Friday, May 1, 2020
NORTH AMERICA

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Marieke Hemmes
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Annika Durinck
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Astrid van den Broek
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Sander Bruins Slot
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Job Offers

Sales Representative North America

Senior Commercial Manager | Murcia, Spain | Fruit

Country Manager | France

Avocados Sales/Marketing Professional - Europe

Looking for an opportunity in India

Procurement & Sales Manager, Potato Division - Lobinstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

European regional agent and new sales manager

Head Grower - Owatonna (Minnesota) USA

Teeltspecialist (Proeftuin & Veredeling) - Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Netherlands

Farm Manager - Riana, Tasmania, Australia

OVERVIEW GLOBAL STRAWBERRY MARKET

The strawberry sector is suffering the impact of the coronavirus. Since consumers currently prefer fruit with a longer shelf life, strawberries are ignored. In Spain, this has…

Fyffes comments on Honduran melon farm accusations

Last week, a joint report (by the International Labor Rights Forum, Fair World Project and Banana Link) was published, accusing Fyffes of ongoing human and labor rights…

Rambutan hopes to see ginger/turmeric-like boost in demand

As the imported rambutan season gears up, questions remain around what demand might look like once the fruit arrives in the marketplace. Marc Holbik of Miami, Fl.-based…

Even supplies of imported Persian limes

Volumes of Persian limes out of Mexico are comparable to last year’s volume. “The supply of limes is enough to cover the demand,” says Motaz Hassan of Calgary,…

USDA files action against California company for alleged PACA violations

As part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the U.S.…

Lower volume on 2020 Vidalia onions

Vidalia onions look to be somewhat lower in volume this season. “There were some rains and later in the deal there were heavy, heavy rains. This affected the onions a bit, and…

Videxport S.A., partner of Giumarra Companies

Mexico grower introduces sanitation tunnels for worker safety

The Giumarra Companies, marketing partner of Sonora, Mexico-based Videxport S.A. de C.V., announced the company’s new sanitation tunnels to support worker safety and ensure…

Produce donations to those in need continue

"I know that this is only a temporary relief, but we hope we can do more in the future"

This week, the donations to those in need continued. In Arizona, the Hopi, Navajo, and White Mountain Apache Nations were brought three truckloads of fresh produce, and in…

Today's important COVID-19 news in the fresh produce sector

Corona-update: Food & Beverage brands that have adapted to Covid-19

In the last Corona-virus update of this week, we look at food & beverage brands who have adapted successfully to Covid-19. In the US, COVID travel restrictions still…

US: Rebranded guacamole products to be released with Cinco de Mayo

Good Foods have announced the rollout of a newly rebranded guacamole line to hit store shelves in alignment with the Cinco de Mayo holiday. The new packaging can be found on…

United Fresh

FreshPlaza Special about United Fresh

COVID-19 has a significant impact on the produce business, including the trade show world. One event after another is being postponed or canceled. However, one organization is…

Global Focus Melons / Kiwifruit

FreshPlaza Global Focus Melon / Kiwifruit

FreshPlaza will be focusing on melons and kiwifruit in our May Global Focus. There are many new challenges facing exporters and importers in this strange new world. The New…

Retail

KeHE: Multi-year partnership agreement with Spoiler Alert

Albertsons: Amazing 2020 start

Grocers among the world's 75 most valuable retail brandsAmazon, Walmart and Costco are among the big-name retailers atop the third annual BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable Global…

Photo by Ylanite Koppens

Food scientist Hang Xiao - University of Massachusetts Amherst

Strawberries studied for their anti-inflammatory benefits

University of Massachusetts Amherst food scientist Hang Xiao has received a new federal grant to expand his research into the health benefits of certain fruits…

John Beaulieu joins Meridian Growers

Meridian Growers announced it has brought on John Beaulieu to manage the processing of the various tree nuts they and their partners grow in California and…

Trish Lovell returns to Baker & Murakami

With her trademark optimism, onion industry veteran Trish Lovell told OnionBusiness this week she’s happy to be back in Ontario, OR, where she recently joined the sales team…

National Statistics Office of Georgia report:

US 2019 production of grapes increased by 13.8 percent year-on-year

According to the preliminary data, in 2019 production of top fruit consisted of 52.100 tons in the country, which is 44.2 percent less than in the same period of the previous…

