GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW BELL PEPPERS

In Italy, bell pepper prices are under pressure due to Dutch competition and weak demand, with current wholesale prices below break-even levels.…

Spring conditions challenged cabbage planting in New York State

The harvest of cabbage is about two weeks out in New York State. "That's pretty much normal, maybe a tad later than we'd like," says Eric Hansen of…

Rambutan demand continues to climb across North America

Imported rambutan is starting to hit its stride in quality. "While the rambutan season started back in May, this is when it really kicks into gear with…

California Secretary of Agriculture takes regenerative farming tour

On July 1, 2025, Braga Fresh welcomed California Department of Food & Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross to its home ranch in Soledad for a field tour…

Alfredo Volio, of Upala Agrícola:

"If we had 250 containers of pineapple today, we would sell them without a problem"

Despite climatic, logistical, and financial challenges, pineapple production in northern Costa Rica remains stable and in high demand in the…

Canadian boycott hits New Zealand apples labeled as U.S. products

Canadian consumers have responded to trade developments under the Trump administration by boycotting US products, a move that has unexpectedly implicated New…

FDA issues Class I recall for blueberries over listeria risk

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Class I recall for 400 boxes of organic blueberries from Alma Pak International LLC, Georgia. This…

Colombian avocado brand debuts in U.S. market

It's a new era of growth, identity, and opportunity for Colombian avocados. The Colombia Avocado Board (CAB) has launched the "Avocados From Colombia"…

U.S. plans 17–21% tariffs on Mexican tomatoes

Mexican officials are engaging in talks with the U.S. government and American growers to maintain the tariff-free status of tomato exports under the Tomato…

Himachal growers fear impact of U.S. tariff talks

As India discusses a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the U.S. amid tariff policy changes by the American administration, apple growers in Himachal Pradesh…

U.S. farm leaders voice support for ending tomato trade agreement

Agriculture leaders from across the country are voicing support for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's decision to terminate the U.S.-Mexico Tomato…

Morocco breaks avocado export record to Canada

Morocco continues to expand its avocado export portfolio, reaching a record volume in shipments to Canada this season, according to EastFruit. Citing Global…

Exhibit space open for CPMA 2026 Convention and Trade Show

Planning is in full swing for the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's 2026 Convention and Trade Show, happening April 28–30 at the Metro Toronto…

U.S. National Retail Report - Specialty Crops:

July 4 produce ads steady, grape prices surge

This week, retailers celebrated the red, white, and blue with sales on seasonal favorites. Watermelons, cantaloupes, peaches, nectarines, plums,…

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. clarifies it is not affiliated with Del Monte Foods Inc.

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is a fully independent, publicly traded company with no financial or operational affiliation with Del Monte Foods Inc., a…

New organic dried mushroom products to showcase at OPS 2025

In response to retailer requests, Mother Earth has created a portable floor shipper for its new line of organic dried mushroom pieces and mushroom…

Seasonal Perishable Products Weekly Update:

Asparagus price stable, avocados and cucumbers rise

Market conditions for several fresh produce items are shifting due to seasonal transitions, supply variations, and weather effects. Below is a summary of…

U.S. potato acreage forecast to decline slightly in 2025

The latest data from the USDA reveals a slight decrease in both planted and harvested potato acreage in the United States for 2025 compared to the previous…

Aggrigator Inc. satisfies terms of consent decision

On March 16, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) filed an administrative complaint alleging Aggrigator Inc. of Watsonville, Calif., doing business…

“We’re exposing students to the entire system that supports food production”

A shipping container in the middle of EPIC Campus in Littleton, Colorado, has become an unexpected training ground for the next generation of…

Tinus Venter – Janlouis Boerdery

Winter watermelon gamble pays off

The trio of brothers behind Janlouis Boerdery remains dapper despite their recent battering by the weather: intense frost last July wiped out entire…

“India’s apple market needs flexible solutions”

In India, apples demand precise grading, sorting, and packing to meet the diverse needs of quick commerce, modern retail, and HoReCa. Rohit Khetan of…

Karel Vaes, Hellingenfort:

"If beans can be flown in as a luxury product, so can cherries"

The cherry season at Hellingenfort is going extremely well, according to owner Karel Vaes. "It's a very nice season. The abundance of sunshine is…

CEO Bas Rensen, Best Fresh Group:

"We aim to grow our trading business through acquisitions and partnerships"

During the interview with Bas Rensen, the word 'focus' comes up repeatedly. Bas succeeded Mart Valstar as CEO of Best Fresh Group two and a half years…

Roelant Komen, BeFair Bio:

"Demand for overseas organic citrus picked up slightly earlier than last year"

More than two years ago, Roelant Komen, José Cubero, Erik Rustenburg, and Yesy Lalupu founded BeFair Bio. Today, a team in Peru and Poeldijk is ready…

ABA Mediterranean Summer campaign (Italy):

The vines are flourishing, the mini watermelons are imminent, and the grapes are on the horizon

ABA Mediterranea's summer season is in full swing. The final rounds of the stone fruit campaign are wrapping up, and the mini watermelon season has…

"Bravura RZ melon is increasingly planted in greenhouses in the off-season, overlapping with Brazil"

