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- Retail Key Account Manager
- Sales Representative Southeastern US
- Bedding and Perennials Sales Manager Europe
- Horticultural Technician
- Agronomist
- Head Grower Strawberries, Norway
- Tissue Culture Laboratory Scientist
- Manager Operations & Logistics
- Vegetable Advisor (Permanent)
- Horticultural Commercial Director
"Tweeting Growers"
Top 5 - yesterday
- 10% increase of tomato production in the new Looije greenhouses
- AU: Provenance Propagation construction close to completion
- Busy days at GreenTech Americas 2023 in Mexico
- Indoor growers fight pests and diseases with LED lighting
- "If you don’t focus on the plant, you cannot develop the tech to be successful”
Top 5 - last week
- 10% increase of tomato production in the new Looije greenhouses
- How growers boost crop yields with greenhouse film EVO AC®
- Stronger plants & higher production with autonomous growing in Mexico
- AU: Provenance Propagation construction close to completion
- Thanks to air-conditioned greenhouses, Emirati producers can grow tomatoes during 45 °C summer
Top 5 - last month
- Japanese Berry Pop fresh strawberry seeds now available for global markets
- 10% increase of tomato production in the new Looije greenhouses
- Kuwait: Aeroponic greenhouse to continue country's effort to cut down import
- A greenhouse full of cherry blossoms in Hungary
- Combining aquaponics and hydroponics in a 2 hectare Bahrain facility
Monday, March 27, 2023


Photo report: Third time's a charm for GreenTech Americas
Organizing a trade show in normal times can be quite challenging. Doing so during a pandemic can feel like a nightmare. However, the team at GreenTech Americas rose to the occasion and successfully hosted the third edition of their fair in Queretaro, Mexico last week. Being the first edition after the…

Why AgriFORCE wants to acquire Berry People
AgriFORCE has made the headlines quite a few times recently. The company indeed went on an acquisition spree tailored to creating a business that tackles the full extent of the supply chain. With Deroose and Delphy joining the company last year, AgriFORCE wanted to add unique knowledge to its portfolio.…


Over 135 growers present at Leamington Grower Summit
More than 135 growers and industry representatives attended the recent Leamington Grower Summit hosted by horticulture leaders Grodan, Growtec, Philips LED Lighting, Priva, and Svensson. During the half-day event, sponsor company representatives shared information on their latest research, products,…

New project of gothic macro tunnels for strawberry cultivation in Spain
A new model of installation for strawberry cultivation called Berryfesta has been launched by the Spanish company J. Huete. The intention is to provide a new solution to the producers of this demanded fruit. These are gothic macro tunnels with a reinforced structure inspired by greenhouses that, at the…


Jeroen Pouls – Blackberry nursery J. Pouls
"We save on water and fertilizers thanks to the provided data"
Blackberry grower Jeroen Pouls argues: "If you don't try, you won't get any wiser." And wiser he is now. Thanks to the use of Growficient, he now knows more about his watering. This, combined with Jeroen's vigor, has led to saving time, water, and fertilizers. Save on time and fertilizersRecently, he got a…

Plant Empowerment
Plant Empowerment to launch:New educational program about plant health: April 12
Plant Empowerment is launching a new educational program on Wednesday, April 12, to help growers grow truly healthy plants that are resistant to diseases and pests. The insights of the course will not only help participants to understand the real meaning and importance of plant health, but it can also…

Perishable Movements K. Ltd. about their vacuum cooling service:
“The product quality is maintained, ensuring a longer shelf-life”
Perishable Movements K. Ltd. is a mid-sized freight forwarding & logistics company based in Kenya, consisting of 60 employees. The company transports between 50 – 100 tons of produce per day, of which 40% needs to be cooled, such as fresh flowers, herbs & cuttings, and fruits & vegetables. Because of…

Israel’s Harmoniz is leveraging technology to provide tomatoes with flavor and freshness:
"We understand the needs of retailers and growers"
According to research published by Eurostat, only 12% of the EU population consumed the recommended minimum of five portions of produce daily, partly because of the poor taste of the produce. Israeli greenhouse seeds developer Harmoniz is using cutting-edge molecular biology and breeding technologies to…

