Sarah Vlekke

All-or-nothing strategy pays of in Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge

The crop did not look very pretty after three months of autonomous growing, but with converted 45 kilograms of tomatoes per square meter, the winning team can go home. Team IDEAS, with Ch…

strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry plants

Canadian berry propagators announce growth, through partnership

Novafruit, a Quebec-based nursery specializing in the propagation of strawberry plants, announces the expansion of its activities through a new…

Botanicoir celebrates 20th anniversary

Botanicoir, a family-run specialist in sustainable coir substrate production, is marking its 20th anniversary in 2025 and will celebrate the milestone…

Why IUNU believes most AI misses the mark

Will AI give me a competitive advantage or am I buying sand in the desert?

"The greenhouse industry is at a crossroads where people face a pivotal choice: embrace the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to stand out in a…

Global market overview Blueberries

As Peru's blueberry harvest volumes reached normal levels again with increased exports, the global blueberry market has returned to normal. Growers in…

Mexican tomato production picks up

Tomato supply from Mexico is increasing as production comes in from Sinaloa. The region began its harvest within the last week to 10 days. "So we're…

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extension on tax abatements from council for delayed expansion

US (IN): Hydroponic grower advances with $82m development plan

Greenleaf Holdco LLC will soon move forward with its $82 million expansion of its indoor hydroponic farms that grow its Pure Green Farms brand of…

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Canadian greenhouse industry weighing costs of potential pipeline

Almost a year has passed since the Municipality of Chatham-Kent promised to set up a working group to talk about higher development charges and no…

groHERE, Edmonton, Alberta

Transforming the way strawberries are grown with new vertical farming system

The demand for fresh strawberries in North America is huge. In Canada alone, more than 145,046 metric tons of the fruit were imported in 2023—mostly…

US (MA): Clark University gets EPIC greenhouse

Clark is celebrating the opening of a state-of-the-art greenhouse, which will launch a new avenue of scientific research at the University. This has…

Using tomato relatives to improve fruit quality, yield

Salinity stress is a major abiotic factor limiting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Utilizing…

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Examining vesticulation, gene expression in tomato flowers

Abscission is a tightly regulated process in which plants shed unnecessary, infected, damaged, or aging organs, as well as ripe fruits, through…

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UK: New pest legislation to come into effect on 30 January

The GB Plant Health Service has introduced legislation that will come into force from 30 January 2025. Risk assessments are a dynamic process, so all…

Addressing food insecurity by donating 3 million lbs. of produce annually

Cox Farms announced a partnership with Feeding America to help address food insecurity. This collaboration will bring fresh, healthy produce to food…

New Mexico State University to lead plant pathogen workshop

A New Mexico State University researcher will lead a workshop on one of the most common plant pathogens during the 2025 New Mexico Chile Conference in…

US: Cold temperatures lighten lettuce supply from desert-growing regions

Supplies of lettuces have been fairly steady and plentiful out of the desert-growing regions. However, following a cold front this week and next week…

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Project aims to boost certified seed production in Uganda

An initiative is set to improve Uganda's agriculture sector through a collaborative project between Uganda and Korea. The VegeSeed Project, a nine-year…

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US (VA): Learn hydroponics in eight weeks

Virginia Western Community College will launch a hydroponics course starting February 19, 2025. This eight-session course, which runs weekly on…

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US (NY): Registration open for 2025 Vegetable Expo

The highly anticipated 2025 Vegetable Expo is set to take place on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at Jordan Hall in Geneva, NY. This full-day event will…

Philippines tomato prices expected to stabilize as production resumes after typhoon damage

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has indicated that the escalation in tomato prices within the Philippines is expected to stabilize by the end of January or…

Bineta Hanne, Senegalese grower

"Our okra finally found its customers abroad"

The last Senegalese okra cycle has just come to an end and has seen strong demand, according to Bineta Hanne, manager of Sipa de Thiambe. The grower…

USDA seeks nominees for produce boards

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks nominees for the National Mango Board. Nominees are needed to fill six member seats with terms beginning Jan.…

UK: Lorry carrying seven individuals hidden among cucumbers intercepted

In Cottenham, a lorry harboring seven individuals among cucumber containers was intercepted after one of the occupants made a distress call to the…

"Fruit and vegetable trade grows in 2024, while consumption declines in the Netherlands"

Extreme weather and geopolitical tensions made 2024 a challenging year for the Dutch fruit and vegetable sector. In 2024, it became clearer than ever that the…

UK: Registration open for 2nd International Conference on Controlled Environment Agriculture

The University of Plymouth and UK Urban AgriTech are inviting growers and industry professionals to the 2nd International Conference on Controlled…

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ONS: Supermarkets and food stores had their worst Christmas since 2013

Sainsbury’s has celebrated the opening of its first new store of 2025

Switzerland: Migros recorded an increase in sales in 2024Migros reported: "Marked by restructuring and disposals, 2024 was a year of new beginnings for…