Spain is the leader in melon exports from March to October, a period that seed companies are interested in extending as much as possible. Interesting…

Experts and producers meet to tackle Africa's most devastating banana diseases

In a context where bananas are an economic pillar and a vital component for the food security and cultural identity of many African regions, more than…

Germany:

"Higher yield increases for snack and mini cucumbers compared to regular cucumbers"

In the Halte gardeners' settlement near Papenburg, this year's cucumber harvest has gotten off to a particularly good start. "Compared to last year,…

Italy's top Skylar Rae white cherries enter the Asian market for the first time

Last week, Skylar Rae® white cherries from Italy entered the Hong Kong market for the first time, and the initial batch of supplies quickly sold out.…

David Franco, Grupo Paloma:

Murcia's seedless grape harvest started almost two weeks later

The Region of Murcia's seedless grape harvest started almost two weeks later than usual. Expectations are that it will be a good season as consumption…

Georgia series – part 12:

“90% of our blueberry harvest is destined for export”

Georgia can no longer be considered a minor player in the global blueberry industry. With approximately 3,000 hectares currently under cultivation, a…

Tim van Haandel, Mulder Onions:

"Shipping delays disrupt New Zealand onion sales"

The prosperous sales of New Zealand onions in Europe have stalled in recent weeks. "Until the second week of June, sales were going satisfactorily.…

Exotic Roots aims to serve major retailers from new location

"Tropical fruit demand surges in sunny weather"

Exotic Roots entered the exotic fruit and vegetable import market five years ago. However, the fifth anniversary will no longer be celebrated at the…

DENSO on the Axia acquisition

"Accelerating the development of innovative cultivation methods"

DENSO Corporation confirmed it has acquired Axia Vegetable Seeds, the vegetable seed breeding company headquartered in the Netherlands, focused on…

End of potato harvest in Egypt, exporters switch to cold storage

With the end of the potato harvest in Egypt, exporters are now moving on to the storage phase in order to continue export programs until the end of the…

"Moving Interfresh Eurasia to Izmir was the correct decision"

The Turkish exhibition Interfresh Eurasia has been growing every year, since 2018. According to Murat Özer, general manager of the trade show…

"European interest for Turkish dragon fruit is clearly there"

After exporting many kinds of fruit, this will be the first year that Perla Fruit exports dragon fruit. According to Hamdi Taner, managing director of…

Dr. Duncan T. Aust, CTO - AgroFresh:

"We need to find new solutions to combat fungal decay in fresh produce"

Food waste is a big issue, and 14% of fresh produce is lost between the harvest and retail. AgroFresh supplies many solutions to help prolong freshness…

“Dragon fruit relies on quick sales”

India's imported dragon fruit market depends on swift distribution and quality consistency to meet rising consumer demand. Vishal Vadhwa, Director of…

Moroccan farm management software attracts international growers

Moroccan agro-tech company Agridata has announced its expansion into the international market across three continents, thanks in particular to its…

Iranian exports have returned to their normal course

After twelve days of intense and mutual strikes between Iran and Israel, during which the entire world held its breath in anticipation of potential…

The bulk of Senegal's mango harvest arrives on the market

The bulk of Senegalese mango production, namely that from the Niayes region, is arriving on the international market. The season is shaping up to be…

Retailer dedicates shop window displays to ClemenGold mandarins

The ClemenGold® mandarin brand is known for its consistently high-quality eating experience, and the brand has built a loyal consumer following over…

German BLE week 26:

'Turkish cherries less prevalent due to severe frost in April'

Domestic cherries dominated; deliveries increased again. Spanish shipments followed in terms of importance and also increased. Turkish imports still…

Hamburg-based catering supplier Marker oHG celebrates its 40th anniversary

"Sustainable action is not just lip service for us, it's something we live and breathe"

Forty years ago, Michael Marker embarked on an entrepreneurial journey that today forms the basis for the success story of Marker oHG. It all started…

Australia forecasts record almond exports for 2025/26

The Australian almond industry has experienced strong and sustained growth over the past two decades, a trend that is expected to continue. Australia is now…

World Container Index - 03 Jul:

Drewry’s container index drops 5.7% to $2,812 per 40ft

Drewry's WCI Index fell for the third consecutive week, by 5.7% this week. This decline is a direct result of the low demand for US-bound cargo and is…

Despite frost, Moldovan cherries are being exported to Italy

Despite the late spring frost that affected some Moldovan orchards, Moldovan producers are ready to deliver fruit that meets European standards.…

FPC blasts UK border regulations as "world-class embarrassment"

The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has condemned the Government's continuing failure to provide real answers to real questions—questions that affect…

Brazil's mango exports had surpassed $80 million by May 2025

Brazil's fruit exports reached $1.38 billion in 2024, with over one million tons of fresh and processed produce exported globally. The Ministry of Agriculture…

Limgroup's Stefan Pohl about the asparagus sector developments:

"Late segment asparagus varieties are on the rise"

Rising costs and tough sales: Many know the European asparagus sector has had a difficult few years. Things, however, seem to be looking up for this…

"New medium-sized TOVs' high yields are distinctive"

Breeding company BASF | Nunhems is launching several new tomato varieties this season. The large vine segment has resistant successors to existing…