Australia: Protected cropping and soilless farming study tour
Australia's premier crop production facilities are opening their doors to participants in a specialized training program. As one of the world's largest agricultural exporters,…

New snacking pepper developed for indoor growing
The value of indoor agriculture is skyrocketing for both producers and consumers, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is at the center of the innovation hotspot. In partnership with the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, researchers in the School of Plant and Environmental…

Gert-Jan Dekker to work for Agrolux and Gavita
Gert-Jan Dekker has joined Hawthorne Gardening Company in Rozenburg as an agronomist in the Marketing & Development team since March 1, 2023. Gert-Jan studied Agricultural…
Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish still not on board
Commercial development of gene-edited food now allowed in England
Gene-edited food can now be developed commercially in England. Supporters of the technology say it will speed up the development of hardier crops, 'essential in the light of…

Canadian grower celebrates Farmworker Awareness Week
Windset Farms® likes to do things for its farmworkers. The company regularly brings in food trucks for lunches and holds raffles and barbecues at its head office in Delta, British Columbia. However, the most beloved event it hosts is a multi-week soccer tournament that all farmworkers are invited to play…

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Leveraging data-driven growing techniques to optimize treatment costs and increase crop yields
In a constantly changing world where margins are tight, greenhouse growers are looking for ways to optimize the cost of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and ensure that they are not overspending. With many solution providers in the space, it can be challenging to identify which innovations will prove to…

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AU: $11.5M effort to deliver bot-ready strawberries
Strawberries specially bred for automated picking will soon become a reality in Australia after the launch of an initiative to develop varieties that can be easily harvested by a robot. Scientists will naturally meld together the flavor, color, and aroma traits Aussies love the most with premium…
Today on social media more »

Grower of FoodVentures / Head Grower Kazakhstan
ceyhun cihan
Today I want to share with you a video summary of the tomato growing process. This video covers the process from planting to harvesting of tomatoes. a video of about 3 minutes, enjoy watching.
Greenhouse expansion projects more »
Tomatoes and lettuces for regional wholesale
Gemüsehof Schwienheer invests in new greenhouse facility
Gemüsehof Schwienheer has invested well over three million euros in further expanding the farm. In the new 11,500 m2 glass house, 20 different tomato varieties, as well as…
Soil grown produce more »

David Madiot, Gautier Semences:
“Liniac zucchini: quality choice among open field crops”
This spring, Gautier Semences is launching Liniac, a new variety of long green zucchinis for open field crops. “This variety is characterized by a high yield in conditions of viral pressure thanks to its resistance to 4 viruses and very good tolerance to powdery mildew, an asset to maintain a clean crop…
Cultivation more »
Maximilian Hartmann of vGreens on strawberry cultivation using the vertical farm method:
"Our goal is data-driven and sustainable strawberry production"
Crisp, fresh strawberries from local cultivation all year round: this is what the Witten-based start-up vGreens, founded in 2022, achieves thanks to sophisticated vertical farming technology. In the enclosed space of around 50m2, the popular red fruit grows and thrives in a vertical arrangement, on…
Technique more »

Agricola Moderna
Agricola Moderna:Revealing the invisible in crops
To achieve continuous and detailed plant monitoring, growers must combine data from a large number of optical and other technologies, which requires sensor and data fusion. One grower that is using such an approach is Milan-based Agricola Moderna, a 1500-square-meter vertical farm that produces and sells leafy greens for salads…
Company News more »

Amelie Aust promoted to Executive Chair of Fall Creek Board of Directors
Fall Creek Farm & Nursery, Inc., has announced the promotion of Amelie Aust to the executive chair of the family-owned blueberry breeding and nursery company’s independent…
Grower in the Spotlight more »

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US (NS): Planting ideas for growth on Nova Scotia farms
The growing season at Andy Vermeulen's farm looks very different these days from what it was in 1988. Back then, Vermeulen Farms Ltd. in Canning, N.S., was focused on growing fresh salad vegetables, which evolved through the years to crops such as asparagus, cucumbers, peppers, squash, and zucchini —…

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US (WA): New hydroponics system benefits West Valley students’ education and nutrition
There’s been a lot of buzz in recent years about buying local, and the West Valley School District has taken that to heart, serving lettuce grown by students at Spokane Valley High School. The school is the proud owner of a new hydroponic growing system that uses circulating water rather than dirt to…