US: Citrus production in Georgia is expanding

Currently, citrus is grown throughout 41 counties in the state of Georgia, CitrusIndustry reports. According to Jake Price, Lowndes County UGA Cooperative…

California Governor Newsom files lawsuit over water for farmers

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has filed a lawsuit to stop the federal government from increasing water deliveries to California farmers, including growers in…

The world container fleet is expected to contract

The disruption of container supply chains globally by the coronavirus outbreak and the decrease in demand for ships and equipment will lead to a contraction of the container…

Enmanuel van Voorthuizen, Yex:

"Airfreight capacity shortage is hindering papayas' European consumer growth"

Brazilian papayas are currently plentiful, with high demands. However, airfreight capacity shortages are currently making its import enormously costly. "Brazilian exporters…

Hennie Bisschoff - Wegro

Spike in pineapple demand but growing exports nipped in the bud by lockdown

Pineapples have been on the mind of South African consumers recently: over three weeks, since the Covid-19 lockdown, sales have briskly increased at the Johannesburg fresh…

'Australian consumers are feeling more optimistic as lockdown restrictions start to be lifted'

Australia’s stringent lockdown has paid off with the country only seeing around 25 new cases of COVID-19 per day at the end of April. As a result, consumers are feeling more…

New Zealand’s fresh produce industry strengthened with acquisition

T&G Global has taken ownership of Freshmax New Zealand’s domestic fruit and vegetable business, in a move which will transform New Zealand’s fresh produce…

Supreme People's Court decision in pomelo case clarifies scope of plant variety rights in China

On 11 December 2019, the Intellectual Property division of the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) published its highly anticipated decision on the Plant Variety…

"Considering the sluggish market situation in Asia, we are satisfied with the results"

"Our season from Italy to Asia has ended"

In these difficult times, as exhibitions and fairs are canceled, it has become harder and harder to expose potential customers to new products, and companies are having to be…

Exports going strong

Abundant supply and strong yields of sweet potatoes

When Australia went into lock down there was an initial big spike in demand for most products, fresh or otherwise, but the market seems to have calmed down now. “In the weeks…

"We all need to educate consumers on an intelligent form of disposal of the plastic"

A leading global packaging company says while reducing plastics, including from fresh produce items is a key focus for the international community in becoming more…

Varietal distribution of 2019/20 strawberry campaign in Huelva, Spain

"Just three strawberry varieties account for almost 72% of the total"

On April 28, the Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (Ifapa) presented a technical report with estimates on the varietal distribution of the…

Japanese import of fruit and vegetables from China drops strongly in first quarter

Japan may be far away, but the market for mainly fresh fruit is a global happening. Of the 2.5 million tons of fresh fruit and vegetables that Japan imports annually, 40%…

Global potato production

Simon Kuestenmacher, geographer and demographer, shared this map on global potato production on twitter.

Eimskip takes delivery of new Dettifoss

Dettifoss, one of two new 2,150 teus vessels that has been built in China was delivered to Eimskip today. The delivery of the vessel is an important milestone on the Company’s…

Ecogreen Italia Multis line

A versatile electric machine for transplanting and harvesting zucchini and other vegetables

Two engines of 1000 W each, four batteries of 240 A each and 16 hours of autonomy, at a maximum speed of 4 km/h, with rear wheel drive and electric steering are the main…

Netherlands: Government letter recommends cheaper fruit and vegetables

Dutch Minister of Finance, Minister Hoekstra, sent a proposal for a fair price for meat and cheaper fruit and vegetables (starting in 2023) to the House of…

Division between Ecuadorian banana producers and exporters

The National Federation of Banana Producers' (Fenabe) proposal to freeze Ecuadorian banana production for three weeks to regulate supply in the market and…

From 30 gas stations in high-density areas of Metro Manila

Philippines: San Miguel Corporation now sells fresh vegetables

In an effort to boost food accessibility throughout the country, the San Miguel Corporation is leveraging the extensive service station network of Petron…

Jason Row

Suez Canal Authority seeks to head-off ships diverting via Cape of Good Hope

In an effort to keep container vessels transiting its waterway the Suez Canal Authority has cut its vessel transit rates, by up to 75% for some ships. A number of vessel…

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