California stone fruit update

Labor-intensive crops increasingly replaced by crops that are mechanically harvestable

Up until now, the growing conditions for California stone fruit have been optimal. Spring saw a nice amount of rainfall as well as good snowpack in the…

Extreme temperatures may impact start of San Joaquin table grape season

The table grape industry is preparing its transition from Sonora, Mexico to the Central San Joaquin Valley with many growers starting harvest next…

Sizing updates on import citrus season

The import citrus season is well underway and GT Parris of Seald Sweet provides an update as to how the season is progressing. Lemons: Argentina's rain…

West Coast heat wave ahead of July 4th to impact quality in some commodities

With the National Weather Service warning of an imminent heat wave with temperatures reaching above 110°F in some areas of California for an extended…

European requirements for organic ginger have opposite effect

Peru is a key supplier of organic ginger to the European and North American markets. However, many buyers don't seem to know what it takes for a grower…

Not a record Pacific Northwest cherry crop, but room for retail ads

About a month ago, harvest of cherries in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. started, which was right around the average historically.…

Equifruit promotes Kim Chackal

Kim Chackal, the woman behind Equifruit's marketing and sales growth, has been promoted to vice president, sales & marketing for the company. Chackal joined Equifruit in…

New line of organic Asian vegetables to be unveiled

On July 10-11, Lakeside Organic Gardens will debut its new organic Asian vegetables at the annual Organic Produce Summit event in Monterey, California.…

Michoacán will fully reactivate avocado exports to the US today

Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla, governor of Michoacán, announced that avocado exports to the United States will be 100% reactivated on Wednesday, July 3. During a…

New sweet potato variety introduced in the U.S.

At the Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter, a new variety of sweet potato named Avoyelles has been introduced. This development coincides with…

U.S. almond shipments reached 226.1 million pounds in May

In the US, the almond and pistachio industries experienced contrasting shipment trends during May. According to the Blue Diamond Almonds Market Report, almond…

UC food safety specialist tests biosensors to ensure safe produce

Ahmed El-Moghazy joined UC Agriculture and Natural Resources as a UC Cooperative Extension food safety specialist in February and is based at UC Riverside.…

Drugs hidden in a cucumber and bell pepper shipment from Mexico

Some 577 pounds of methamphetamine seized at Pharr International Bridge

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Pharr International Bridge intercepted a substantial quantity of methamphetamine valued at…

"Not even a single peach flower bloomed'

Fruit growers try to adapt in Kelowna following extreme cold

In Kelowna, B.C., an unprecedented winter cold snap led Jennifer Deol and her husband to remove over a hectare of peach trees from their orchard. Early…

Delmarva region's sweet corn harvest begins

In the Delmarva region, Vincent Farms, under the leadership of COO Ray Vincent, has initiated its sweet corn harvest. The farm dedicates approximately 1,000…

New Jersey 2023 cranberry crop came in at 580,000 barrels

In 2023, New Jersey's cranberry sector reported a harvest of 580,000 barrels, marking an increase from the 563,000 barrels harvested in 2022. The state's…

Melon growers ready for holiday demand

July is National Watermelon Month in the US

In 2007, Congress declared July National Watermelon Month, aligning with the peak shipping season for watermelons as noted by the National Watermelon…

Michigan cherries are still facing weather challenges

Nikki Rothwell, an extension educator at Michigan State University Extension, reports that the cherry crop in Michigan has been subjected to hail, high winds,…

California Nurseries intends to consolidate market positioning of the latest raspberry varieties

Following a notable participation at the Huelva Red Fruit Congress, California Nurseries is gearing up to address upcoming challenges with a focus on market…

Is sustainability still a choice, or is it becoming a purchasing condition?

The Netherlands' total food sales grew by 9.5% in 2023. Independent label sales, though, rose significantly more, by 22%. Those offer consumers sustainable…

New facility increases the company’s storage capacity in the country by 120%

Emergent Cold LatAm inaugurates a modern warehouse in Callao, Peru

Emergent Cold LatAm, a large provider of temperature-controlled food logistics in Latin America, has inaugurated its new warehouse in Callao, Peru,…

Peruvian asparagus exports have fallen by 22% in volume and 5% in value

The global trend towards a healthier diet has favoured the demand for asparagus, so this crop has a positive growth perspective. However, Peruvian exporters…

Grape producers in southern Peru have faced an unusually cold year

Grape producers in southern Peru, especially in Ica, have faced an unusually cold year; a scenario not contemplated in their forecasts. Elizabeth Miranda,…

Banana and plantain farmers in Jamaica advised against leaf cutting before hurricanes

The Banana Board is cautioning banana and plantain cultivators in Jamaica against the removal of foliage from their crops as a preparatory step for…

Brazil holds the third position globally in fruit production

Brazil holds the third position globally in fruit production, only surpassed by China and India. The fruit sector contributes to 16% of the total…

Lower local production of apples in India

The apple production in India is expected to be lower this year, although some areas have an uptick compared to the previous season, says Mudasir Tak,…

Anna Nguyen - ADK

“Applying technology and light to grow dragon fruit improves efficiency, increases productivity and quality"

ADK Export Import Co. grow and export a variety of exotic fruit and limes, as well as spices and nuts. The biggest export product is dragon fruit which…

Jacob Aktalan, MG Fruit:

“Senegal plays an increasingly important role in the melon market”

"It would be a whole lot better if the weather was a bit nicer. That would automatically increase melon sales. The weather is somewhat disappointing.…

Granot Fresh:

"Citrus season's first half was good, the second, slightly harder"

"The markets are open to us; there's good demand. If we had more fruit, we could have supplied more citrus to Europe and the U.S.," Yonatan Meron,…

The comment of a producer from Puglia

Things are looking good for table grapes

Growers from Puglia are optimistic already a few days after the start of the new season. The fact that the last season ended well despite the…

Leander van Bellen: "To not only spot damage, but also prevent it"

HDG Survey Group acquires Otflow

Coming into effect from 1 July, the HDG Survey Group, has acquired Otflow. This further expands the group's range of services alongside HDG The Fruit Consultants, HDG Ibérica,…

Matthews Moatli – Productivity SA

Business coaching opportunity for fresh exporters from Gauteng

Productivity SA and Gauteng Growth Development Agency (GGDA) would love to see the participation of Gauteng-based small and medium fresh produce and…

Zander Ernst - Allesbeste Symposium Week

South African avocado maverick opens its doors for a week

A week of presentations, visits to avocado orchards and trial blocks plus a tour of a nursery (on prior appointment) which has been at the forefront of…

Exploding Artichokes: A Bizarre Case in Italy

In Varese, northern Italy, a woman reported an artichoke explosion while cutting the vegetable. This surprising phenomenon has occurred before in…

Imports topped $16.85 billion last year

Exploring the growth of Chinese fruit imports

Durians from Thailand and Vietnam, along with cherries from Chile, kiwifruits from New Zealand, and avocados from Kenya, are increasingly available in…

Agriculture Minister Prospere pledges support

Banana farmers in Saint Lucia seek government aid post-Hurricane Beryl

Banana farmers have called for government assistance following the devastation caused by Category Four Hurricane Beryl, which resulted in considerable damage…