Rob Borley with AMS Export

“Sharp decline in produce trade from North America to Europe has changed our business”

Back in the 1990s, fresh produce exports from North America to Europe were significant, as the USA and Mexico together were able to supply produce…

North Carolina production helps keep blueberry volumes steady

Supplies of blueberries in North America are strong. “Georgia is past its peak, wrapping up highbush varieties in the next week or so,” says Tim Crane,…

Cold temperatures delay Michigan asparagus production by two weeks

Like many crops across the country, the Michigan asparagus crop is about two weeks late this season. “It’s because of the temperatures we had. Some…

Glue free paper packaging has made its way from Europe to North America

For three years, mustang paper trays have been used in Europe as packaging for fresh produce. Increasingly, the paper trays are making their way into…

Update:

Produce companies make Canada’s Best Managed Companies list

Several Canadian companies, including Mastronardi Produce, Red Sun Farms, Oppy, and Fresh Direct Produce have been included in the annual Canada’s Best…

Coalition calls for Canada to ban glyphosate use

A coalition of experts is calling on the federal government to ban the use of glyphosate in Canada. Glyphosate exposure can lead to pancreatitis, liver and…

P.E.I. seed potato growers worried that restrictions may end markets for good

P.E.I. seed potato growers are worried that the province’s seed potato sector could be a casualty of the 2021 stoppage of potato shipments to the U.S.,…

César Ortiz, CEO of Agrofesa:

“Our Mexican table grape growing costs have increased by 35% in last two years”

The start of Agrofesa’s 2023 Mexican table grape season is up to 7 days later than last year due to colder weather during blooming and flowering. César…

Potatoes USA announces New Chairman to lead through 2023-2024

Potatoes USA, the marketing and promotion Board for the potato industry, elected new leadership during its Annual Meeting on March 15, 2023. Mike…

Peruvian papaya exports fell by more than a half in the first quarter of 2023

In the first quarter of 2023, Peruvian papaya exports decreased by 64% in volume and 57% in value over the same period of the previous year, with shipments…

Organic Produce Summit 2023

Retail focused educational session announced

As inflation and rising costs have impacted organic sales over the past year, producers and retailers seek new ways to grow sales. The Shifting Organic…

Produce & Reduce pilot program introduced at three California agricultural facilities

Measure to Improve (MTI) and Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) partnered for the first time on a pilot program, bringing a new approach to building…

Study finds positive impact of industry board on watermelon demand

The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) has released the findings of a new study, conducted along with research partner Armada Corporate Intelligence,…

New seed corn procession options hit the market

ProEx Food® announces a new seed-specific model of its Intellipro™ Husker along with additional tools for seed corn processors. “We have received…

Citrus research funding update

During the recent Florida Citrus Growers’ Institute, Michael Rogers, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and…

U.S. citrus concerns summarized

Since 2000, total domestic production of oranges has dropped 80%

American Farm Bureau Federation economist Daniel Munch recently detailed concerns about the U.S. citrus industry in a report titled U.S. Citrus Production – An…

Michigan asparagus growers struggle with labor cost pressures

A Michigan asparagus grower says mandated wage increases by the Department of Labor are not sustainable and threaten the industry. Fourth-generation farmer…

Market and Crop Update for May 11, 2023

“Washington is basically shipping to their local and loyal customers now”

MARKETCalifornia:Mike Smythe with West Valley Packing told us on May 10, the weather has been cooler this week. “We are looking forward to the 100-degree…

Unitedpotatocanada.com

May 2023 holding reports

Total Canadian potato storage holdings May 1 are down 1.2% over 2022 numbers

Total Canadian Potato Storage Holdings on May 1, 2023 are down 1.2% over 2022 numbers for the same period, and higher than the 3-yr. average. There…

SATI 2022/23 season overview:

South Africa's past table grape season challenging due to unexpected weather patterns

The South African Table Grape Industry (Sati) together with the Fresh Produce Exporters' Forum (FPEF) reflected on the past 2022/2023 table grape…

EastFruit

Ranking fifth in South-East Asia’s total imports

Egypt leads in fresh strawberry exports to Malaysia

Egypt became the largest exporter of fresh strawberries to the Malaysian market in MY 2021/22 (July-June) and continued to increase shipments in the…

Technology platform to reach more than 125,000 Tanzanian farmers

iProcure, a data-driven African agricultural input supply company, announced its expansion into Tanzania through its partnership with the Farm to…

Wolfe Braude - Agbiz

South African fruit exports making progress in new markets

As a whole, agriculture comprises 11% of SA exports, despite being only 2,5% of GDP. The overall agri sector is export focused, exporting roughly half…

Joris Combe & Mathilde Paignat, Earth Market

“The challenge is to make consumers discover Magnum's unique taste”

Over the last 10 years, Magnum®, the flagship variety of Earth Market, has become a premium round strawberry in 31 European and American countries. "It…

“There is definitely an increase in kiwiberry consumption”

The kiwiberry is gaining popularity and consumers who try it usually come back for seconds, says Ricardo Machado, export manager of berries for…

“Current market is looking for smaller sized cherries”

The Turkish cherry season is very close to starting. Kubra Guven, marketing manager of Ana Fruit, states they’re expecting a larger harvest than they…

SU-Tech -

Top removal during harvest improves onion quality

Topping onions during the loading process isn’t new, but in Europe and other key growing areas it is not common practice. Here the crop is topped…

HZPC UK strengthens position with acquisition of TLC Potatoes

Royal HZPC Group maintains forecasts

Potato breeder Royal HZPC Group maintains its forecasts for the 2022-2023 financial year. HZPC expects turnover to grow 11% from last year (then 352…

Potato, fruit, and vegetable processing machines for sale

Several interesting fruit and vegetable processing machines are offered for auction! Think, for example, of infeed bunkers, tippers, washing machines,…

EastFruit

The plans of cooperative “Madlieri”

Why invest in modern strawberry production in Georgia when Turkey is the neighbor?

EastFruit periodically publishes an analysis of the Georgian strawberry market, where local producers frequently comment about the price competition…

"World's first facility of this size"

BelOrta starts using new fully automated top fruit sorting warehouse

BelOrta's new sorting warehouse has been up and running for a few weeks. Its realization was delayed by several months, but the first apples and pears…

Much automation and robotization in packaging sector

Photo report: Interpack 2023

From May 4 to 10, visitors to Germany's Düsseldorf exhibition center could see the latest gadgets in packaging technology and machines. Numerous applications for fresh food to non-food were…

Vegetables New Zealand

Vegetable supplies looking good as winter approaches but weather still the wild card

Vegetables New Zealand says vegetable supplies are looking good as winter approaches but ongoing unsettled weather across the country is still the wild card.…

China develops a new blueberry variety that is very suitable for the south of the country's humid climate

According to information from the Chinese newspaper Science and Technology Daily, a team from the Agricultural University of Southern China led by Professor…

If only we could use potatoes to combat SA’s load shedding crisis

Many people do not know that the humble potato may conduct electricity and function as a salt bridge between two metals on each side. This lets an electron…

Global inventories of Brazilian orange juice on 12/31/22

Brazil: Initial orange forecast for 2023–24 at 309 million boxes

The 2023–2024 initial orange forecast for Brazil’s citrus belt is 309.34 million boxes. The forecast was announced on May 10; the projected volume is…

UK packing potato prices rise on dwindling supplies and planting delays

The Mintec Benchmark Prices for Grade 1 White Packing Potatoes EXW England reached £330/mt on 9th May 2023, up 22% month-on-month (m-o-m). The recent rise in…