Monday, March 16, 2020
NORTH AMERICA

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Farm Manager - Riana, Tasmania, Australia

Industry Development Manager - Rocklea, Australia

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Commercial Manager | Huelva, Spain | Soft Fruits

Farm manager / Senior grower seeking for his next role

Fruit Export Junior Sales Manager (Europe Division)

Crop Team Manager Hydroponics - USA

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Quality Assurance Manager - Northern Europe

Horticultural Sales Manager - Fruit Industy, Europe

Chile starts wrapping up blueberry production

As the season for imported blueberries begins winding down, supplies out of Chile are tightening up. “Compared with the same period last year, supplies out of Chile are…

Ontario food suppliers hit by COVID-19-related school closures

Ontario food suppliers say Thursday’s announcement to close more than 4,800 Ontario elementary and high schools for two weeks following March Break to battle the COVID-19…

Canada ratifies USMCA

The USMCA was ratified by the Canadian Parliament on Friday March 13th. Canada was the last of the three countries to ratify the agreement. Now all that remains is the formal approval…

USDA finds individual responsible for PACA violations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has found Nicholas Allen responsibly connected to Allens Inc., Siloam Springs, Ark. Allens Inc. failed to pay $9,759,843 to…

Potential contamination with Norovirus

Frozen blackberries and berry medley recalled

WinCo Foods, LLC. of Boise, ID is recalling frozen Blackberries in a 16 oz. bag and frozen Berry Medley in 16 oz. and 32 oz. bags, manufactured by Rader Farms of Lynden, WA,…

Marco Russo from Macadamia Brazil:

“Demand for macadamia nuts outpaces the current supply”

Brazil is expected to produce more than 6.000 tons of macadamia nuts this year, and these volumes have been experiencing growth due to high demand throughout the world. Marco…

US citrus: Keeping fresh fruit marketable

Mark Ritenour with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) discusses research efforts to keep Florida’s fresh fruit marketable.…

Expert Opinion:

What could the coronavirus mean for the global potato industry?

The spread and fear of coronavirus has stepped up a gear this week, with more than 110 countries or territories reporting 129,000 cases and more than 4, 000…

Yunnan garlic price is 6 yuan [0.86 USD] per 0.5 kg

Chinese garlic "craze" has returned - how will the market develop this year?

The retail price of Yunnan garlic recently increased to 6 yuan [0.86 uSD] per 0.5 kg. The main reason for the high price is because new garlic has not yet…

Today's important Coronavirus news

'Fresh Produce Industry Coronavirus update'

As the Coronavirus hits Indonesian imports, some restaurants there are taking dishes off the menu after the price of onions soared ten-fold. In Iran, it has caused a decline…

Special Australia / New Zealand

Aartsen's Menno van Breemen and Leo van der Giesen

"Australian grapes and New Zealand top fruit enormously popular in Asia"

The Dutch company, Aarten, is doing well in the European and Asian markets. That is with the Australian brand, Grandezza, and the New Zealand brand, Okuku. Menno van Breemen…

Global Focus Grapes

Puerto Caldera increases shipments of Chilean grapes by 21% this season

The volume of table grapes shipped during the 2019-2020 fruit season through the Puerto Caldera Maritime Terminal (TMPC), which is located in the Chilean…

Retail

More than 1,000 Dollar General stores will carry fruits and vegetables assortment by the end of 2020

UNFI will sell the real estate of 15 Cub stores

Survey: US retailers brace for financial, supply-chain disruptions from coronavirusNearly half of retailers expect the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to pull down…

Chile plans to restore fruit trade with China to normal levels by the end of the month

Chilean fruit exporters are finding that their trade with China is gradually returning to normal, now that the outbreak of the corona virus is largely under…

MSC adds new calls to improve USA-South America East Coast service

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is pleased to announce an enhancement to its USA-South America East Coast (USA-SAEC) service, starting in April with MSC…

Financial results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019

AgroFresh has solid 4th quarter 2019, but slightly worse full year

AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2019. Jordi Ferre, Chief Executive Officer,…

Increasing access to fresh fruit during COVID-19 crisis

Edible® eliminates delivery fees and adds home fruit delivery

In response to the growing number of citizens being asked to remain in their homes or limit travel, Edible® announced it is eliminating fees for same day…

National Retail Report Specialty Crops - update

US: Significant increases in price for fruit this week included only avocados

Given the current COVID-19 situation, US retailers were challenged to draw shoppers in this week. Saint Patrick's Day was the major focus of almost all flyers, with cabbage,…

Even as Chinese port jams are easing:

Refrigerated container rates soar

According to various officials and industry participants, the severe congestion at Chinese ports is easing. However, a logjam of refrigerated containers has disrupted supplies…

Updated Monday 16th March

Fresh produce industry events cancelled due to coronavirus

As the coronavirus spreads around the world and movement is restricted and gatherings of large numbers of people are banned, a number of industry trade fairs have been…

Jos Caubo (ZON): "Large number of office workers work from home"

Working from home in the fresh produce trade. Does it work?

