FreshPlaza is taking a break

For 25 years, the company behind FreshPlaza has been reporting on the latest fresh produce news globally. To celebrate this anniversary with the team, we will be taking a short break on Thursday and Friday of this week.

We will be back on Monday, June 26 to bring you the latest fresh produce news.

Education has changed the way Brazil applies ethylene

Exactly 50 years ago, a new way of ethylene ripening was introduced through a system that continuously releases small amounts of ethylene during a…

"Cherries first, then we'll celebrate 100-year anniversary"

While one grower in The Dalles, Oregon is hitting its 100-year anniversary this year, its president, Brenda Thomas, has the crop on her mind. “We have…

Later California grape region transition ahead

Grapes from the San Joaquin Valley will see a later start this season by an estimated week to 10 days. “It’s mostly due to the cool weather we’ve had…

Corn deal in the East a “mess” for 4th of July

Watermelon and corn markets in the East are elevated and promotions are on the line as the 4th of July approaches. “The markets are elevated to oversold. It’s…

Blueberries transition to New Jersey, Michigan, and Pacific Northwest

Ahead of National Blueberry Month, Naturipe Farms is kicking off the summer season with promotable volumes of its flavorful blueberries from New Jersey,…

US: It all starts with hands-on education to better understand 'next-gen farming'

"Our children need to understand how to grow their own food and provide generational change for their families. This year we saw an increase in science…

Guidance offered in face of new FDA investigations

Recently issued reports from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) failed to identify sources of pathogen-related food-borne illness outbreaks, yet…

Florida citrus crop drops to smallest in nearly 100 years

The price of orange juice will be going up again after Florida farmers produced the smallest citrus crop in nearly 100 years . It was a tough year for the…

Local supply remains available

Alabama peach growers struggle with freeze-damaged crops

It has been a difficult year for Alabama farmers after dealing with the freezing temperatures back in March. This caused some farms in Chilton County to lose…

Sweet onions from Walla Walla Valley are available

Progressive Produce and Keystone Fruit Marketing, a division of Progressive Produce, announce the start of the Walla Walla sweet onion season. Every…

Hudson River Fruit Distributors celebrate 60th anniversary

Apple grower, packer and shipper Hudson River Fruit Distributors is proud to announce and celebrate its 60th anniversary. Established in 1963 by…

Energy builds for IFPA Foodservice Conference as expo sells out

At the Foodservice Conference, the produce and foodservice industries unite to share ideas, products and services to advance the consumption of fresh produce.…

Del Monte Foods, Inc. survey reveals new insights into snacking habits

New survey reveals what snacking is lacking for today's consumer

Del Monte Foods, Inc. has released survey data1 on snacking attitudes and behaviors for US consumers. As adults continue to snack more than ever, the survey…

White potatoes vs. sweet potatoes: Nutrition and health experts chime in on which is better

Food shoppers who visit supermarkets and grocery stores see several potato varieties stacked in produce aisles, but not many people can say they truly know the…

USDA NASS Potato Stocks Report:

Potato stocks down 3 per cent from June 2022

According to the USDA NASS Potato Stocks Report, potatoes held in storage on June 1, 2023 totaled 54.5 million cwt, down 3 percent from June 1, 2022. Potatoes…

Jan Kraayeveld, Refruit, about rejected avocados

"Not a kilo lost"

The Netherlands is the world's second-largest avocado importer, reports the CBS. "Many of those are ripened into ready-to-eat fruits, but that process results in a small…

"The quality of garlic this season is not good, mold rate is as high as 15%"

Affected by the reduction in the production of new garlic and the unsaleability of some products, due to mold, the price at origin is currently rising,…

D'Ambruoso Fruit and Vegetables

"We've definitely seen better cherry campaigns"

In Apulia, the harvesting of Ferrovia variety cherries is still going on, but the campaign is facing harsh weather conditions. This time, it is…

The biodiversity of the banana plantations of Guadeloupe & Martinique highlighted by street art

The Union of banana producers of Guadeloupe and Martinique (UGPBAN) has called on French artist LOUYZ to promote to the general public the rich…

Procesavo -

Transforming rejected avocados from across Europe

Procesavo, the company that collects and pays importers and distributors for their rejected and damaged avocado’s across Europe, was started by…

New Peruvian pomegranate farm completes first export season

The greenfield pomegranate farm and new pack house in the fruit fly free area of Tacna in southern Peru, close to the border with Chile, exported 13…

South African industry welcomes the return of popular Allesbeste Symposium

After a Covid-enforced hiatus, South Africa’s favourite privately-organised avocado symposium returns to Tzaneen on 16 and 17 August, now bearing the…

As other origins are out of season, opportunities for Indian dates present themselves

