FreshPlaza summer break

It's time for the team at FreshPlaza to take a break and recharge our batteries. We will be back on Monday 5th of August with all your fresh produce news!

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW POTATOES

The weather continues to have a big effect on potato production in many countries. In Europe, a few countries have lower yields due to wet weather that has caused a lot of…

Kraig Loomis with GreenFruit Avocados

“Colombian avocados bring stability to the U.S. market”

Currently, avocado supply to the United States is ample and is expected to continue to be plentiful for the remainder of 2024. Harvest of Mexico's new…

Pacific Northwest cherry season to extend well into August for some

Cherry shipments from the Pacific Northwest are continuing steadily. "So far, the Northwest cherry industry has shipped an average of 500,000 boxes per…

Massive rainfall in South Africa’s Western Cape causes slight delay on citrus shipments to the U.S.

South Africa's main citrus producing region for the U.S. market, Citrusdal, has been impacted by excessive rainfall during their harvest season.…

Slightly more volume of Ecuadorian dragon fruit expected

Imported dragon fruit supply is plentiful as the peak season for the fruit arrives. "The dragon fruit production season in Ecuador last year achieved…

Brazilian melon producer to introduce new brand to U.S. market - featuring exotic animals

Brazilian animals will soon 'roam the markets' in the U.S. This is through the new brand designed by the Brazilian melon producer Agricola Famosa,…

Korean grape distribution expands in North America

Korean grapes are seeing greater distribution in the U.S. Love April is in its fourth year bringing in the grapes and is actively expanding the…

Sekoya Field & Forum photo shoot

"Great opportunities for blueberries in the snack category"

The fact that the Sekoya programme contains some sought-after varieties was evident during the turnout at the Sekoya Field & Forum in Meterik, last…

Salvador Miranda Aguilar, general manager of Grupo Sanell:

"More and more Mexican producers are choosing not to renew their certifications to export to Europe"

With more than 150 hectares devoted to avocado cultivation, Grupo Sanell has grown from its beginnings in 1980, when it planted its first orchards, to…

Eqraft Inc -

Dutch machine builder opens North American service center in Tri-Cities (WA)

After decades of working together with North American clients, Dutch machine builder Eqraft now opened a branch on American soil. Operating from…

USDA updates requirements to allow for the safe importation of Chilean table grapes into the US

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is publishing a final notice that will allow certain table…

Western Sky Produce joins FreshEdge

Western Sky Produce, a fresh produce service provider specializing in creating customized programs that incorporate all aspects of the produce…

Western Growers collaborates with Qfresh Lab to advance sustainable packaging in fresh produce industry

Western Growers (WG) and Qfresh Lab, a big player in sustainable packaging solutions, have launched a collaborative effort to advance sustainable…

2024 California fresh fig season gets early start

Hot summer temperatures means good news for fresh fig lovers. Due to the extreme heat, the main harvest of the California Fresh Fig started a couple of…

Automated asparagus harvester showcased in Tillsonburg, Canada

In Tillsonburg, a robotics firm has introduced an automated asparagus harvester capable of gathering up to 60 spears per minute across four rows…

CPMA welcomes food supply chain’s support of Grocery Sector Code of Conduct

The Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct (OGSCC), represented by 10 organizations including the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA),…

Northland Potato Growers Association taps into experience with new Executive Director

The Northland Potato Growers Association is happy to announce the selection of Gary Shields as their new Executive Director. Shields brings a wealth of…

Combined services offer single access point for food processing solutions

Key Technology (Key) and PPM Technologies (PPM), both members of Duravant's Food Sorting and Handling Solutions group, have combined their sales and…

Paper highlights how climate change challenges, transforms agriculture

As the climate continues to change, the risks to farming are only going to increase.That's the key takeaway from a recent paper published by a team…

OnionBusiness.com 2024:

Six months of Market and Crop Updates in review

Now, can we condense the last six months of onion market and crop news? Sure, we can, but not without the help of our valued contributors, who provide…

Canada's certified organic fruit and vegetable production declined in 2023

The farm-gate value of certified organic fruit and vegetable production fell 11.1% to $174.3 million in 2023. Organic fruit production was down by…

Native potato was brought to southern Utah by Indigenous people

Genetics reveal ancient trade routes of Four Corners potato

A new study shows that a native potato species was brought to southern Utah by Indigenous people in the distant past, making it a candidate for the…

June almond shipments report from California

June shipments reached 206 million pounds, marking a 10.50% increase YoY

The Almond Board of California disclosed its June position report on 11th July, indicating that shipments for June reached 206 million pounds, marking…

Assisting Specialty Crop Exports initiative

ASCE initiative should break down non-tariff trade barriers that hinder US fruits and vegetables exports

The Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative is an innovative partnership between USDA and the specialty crops sector to break down non-tariff trade…

Impact of frost on Argentina's blueberry production

Francisco Estrada, President of Apratuc, has detailed the repercussions of recent frost events on blueberry crops in Argentina, particularly noting the…