Working from home; does that work for large fresh produce companies? "Your question comes at a good time. I just came in - had just worked from home - with a…

Fruit trade volume in Jiangnan Market higher than last year despite impact of COVID-19 epidemic

Sea freight suffered from the outbreak of the corona virus as the transport cost slightly increased and workers were in short supply. However, the maritime…

Rick Briston: "Hygiene is only one of the factors"

"There are good reasons to package produce"

Now more than ever we are reminded of the importance of food security. All around the globe consumers are preparing for the threat of the Corona virus and in many places panic…

A tailor-made solution to preserve freshness on the shelves

The French company Areco is developing systems that help improve the preservation of fresh produce on the shelves, in order to reduce food waste. “We have a range of solutions…

State of disaster declared due to the damage caused by the brown marmorated stink bug

The brown marmorated stink bug infestation is a dramatic problem in northern Italy. On March 12th 2020, the government declared the state of disaster for the Lombardy, Friuli…

Melon sorting machine converted into first optical celeriac sorting machine

The mood on the celeriac market is good, according to Pierre Sweep of winter vegetable wholesaler Sweep from Zevenbergen. "We are turning over a lot of volumes and the quality…

Robert Greeve, Anaco & Greeve International

"Besides Fairtrade bananas, organic bananas are also a growing product category"

"The banana market is not bad,” says Robert Greeve, who is a director at Anaco & Greeve International B.V. This Dutch company specializes in overseas products. “As in every…

Rudolf Sluimer, Flexivers

“Small hospitality companies are doing OK, but the large caterers are cancelling in droves”

Drastic measures have been introduced in Europe to try and contain the coronavirus. In the Netherlands, authorities had banned events of more than 100 people. People have been…

There is an ever-increasing demand for Fairtrade and organic bananas

“After the festive season was done, the market picked up again in January,” says Christophe Vandenbroeck of the Belgian company, Van Damme, which sells about 80,000 boxes of…

Avocado master class draws unprecedented numbers of international visitors

Photo report Maluma Avocado Symposium, Tzaneen, Limpopo

The annual Maluma symposium is a highlight in the agricultural calendar: it brings top avocado researchers and developers to the farming community of Tzaneen and far beyond,…

Coronavirus makes red pomelo season in Thailand difficult

In March, the harvesting of pomelos begins in Thailand. Sharing the same period of the world shutting down isn’t exactly ideal, but the growers are trying the best they can to…

Small plums now graded by AirJet Vision

Within 18 months of its launch, GP Graders AirJet Vision® software has successfully been used to grade seven different fresh produce types, including fresh cherries,…

Andy Weir - Reynolds

Shift in demand from food service to retail as people stay at home

As the coronavirus starts to take hold in the UK many people are choosing to work from home, they are also eating out less and many big sporting events were…

Tariff changes on import of agricultural products in India

As they say, trading effectively is about assessing probabilities, not certainties. On that note, many of India’s bound tariff rates on agricultural products…

Research reveals consumers are eager to eat healthier

IGD research reveals that consumers are eager to be healthier and more sustainable in their food choices and consumers are looking for support to make positive…

Assomela

The situation on the Italian apple market

On 12th March, the Assomela Marketing Committee analyzed stocks and the market situation. In line with what has been happening since December, sales were lively in…

Australia: Coronavirus pandemic drives strong demand for local fruit and vegetables

A this point in time, Australian consumers appear to be rushing to boost their immunity with locally grown vegetables. For Mr Ipsen, who is based in the West Australian food…

Avocado and citrus grower Richard Eckersley

Harvey grower tapped by Alterra for avocado data & expertise

Agricultural investment developer Alterra and Harvey avocado and citrus grower Richard Eckersley have inked "Local Partner and Data Access" agreements that provide Alterra…

The Medjool date: The variety that took over a billion shekel industry

The Medjool date is said to be the biggest, sweetest, most visually appealing variety of the fruit. Its rising popularity means more and more Israeli growers…

Ripening needs are all-important when ripening facilities are developed

A Dutch cooling and climate specialist company, Nijssen BV, uses in-house developed monitoring software and works closely with fruit ripening companies to meet these…

Coronavirus further strains New Zealand fruit picking labour shortages

The NZ kiwifruit and apple industries are looking for New Zealanders to help fill labour shortages for this season's harvest, caused in part by the Covid-19…

COVID-19 boosts Panama pineapple sales

Panama's pineapple producers are seeing an increase in sales as consumers seek multivitamin foods rich in antioxidants, to gain what they believe is a defense against…

High export costs slow down the expansion of Spanish citrus

The Spanish citrus fruits' diversification of markets in distant destinations is an alternative to avoid saturating the EU markets. However, the high logistics costs and…

The Spanish group Anecoop is concerned about the effects of the coronavirus

"In Asia, shipping companies do not guarantee if and when goods will arrive"

Joan Mir, the general director of the Anecoop group, acknowledged that the group was concerned about the consequences of the coronavirus outbreak. For example, he said, "we…

Update on impact of coronavirus on export markets

Royal FloraHolland has released an update from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV), who are involved in the crisis measures surrounding the…

Global airfreight demand declined by 2.7% during first two months of 2020

WorldACD highlights impact of COVID-19

WorldACD has released preliminary figures for the month, which it says give an outlook on the “corona effect” when combined with January’s figures. “Looking at February in…

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This is some crazy ride.

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