"During this timeframe Indian dates are in high demand"

The timing of the date season in India is a large advantage in the global market, Kaushal Khakhar, CEO of Indian fresh produce exporter Kay Bee…

“New Polish apple season will be different than the last one”

It’s been quite a challenging apple season in Poland. Not just in terms of picking all the apples, but also when it came to sales in the early parts of…

New threat to horticulture of Central Asia: labor shortage

According to EastFruit experts from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, a new problem has arisen in the countries, which caught many by a complete surprise. This…

Apple Inc. wants the rights to the images of the fruit in Switzerland

American multinational technology company Apple Inc. seems to want the rights to the image of apples - the fruit - in Switzerland. This is a concern for the…

Magica blueberry achieves best price for Peru's 2023 season

Industry data published by Qeneto S.A.C, the Peruvian Customs, ranks OZblu® Magica in first place for achieving the best price for the 2023 season at…

The Cherry Committee forecasts the country will produce 812,717 tons of cherry in the 2026-2027 season

ASOEX is working in China on defining strategies for the new cherry season

Last week the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile started an important Mission in Asia, in which they will visit the markets of China, India, and…

New Zealand 2023 kiwifruit harvest leaves growers disappointed

The modest 2023 New Zealand kiwifruit harvest leaves growers under par and disappointed with the volume of kiwifruit produced this season. This brings another…

Latest innovation in fruit research on show at Fruit Focus 2023

Growing Kent & Medway, Innovate UK and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) are joining forces for the first time at this year’s…

Identify trends from retail data with new Analyzer tool

Market knowledge has become increasingly important for growers, breeders, traders, and supermarkets to ensure a successful business. One of the…

USDA

European Union: Citrus Semi-annual

EU citrus production projected to amount to 10.4 million tons in MY 2022/23

In MY 2022/23, European Union (EU) citrus production is projected to amount to 10.4 million metric tons (MMT), 10 percent down from the previous…

Floods in Serbia could change the global raspberry market prospects

EastFruit analysts are closely monitoring the situation in Serbia, where heavy rains have led to floods. A natural disaster is observed in a large number of…

Over the last 20 years, bananas experienced the most significant increase in productivity in Dominican Republic

The executive director of the Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Proconsumidor), Eddy Alcántara, has been speaking about the reasons for the…

2023/2024 campaign

Peru’s blueberry shipments forecast to reach 300,000 tons

In the 2023/2024 campaign, Peruvian blueberry exports is forecast to reach close to 300 tons. This would represent a 5% growth compared to the 286 tons shipped…

WAO launches campaign to promote nutritional and health benefits of avocados

The World Avocado Organization (WAO) a non-profit organization which represents producers, exporters and importers of avocados from across the world, is…

The company went from selling 500 kilos of blueberries a week in Peru in 2019 to 7,500 kilos in 2022

Indecopi greenlights the sale of Hortifrut

According to a report that was recently made public, the National Institute for the Defense of Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property…

There will be no seasonal reduction in prices for vegetables and fruits in Kaliningrad this summer

There will be no seasonal reduction in prices for vegetables and fruits in Kaliningrad this summer, according to economic expert Pavel Golubev. The reason for…

"The future of the Peruvian mango will depend on our ability to diversify exports"

Peru is an important producer and exporter of mango worldwide. However, one of the most important challenges it faces is continuing to diversify its…

Chile produce growers want to enter markets in smaller Indian cities

Growers from Chile are keen to tap the markets in smaller cities for its premium produce of wines, walnuts and other dry fruits. The Latin American country is…

Peruvian citrus exports have decreased by 19% to date

According to Fresh Fruit, Peru has exported 49,592 tons of citrus so far this year, recording a 19% year-on-year decrease in exports. Two weeks ago, the…

Gene editing produces tomatoes that are enhanced with vitamin D

The application of CRISPR gene editing has boomed in recent years, and now the humble tomato is no stranger to the CRISPR toolbox anymore either. In 2021,…

Malda, West Bengal

Mango growers seek financial aid as bumper crop fails to generate profits

Mango farmers of Malda, West Bengal, have sought government intervention as their bumper crop fails to generate profits. They have called upon the government…

Costa Rican union SITRAP alleges labor violations at banana and pineapple plantations

Costa Rican union SITRAP and the Latin American union federation COLSIBA have denounced a series of labor violations and illegal hiring practices at two farms…

Kephis in talks with US and South Korea to export avocado surplus

Kenya's agricultural produce quality assurance agency has opened talks with five countries, including the US and South Korea, over markets for Kenyan avocados…

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva:

‘Supporting Egypt’s currency is like putting water in bucket that has holes’

According to International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, it is important that Egypt take actions to protect against leakage of foreign…