Shortage of plantain in Jamaica following Hurricane Beryl

Jamaica is currently experiencing a shortage of key food staples, including plantain and bananas, as a result of the devastation caused by Hurricane…

Brazil

Rainfall brings relief to São Paulo state citrus areas

Mid-July rains in São Paulo, Brazil, have provided relief to citrus growers, particularly in the south and southwest regions, after a prolonged dry…

8% increase in melon and watermelon exports predicted

Rio Grande do Norte expects growth in 2024/2025 fruit exports

José Vieira, president of the Federation of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing of Rio Grande do Norte (Faern), discussed the forecast for the 2024/2025…

"Paris soon within our reach, thanks to electric vehicles"

In the European Union, the transport sector is responsible for about a quarter of CO2 emissions, thus contributing significantly to that total. John…

Kevin de Graaff, marketing manager at Uturn:

"Always providing the best match in container transport"

Every day, thousands of trucks collect and deliver containers to and from Europe's ports, many carrying fruit and vegetables. Technology, knowledge,…

"Even in countries where you don't immediately expect it, labour is a problem"

Christian Oosterlaan of Pack TTI has attended many international trade fairs. Pack TTI's HortiHands, VegHands and FlowerHands brands provide machines…

"Unica Jolly" by Calderoni: watch the video

International sales of sustainable technology are increasing

Mechanical weeding is getting increasingly popular, also in light of the limitations that many European big retail chains are imposing on producers when it comes to chemical resid…

"The success of the Spanish model has undoubtedly helped us promote the development of berries in other countries"

One of the most important factors in the berry campaign is the choice of varieties to be planted. The aim is to achieve a combination of earliness,…

Freeze kills entire orchards in lowlying and exposed parts of southern Limpopo

Very expensive couple of weeks ahead for citrus

The consequences of last week's freezing temperatures will be profound, says Gert Upton, senior manager: marketing and sales at Groblersdal-based…

"We maintained a steady increase of production for blueberries"

The harvest of Portuguese blueberries has concluded, but that doesn't mean the work is done, says Lourenço de Botton, of Portuguese fresh produce…

Bad weather hinders Van Dijk Foods' summer sales

"Upside down situation as peaches are now slightly more expensive than nectarines"

"A bad summer also means a bad market for stone fruit." This is what Henk Vlaeminck of Van Dijk Foods tells us. "The bad weather affects us on two…

Barry Michiels, Gebroeders Michiels:

"Until after the holidays, we will continue to see a calm tomato market"

The greenhouse vegetable market is "summer busy" for wholesaler Gebroeders Michiels. "It's not necessarily calm, because all the items are there. From…

Moyca expects to produce almost 80,000 tons in 2024

"In recent years, the demand for Spanish table grapes has been growing in Eastern European countries"

The supply of Spanish seedless table grape is increasing as the summer progresses. "We started in week 25, but our volumes will peak in August and…

Independent young people and young couples without children consume the least fresh fruit

Households comprised of independent young people and young couples without children consumed the least fresh fruit in 2023 (with 2% and 3.8% of the total,…

Frankfurt-based wholesale company Josef Stapf set to expand

"The latest business acquisitions have enabled us to significantly expand our catchment area"

Josef Stapf Großmarkt Ltd has been one of the leading market companies in Frankfurt's fresh produce centre for many years and has developed into the…

Ciprian and Konstanze Pantiru on this year's garlic harvest in southern Hesse:

"Fortunately, we were spared major damage and crop losses"

On 26 June, the last bulbs of this year's harvest were pulled out of the ground at Pantiru, Germany's largest garlic producer in Lampertheim, in…

"Polish blueberry season started two weeks earlier than last year"

There's been an early start to the Polish blueberry season compared to last year, says Sandra Stefaniak-Syguła, co-owner of Polish berry trader…

"Pansy melon is one of the fruits favoured by Vietnamese consumers, because of its sweetness"

Soleil Farm grows melons on their farms in Bac Bin, Binh Province in Vietnam. This region has many sunshine hours and good soil. The company has…

Rob de Rond, De Rond Agro:

"Field grown radishes are pure top sport"

Radishes are not an unknown product among Dutch growers. Nevertheless, they are mostly grown in greenhouses. But radishes are also grown outdoors in…

Perry Verstraaten, Thiry Gent:

"Fresh fruit and vegetables are very important within the Turkish community"

It is increasingly difficult for fruit and vegetable wholesalers to survive. Problems with finding staff or successors are lurking, leading to more and…

Óscar Riveiro, from Riveiro Ecológicos:

"Algae-based fertilizers are helping us tackle downy mildew in organic potato crops"

In 2023, according to data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA), Galicia was the Spanish autonomous region with the highest number of…

Emilio Tejerina Romero, manager of Frutas Tejerina:

"Pitahaya will become increasingly important and will go from being a luxury to a commodity"

The area devoted to pitahaya, mangoes, avocados, and cherimoyas on the Costa Tropical of Granada has been increasing for years thanks to the companies…

David Casanoves, from Yummy Fresh: "We've been supplying important fresh market and fourth range customers in the counter-season for more than 17 years"

