Guy Milette with Courchesne Larose

“Distribution of produce has become more technical and complicated, requiring more investment”

Developing the business and growing sales was top priority. In 22 years, the whole team and myself helped Montreal-based Courchesne Larose grow by 10…

How did California’s wet winter impact Florida strawberries?

The strong supplies of Florida strawberries could slow down soon. “It has been a good high-priced season until about when the Valentine’s Day pull ends…

Increased volume from Mexico slightly softens mango pricing

Mango volume is growing from Mexico. “We’re just starting the Mexican season though there’s been product coming in for the last month,” says Daniel…

Avocado brand heads to 2023 South by Southwest® Festival

Avocados From Mexico® is participating in South by Southwest® (SXSW®) in Austin, Texas. The brand is bringing its digital House of Goodness to life…

USDA

U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement seasonal perishable products - weekly update

Mexican import volumes are behind normal levels

This season, unpredictable weather conditions have played a significant role in the growing regions of Mexico and some parts of California. Reports…

Florida strawberry farmers say imports from Mexico threaten their livelyhoods

Florida is the second largest strawberry-producing state in the U.S., after California, at a value of more than $300 million, according to the University of…

California Citrus Mutual annual report:

'USDA to purchase up to $20 million worth of fresh mandarins for distribution to US food banks & schools'

At the request of California Citrus Mutual, the USDA has agreed to purchase up to $20 million worth of mandarins and tangerines for the first time. This is a…

USDA

National Retail Report - specialty crops

Cabbage, onions, potatoes and carrots were promoted this week

This week retail ads were a celebration of all things Spring. With Saint Patrick's Day a week away, cabbage, onions, potatoes and carrots were promoted…

Lessons from Hurricane Ian will help growers

Researchers will assess 20 to 30 Florida citrus groves impacted by 2022’s Hurricane Ian to learn lessons that will help growers in the future. University of…

March storage apples down 7.7 percent over last year

According to a monthly survey from US Apple, the total number of apples in storage on March 1, 2023, was 88.4 million bushels, 7.7 percent less than last…

Unitedpotatocanada.com

March 2023 holding reports

Total Canadian Potato Storage Holdings March 1, 2023 up slightly YoY

Total Canadian Potato Storage Holdings on March 1, 2023 are up slightly (1.7%) over 2022 numbers for the same period, and almost 6% above the 3-yr.…

Spanish wooden packaging bets on internationalisation for 2023

The Spanish Federation for Wooden Packaging and its Components (FEDEMCO) has met in Valencia. The nearly 70 associated companies manufacturing and…

Mexico is expected to increase its share of world exports to 63% by 2030

Avocado will become the most traded fruit by 2030

According to the Agricultural Outlook 2021-2030 report of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development-OECD and the United Nations Food and…

Australians research hot water treatment to meet market entry protocols for fruit fly disinfestation in mangoes

Researchers have discovered how to use hot water treatment to meet market entry protocols for fruit fly disinfestation in Australian mangoes. Heat treatment is…

New face at Westland Seeds:

"I now have almost more photos of bell peppers than of my two-year-old son"

Michiel van Dillen is familiar to many (former) growers, and in December 2022, he joined Westland Seeds. In the short time since then, he has found his…

China Strawberry Brand Conference 2023 held in Shanghai

On March 9, the China Strawberry Brand Conference 2023 and the China Strawberry Exhibition kicked off in Shanghai. The meeting was guided by the…

Moroccan tomato volumes expected to return to normal by mid-April

The cold snap that Morocco experienced at the beginning of the year caused an acute decline in tomato production, leading to more than 80% drop in…

Senegalese mango producers prepare for the export campaign

Senegalese mango producers are preparing for the launch of the export campaign in June, with an expected increase in volumes, says  Mohamed Mbengue of Unionagri…

"Climate change affects everyone and every crop except Egyptian citrus growers"

Egyptian citrus growers will continue their export campaign with the Valencia orange programs, amidst climate change that is troubling for the rest of…

Australian avocados gain entry into Indian market

Australian avocados gained entry into the Indian market this weekend, though final approval is subject to the success of ten trial shipments. Exporters…

Egyptian blueberry producers set to fill the gap in the far east market

After a harsh winter that worried blueberry growers in Egypt, they are now pleased with the increase in temperatures that coincides with a shortage of…

New Zealanders asked to buy local and fresh to support weather-hit vegetable growers

New Zealanders are being asked to buy local and fresh, to support vegetable growers across the country hit hard by continued bad weather.   ‘Vegetable growers have endured…

South African 2023 citrus export season reflects continued challenging operating environment

Ahead of the Southern African 2023 citrus export season kicking off next month, citrus growing varietal focus groups presented their predicted export volumes…

Food Price Index:

New Zealand fruit and vegetable prices reflect unprecedented disruption for many growers

As expected, the Food Price Index just released shows another increase in the cost of fruit and vegetables from the same time last year and the extreme…

MSC receives largest container ship in the world

Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) built and delivered the largest container vessel in the world to Mediterranean Shipping Company…

SITC realised nearly US$2 billion profit in 2022

SITC International Holdings, the holding company of Hong Kong-based intra-Asia carrier SITC Container Lines, has announced that its net profit went up by 67%…

Abnormally early flowering of apricot in Moldova is a big risk

Unusually warm weather for March has set in Moldova since the beginning of this week. In the south of the country, the temperature maximum during the day…

The number of new hectares planted in 2022 is greater than the total cherry area in 2009

Chile has multiplied its cherry area by 19 in just two decades

The latest fruit land registers presented by the Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (Odepa) reveal that the area devoted to cherry production in Chile…

Ecuador establishes a new deadline for the installation of scanners in ports to check the export cargo

According to the Ecuadorian police, 14.7 tons of drugs were seized in four ports in the first two months of 2023, most of them destined for Europe. Almost half…

Great Wrap develops potato-based compostable alternative to plastic wrap and cling film

Plastic wrap, or cling film, is a super-useful plastic that can't be recycled and ends up in landfill. Now, Great Lab, an Australian materials science company,…

'Dovcha'; Green apricots on offer in Uzbekistan

The first dovcha is now available in the retail of Uzbekistan’s capital city of Tashkent. So far it is offered only in one store of the Korzinka supermarket…

Chancellor of the Exchequer announces streamlining of UK customs system

Through reforms to be announced in the Chancellor’s Budget, Britain’s 363,000 international traders will gain a more streamlined customs process. Chancellor of…

Kenyan firms join hands to increase potato production

A new initiative seeking to increase yields and incomes for potato farmers in Kenya has been unveiled. The ‘Potato Consortium’, backed by the Co-operative Bank…

Nashik markets see up to 25% rise in vegetable prices due to rains

Vegetable vendors said there had been an impact on the vegetable supply in the middle of last week, due to rain. Arrival of vegetables at Nashik Agricultural…

Manila International Container Port:

Bureau of Customs intercepts18 containers of misdeclared onions

Customs authorities have intercepted 18 containers of misdeclared red and yellow onions worth PHP77 million pesos. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said…

Indian government wants duty waiver on grape exports to Bangladesh

The Indian government has sought waiver of duty on the import of some fruits, especially grape, as Indian exporters face a setback due to complexity in opening…

Dreamstime.com

United analysis shows large corporations are guilty of ‘global greedflation’

"It is big firms that are driving shopping bills to record highs"

According to an analysis of hundreds of company accounts, it seems that large corporations have fueled inflation with price increases that go beyond…