Mark Taylor/Stuff
NZ: Greengrower completes trials, plans to scale up
A “season-agnostic” vertical farm in Hamilton has received $3.5 million in public funding for research in the wake of increasing climatic events that have left crops across the North Island devastated. Rain or shine, the weather has no effect on the 4000 bags of lettuce growing and packaged daily at…

Malaysia: Hydroponic farm in Kuala Pilah offers fresh vegetables and farming lessons
Seeing the various types of fresh hydroponic vegetables at Aininaz Farm and the view of the greenery in the area makes one feel like being in the Cameron Highlands. The farm is located on Jalan Sungai Dua, Kampung Kuala Dioh, but what is unique about Aininaz Farm is that visitors go there not only to buy…
Crop Protection more »

Study shows
Mass media campaigns can be effective in promoting safer crop pest and disease control
A new CABI-led study has found that mass media campaigns aimed at changing pesticide use to fight crop pests and diseases are more effective when farmers are exposed to multiple forms of communication. CABI scientists collaborated with colleagues from the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources…
Market Information more »
Christian Fetzer, consultant for vegetable cultivation at LLH Hessen:
"Higher prices not enforceable because customers will then avoid the produce"
Currently, horticultural greenhouse businesses are struggling with high energy costs. This is forcing some farms in Hesse to change their production. But high energy prices…

USDA
National Retail Report - specialty cropsSignificant price increases included strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries
Shoppers were lucky this week, finding deals galore for St. Paddy's Day feasts. Green cabbage, onions, carrots, and potatoes were displayed alongside corned beef. Avocados, green bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, asparagus, Granny Smith apples, and white seedless grapes were well advertised and added to…

The season of local tomatoes in Poland started a month late
Mass sales of tomatoes from local greenhouses have started on the Polish wholesale market this week. At the same time, the season of local greenhouse tomatoes this year began…

Spanish products didn't interfering with the commercialization of Sicilian vegetables
"After the flood that affected our crops in Sicily last February, slowing down production, we have registered skyrocketing prices. Spanish productions registered the same trend, though they did not interfere with our trade," reports Giuseppe Libretti, CEO of Gruppo Libretti in Vittoria (RG). Giuseppe…

Reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia is good news for Iranian tomato producers
Iran and Saudi Arabia announced on March 10 to have reached a reconciliation agreement and the restoration of diplomatic relations after a rupture that lasted seven years and stopped trade between the two countries. According to Morteza Khanouki, sales & marketing manager of the Iranian tomato producer…

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UAE going towards increasing local food production
Salmon farming on land, Fitbit-style devices for cattle, and acres of greenhouses producing vegetables in a Mediterranean environment — the face of farming in the UAE is changing fast. With a 70 percent increase in global food demand expected by 2050, and climate change affecting agricultural production,…

Thomas Bos (Thomasol Gestión, S.L.):
"Vegetable prices in Spain do not yet correspond to rapidly falling prices in the Netherlands"
Cold weather, sky-high prices, and huge shortages dominated the news from Spain in recent weeks. Meanwhile, the weather has cleared up in Spain, but according to Thomas Bos (Thomasol Gestión), who has lived and worked in Alicante for more than 20 years, the price drop is currently going faster in…

"Spanish tomatoes on the rise again"
Over the past five to ten years, the market for tomatoes grown in Spain has declined, while bell peppers and cucumbers have been rising. However, the recent energy crisis in northern Europe has reversed that downward trend. "That's because you don't have to heat Spanish greenhouses, and there's more…

The good and bad news for California growers after the rains
Short-term pain with some long-term gains. That's what California growers are facing following recent headline-making rains in key California growing regions such as the Salinas Valley. The big picture is, of course, that rain was desperately needed within the state following years of consecutive…
Energy more »

Retractable roof harness solar energy to power greenhouses
Mirai Solar, a solar technology startup of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, is disrupting the greenhouse market by developing foldable roof shades that not only prevent fruits, vegetables, and flowers from extreme sunlight but also generate electricity to run these facilities.…
Fertilizers more »

The Go Inverconec Operating Group will present its results at the next Global G.A.P. Tour Stop in Spain 2023
"Fertilizer use has been decreased by 20 to 40%"
The Go Inverconec Operating Group will present at the Global G.A.P. Tour stop in Spain 2023, which will take place on March 14 and 15 at the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos de Aguadulce (Almeria), the results of the implementation of a technological tool that brings together and relates greenhouse…
Breeding more »

Downward tomato trend in Spain reversed since energy crisis
The market for tomatoes produced in Spain has been on the decline for the past 5-10 years, while peppers and cucumbers have been growing. Since the recent energy crisis in Northern Europe, however, the downward tomato trend has been reversed. “That’s because in Spain, you don’t need to heat your…
Product Info more »

New tropical mini pepper launched
Windset Farms® introduces SONATA™ Tropical Mini Peppers, the newest addition to the Windset Farms family. The SONATA Tropical Mini Peppers are a Tatayoyo® Mini Pepper variety with a deep orange color, adding brightness and warmth to dishes. With few seeds and sized between a blocky and snack pepper, they…
Substrates and starting material more »

Canadian branch for Manisha Exports
Manisha Exports is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of Coconut fiber, natural fiber, and coconut substrate products in Sri Lanka. The new subsidiary, Manisha Trading Canada, has been established in Oshawa, Ontario, to serve exclusively the growers and distributors in the North American…
Organic more »

Organic produce items saw wide range of performance in 2022
The performance of individual organic produce categories ranged widely last year, according to the State of Organic Produce 2022, a report released by Organic Produce Network. The 72-page report provides an overall view of organic produce retail performance in 2022 as well as specific insights into the…
Post-harvest & Packaging more »

“Taking the most out of your shipments is just one simple step away”
At Otflow, the mission is to reduce food waste on a global scale. Since 2018, their floor covers for containers have been used by over 100 exporters in over 30 countries. Over the past years, the team has been working on new ways to demonstrate the effect of their products, and as a result, they are now…
Food Safety & Sanitation more »

NL: Stefix 95 floor sweeper supplied to Van der Knaap Group
At the beginning of January, Steenks Service supplied a floor sweeper to the Van der Knaap Group. Their previous sweeper had ceased to meet their needs, so the company traded it in for the Stefix 95. The old sweeper was collected by Steenks Service and fully refurbished. By offering this sweeper as a…
Events more »
July 27-28, 2023
Registration, hotels open for IFPA’s Foodservice Conference
Registration and hotel reservations are now open for IFPA's Foodservice Conference, which will be held July 27-28 in Monterey, California. The conference, which attracts more…
Retail more »

Organic grower introduces Italian sweet peppers
Wholesum, Fair Trade Certified grower and shipper of organic vegetables, introduces new Italian sweet peppers, Dolci Belles. This new offering is part of the company's strategy to focus on organic greenhouse-grown varieties that bring an upgraded, flavorful experience to the consumer. While traditional peppers have…
Labor and automation more »

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US (FL): Farm workers use Florida march to pressure other companies
Farm workers were leading a five-day, 45-mile (72-kilometer) trek on foot this week from one of the poorest communities in Florida to a mansion-lined, oceanfront town that is one of the richest in an effort to pressure retailers to leverage their purchasing power for better worker pay and working…
Lighting more »

Indoor growers fight pests and diseases with LED lighting
Horticultural lighting in indoor growing facilities and nighttime treatment with specific wavelengths on outdoor crops are under review for effectiveness in reducing pests and diseases that impact yields and profits. New research suggests that indoor growers and greenhouse operators use lighting in order…
Irrigation more »

"Galvanized steel roofs of vital importance for clean water"
"For many applications, a reliable supply of clean water is indispensable. The water needs to meet drinking water standards and/or needs to be free of dirt, debris, contaminants, and bacteria. UV light should be blocked to avoid the growth of algae", says Arjen van Dijk, Director of Water storage at NPI.…
Education and research more »

Establishment of Integrated Propagation System on Grafting Plantlets of Passion Fruit
Passion fruit has become an important fruit crop in Taiwan and Southeast Asia due to its special taste and nutrient-rich flesh. However, it is seriously harmed by viruses, blight, and brown spot diseases. As a result of virus disease, producers have to renew passion fruit plantlets every year to ensure…