"Pumpkin still has a whole world to delight, and a market to conquer"

Spain is rich in traditional fruits and vegetables, which are highly recognized and valued at the regional level, but that can hardly be found outside…

Frischezentrum celebrates its 20th anniversary at its current location

"Acquisition of the property enabled the planning and realisation of further investments in infrastructure"

In 2024, the Frischezentrum Frankfurt can look back on a 20-year success story at its current location in the northern district of Kalbach-Riedberg.…

Frédéric Faillières, Planasa - Mechanised blueberry harvesting

"A light machine for a light fruit"

With the blueberry harvest in full swing, Planasa - a key player specializing in breeding new varieties of red fruit - invited growers and companies in…

Josef Malan – Twypack, Indigo Fruit Farming

South African-manufactured automation systems uplift supporting packhouse staff

The Twypack packhouse based in Nelspruit is dedicated to soft citrus, packing up to 800 tonnes every day. "We are far from the world markets where we…

"Potato stocks in Egypt are already limited"

The potato harvest has ended in Egypt, reports Yassen Abdelhay of Arafa for Export and Agriculture Development. The export campaign continues with…

"The best way to bring Iranian watermelons into Europe is to buy them in Turkey"

The Iranian watermelon season is progressing at a good pace, with volumes up on last season and strong demand, but it remains hampered by the usual…

High demand for Iranian cherries does not translate into good prices

"It's a shame that quality isn't fairly rewarded"

Halfway through the Iranian cherry season, Hadi Mirzaei, CEO of Darya Noosh Payab Trading, gives a mixed assessment: "the campaign is going well as…

Better outlook for Moroccan table grapes this season

The Moroccan table grape season continues with harvests of late varieties. Elana Shabaily, from Vergers de Soleil, reports "a very good season, with…

Australia hosted World Potato Congress

Attracting more than 1,000 delegates from around the world

The World Potato Congress, a leading networking organization for the global potato industry, hosted its 12th global event in Adelaide, Australia, June…

Plenty and Mawarid Holding Investment

Joint venture to invest $130M in regional strawberry growth across GCC region

Plenty Unlimited Inc. and Mawarid Holding Investment entered an exclusive, multi-year, region-wide partnership to bring locally grown fresh produce to…

Menno van Breemen: "It's never boring at Aartsen"

Aartsen goes India

"Our strategy has always focused on a broad spectrum of both import and distribution. With facilities in the Netherlands, Belgium and Hong Kong, we import everything fresh…

Quality Insights:

Determine the quality of your harvest with a simple photo

At the turn of the year, Optiflux launched Quality Insights. This is a mobile app, which allows growers, traders, graders or inspectors to measure…

Freshuelva ended its strawberry season with 221,000 tons and a 9% drop over the previous season

Freshuelva has reported that, according to data from the partner companies, they produced 221,412 tons of strawberries in the 2023-2024 campaign, i.e.…

More than 10 million 125g trays expected

"Nergi mini kiwis are back!"

In a market for fruit berries that continues to be extremely dynamic, consumption of Nergi® mini kiwifruit is growing steadily in Northern European markets. "The sweet and…

Set to deploy AI across all shipping, logistics, and media activities

CMA CGM embarks on a strategic partnership with Google

CMA CGM, a large player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, and Google have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the integration of…

Hearing people out makes all the difference in smooth container handling

Offloading the last containers from ships at Maasvlakte, the Netherlands, can sometimes take up to three days. Whether reefers are offloaded on the…

Doctor recommends eating kiwi skins for health benefits

Dr. Joseph Salhab, known as the Stomach Doc on TikTok, advises against discarding kiwi skins due to their health benefits. Eating the whole kiwi,…

Impact of water restrictions on potato production in South Africa

FP Coetzee of Potatoes South Africa highlighted the dramatic price increase in potatoes following a reduction in production due to load-shedding in 2023. With…

A delicious history of the apple

Reading labels in the supermarket, you may have wondered where your apples come from – but have you ever thought about why you're eating apples in the first place? Author…

Fruits from ASEAN countries find a smoother path into China

Fruits from ASEAN countries have seen an improved entry into the Chinese market, facilitated by several key developments. These include the enactment…

Russia imposes import ban on Armenian fresh produce over food safety concerns

Russia has implemented an import ban on fresh fruits and vegetables from Armenia, as communicated by Rosselkhoznadzor to the Armenian Food Safety…

Drewry

Drewry’s World Container Index inched up 1% to $5,937 per 40ft container this week

Drewry's World Container Index inched up 1% to $5,937 per 40ft container this week. The composite index inched up 1% to $5,937 per 40ft container this week…

Papua New Guinea agri sector experiences a surge in demand for fresh onions

In Papua New Guinea, the agriculture sector is experiencing a surge in demand for fresh bulb onions, with prices escalating to K150 per net at Lae's…

Tropical fruit cultivation expands in Turkey

In Turkey, the agricultural sector is undergoing a transformation with a focus on tropical fruit production. Products like passion fruit, have shown…