"Calculating how various decisions will influence the climate in the greenhouse"

Energy is one of the largest expenses in greenhouse growing. Today, there are many technical solutions to help drastically cut the power bill. And yet, identifying the best possible setup among the many technical and climate solutions available, is still a huge challenge that needs to accommodate…

"Producing within 5 miles of the customer makes us 'hyper local'"

There's something else than Brexit news coming out of the UK this week. Yeeld, the vertical farm in Putney, is happy to announce that they have commenced the sustainable growing of fresh produce.  The start-up is the brainchild of ex-city trader Doug Barr who left his job as a commodities trader to tackle one very large problem.  How will…

US (OH): Automated indoor farm secures significant financing

80 Acres Farms has received a significant investment from Virgo Investment Group, a San Francisco Bay Area based private equity firm. Terms of the financing were not disclosed. The Virgo investment will enable 80 Acres Farms to complete the previously announced facility in Hamilton, Ohio, a fully automated indoor farm.…

Argus Controls enters strategic alliances with new partners

Argus Controls communicated its recent development of strategic alliances with key partners that will extend its ability to provide environmental controls and nutrient management systems to the commercial horticultural industry, including the legal cannabis production markets in Canada and the US. Courtesy of Hydrofarm…

Dutch pepper grower ready for climate agreement with heat network connection

Greenhouse horticulture area Alton in Heerhugowaard (North Holland) was officially connected to the heat network of waste and energy company HVC on Thursday 10 January 2019. Pepper grower NH Paprika will be the first greenhouse horticulture company to be connected to the grid and is therefore fully…

China: Coco peat show its worth in fruit nurseries in Yunnan

In recent years, coco peat and coco-peat based blends have been gaining popularity and used by an increasing number of nurseries and farm operators, citing the superior technical attributes of coco products in terms of water retention, roots area aeration as well as the direct benefit of cost advantage…

Osram sells North American service business, Sylvania Lighting Solutions

A WESCO International subsidiary will acquire the business operations of Osram's North American service unit, Sylvania Lighting Solutions. The North American-based distributor…

"Muslim consumers want to feel fresh produce before they buy"

The Flemish agricultural sector is strongly focused on the classical Western consumer, while 1 in 5 Belgians has an ethnic background. During the Agriflanders exhibition in Gent, VLAM held a seminar about multicultural marketing. Various speakers gave their insight in the purchase and eating behavior of…

US: Plant health companies merge, uniting under one banner

Douglas Products announces the formation of a new Plant Health Division following the addition of two companies known for innovation in Biological plant nutrition and soil…

Singapore: Republic Polytechnic offers urban farming education

Republic Polytechnic (RP) is paving the way for the future of Singapore's high-tech urban farming. On Wednesday (Jan 9), the poly launched the specialised diploma in urban agricultural technology - the first full-qualification diploma in the field. Commencing in June with an inaugural batch of 25 students, the part-time diploma in applied…

Chinese moon plant dies

Remember that cotton plant that sprouted after a Chinese space mission had put it on the dark side of the moon? It started growing only yesterday , but today it's already dead. It turned out that the…

Russia: New eggplant facility in Leningrad region

Agricultural company Vyborzhets, located in the Leningrad region, is striving to become the biggest eggplant producer in the northwest of Russia. They have started up a project to build a new eggplant production facility. The project presupposes the construction of a contemporary automated complex with…

Greenhouse in an Auchan hypermarket

In Italy, Auchan is testing the installation of a greenhouse in a hypermarket. Fresh herbs and salads grow directly on the shelves and customers do their own “harvesting”. Agricooltur, a young company from the Turin region, is the originator of this scheme. The neighboring Auchan hypermarket placed the installation in its market area…

"Calculating how various decisions will influence the climate in the greenhouse"

Energy is one of the largest expenses in greenhouse growing. Today, there are many technical solutions to help drastically cut the power bill. And yet, identifying the best possible setup among the many technical and climate solutions available, is still a huge challenge that needs to accommodate…

UK: Jamie Oliver opens 500 deli counters at Shell garages across the nation

Today, Jamie Oliver launched his new deli partnership with oil company Shell. The restaurateur signed a £ 5 million deal with the company last year. According to an article on inews.co.uk ¸ this caused some consternation, as Oliver has campaigned against climate change in the past. Still, Oliver is set on bringing…

USDA fines Farmers Best of NYC for PACA violations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited Farmers Best of NYC Inc., operating out of Brooklyn, New York, for failure to pay for produce. The company failed to pay $610,685…

Sakata Seed America pledges support for PMA’s Center for Growing Talent program

Sakata Seed America recently announced a two-year donation of $15,000 each year ($30,000 total) to support Produce Marketing Association’s ‘Center for Growing Talent’…

US (NJ): Roger Post joins AeroFarms as COO

AeroFarms announced that Roger Post is their new Chief Operating Officer who will oversee all of their Operations, Food Safety and Quality Assurance, Engineering, Farm Construction, STACK/Data Systems, and R&D. