency plan in case of no deal Brexit

The Secretary of State for Commerce and ICEX, together with the Chamber of Commerce of Spain and the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), organized the…

A Panamanian fruit export company makes its way in China

A Panamanian company signed a memorandum of understanding with one of the largest fruit importers in China and is making its way into the Asian market, stated the Ministry of Agricultural Development of Panama. The Panamanian company Simply Natural Harvest, signed an agreement with a Chinese importer on the second…

Australia: Hell's Gates Dam and Hughenden Irrigation Scheme funding commitment

Now that Prime Minister Scott Morrison has committed $54 million to the project, the first stage of the Hell’s Gate Dam in North Queensland will go ahead. Morrison was in…

Nigel Jenney - FPC

"We are extremely concerned about the lack of certainty, the lack of assurances that the UK government has provided"

The Brexit deadline is looming ever closer and the uncertainty is building. Do we have a deal? Don’t we have a deal? Considering that the UK imports 2/3rd of its fresh produce, what can importers do to prepare themselves and be sure of keeping fruit and vegetables on the shelves come March next year? “There is material…

Three flies detected in Long Beach

Mexican fruit fly quarantine in section of Los Angeles County

A portion of Los Angeles County, including the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, has been placed under quarantine for the Mexican fruit fly following the detection of three…

Thailand reaches out to Jack Ma

Thailand has beefed up its cooperation with Alibaba co-founder and chairman Jack Ma to help promote the country’s tourism online in the hope of luring more Chinese to take trips to Thailand, while…

EC asks Romania to give up split VAT payment system

The European Commission (EC) decided on Thursday, November 8, to send a letter of formal notice to Romania for applying a split payment mechanism for VAT. Romania has been using this alternative…

Colombia imposes trade restrictions on Belgian French fries.

Belgium is crying foul after Colombia imposed trade restrictions on the country's French fries. Didier Reynders, Belgium’s minister for foreign affairs, asked his European Union peers to…

USDA announces results of the South Texas Onion Marketing Order Referendum

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that onion growers in South Texas have voted to amend their federal marketing order. The committee is made up of 10 producer members…

Japanese markets open to Egyptian vegetables

Agriculture and Land Reclamation Minister Ezz Eldin Abu Steit said that the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine succeeded in opening Japanese markets for the Egyptian…

Panama's president praises CIIE, China's open market for boosting business

Panama has more to offer the world than its famous canal, financial services and hats, with President Juan Carlos Varela highlighting the importance of ties with Beijing…

Zimbabwean government to cut farm sizes and flush out multiple owners

Former president Robert Mugabe reportedly owns at least 21 farms, which is against the government’s one-person, one-farm policy. Zimbabwe’s government has started a land audit…

Michel Marchetto (Alpex) on taxes imposed by the Algerian government:

Will the new taxes curb exports to Algeria?

Algeria has lifted the import ban on many fresh fruits and vegetables. According to Michel Marchetto, exporter to Algeria, "a battery of measures that prevented us from exporting have been removed, but very high taxes have been implemented instead. It will either curb exports to Algeria, or encourage the…

UK Prime Minister May introduces Brexit 'business councils'

UK Prime Minster Theresa May has formed five new business councils to advise on how to create the best business conditions after Brexit. Big names on the forums include Tesco…

South Africa: Tshwane Fresh Produce Market to be cleaned up

The City of Tshwane has appointed a service provider to deep cleanse the Fresh Produce Market where years of filth and grime have become a health hazard. Earlier sources…

UK - Agricultural seasonal workers pilot scheme

Agriculture is very important to the British economy, and fruit and vegetable production plays an important role in this. Soft fruit production in the UK has increased by 130% in the last 20 years. The fruit and vegetable sector relies heavily on seasonal labour during peak production periods, and much…

‘Australian visa change will see backpackers employed over Pacific workers’

Researchers from the Australian National University are warning the Morrison government that the visa changes which will allow backpackers to work on farms for up to three years, will stunt the growth of a separate scheme to bring in Pacific island workers. The Pacific program is designed to offer employment opportunities to…

Strengthening relationship despite US sanctions on Tehran.

Iran & South Korea agree cross-currency trade

South Korea and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to switch to national currencies in trade exchanges. This is being done with the aim to strengthen relations, despite US sanctions against Tehran. The agreement is of great importance to both countries, as these steps indicate that South Korea is concerned about…

Uzbekistan and Belarus cement bilateral cooperation

Prime Minister Sergei Rumas of Belarus and his Uzbekistan counterpart Abdulla Aripov on November 2nd signed the road map for the development of bilateral cooperation. The road map includes…

Russia to check Belarusian mushrooms intended for export to this market

From November 1 to November 30, Rosselkhoznadzor specialists will visit the Republic of Belarus to conduct a pre-shipment monitoring of the mushrooms planned to be supplied to…

PYXERA Global - YieldWise project

Nigerian farmers to benefit from tomato preservation initiative

Last October, in the state of Kano, Nigeria, NGO PYXERA Global brought 250 individuals together from diverse backgrounds to discuss how parties might better work together to reduce post-harvest losses (PHL) in the tomato value chain in northern Nigeria. The objective was to foster collaboration between stakeholders from…

After snow fall damages in Kashmir

Indian civil movement demands compensation for apple growers

Spokespeople for the Jammu & Kashmir ‘Right to Information Act’ movement have appealed to the state government to effectively compensate farmers affected by the recent,…

USDA restricts PACA violators in FL, NJ, NY and WA from operating in the produce industry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on four produce businesses for failure to pay reparation awards issued under the Perishable Agricultural…

Kenya: Del Monte does not show up for mediation

Pineapple producer Del Monte failed to show up yesterday for a land dispute mediation with Kenyan Murang’a residents. This further delays a protracted court battle. The National Land Commission…

UK: May's deal to fix Irish question regarding Brexit

More than 70 UK business leaders are calling for a public vote on the final terms of Britain's exit from the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May's office stated that a report, suggesting an all-UK customs…

Chile and China signed agreements to export fruit

With the aim of strengthening sanitary diplomacy and deepening bilateral agricultural and technological cooperation, the Minister of Agriculture, Antonio Walker, and the Chinese Minister of Customs, Ni Yuefeng, signed several agreements in Beijing, within the framework of the Chile Week 2018. They signed the protocol…

Up to 12,850 overseas seasonal workers welcome for 2018/19 season

New Zealand: Pacific seasonal worker cap increased

The NZ government has raised the number of overseas workers, mainly from Pacific nations, allowed into the country for seasonal work in the horticulture and viticulture industries. Under the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE), up to 12,850 overseas seasonal workers will be able to work in New…

South African water restrictions:

Government to announce water allocation before month’s end

Cape Town residents will have to wait several weeks longer to hear if local water restrictions are to be further relaxed. Farmers, waiting to know their irrigation water…

Position of peso remains precarious

Argentina to extend currency band in 2019

The Central Bank of Argentina will extend the use of a currency trading band into next year and will likely manage peso fluctuations less than at present. This would be a sign…

Warrington , Cheshire

UK: Aldi to donate leftover festive food on Christmas Eve

ALDI has announced its festive food donations scheme. The supermarket giant, which has four stores in Warrington, aims to redistribute all surplus fresh food from its stores to local charities on Christmas Eve. It is calling on charities and food banks in Warrington to register, so that they can receive…

Cairns, Australia

Level 1 Water Restrictions start November 3

Water restrictions will be introduced from 9 am on Saturday, November 3, 2018 in response to recent dry conditions that have led to a drop in water supply. Copperlode Falls Dam in the…

Japanese cooperatives travel to Spain to learn about fresh cut industry

On Wednesday, November 7, the National Federation of Japanese Agricultural Cooperatives (ZEN-NOH), formed by the most advanced agricultural cooperatives in the country, will visit Murcia to learn first-hand about the important developments of the fresh cut industry in Spain, which have mostly been driven…

Lebanese bananas regain access to Syria

The Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade of Syria has allowed the importation of bananas from Lebanon once again, after it was suspended last year. The Syrian government reported a week…

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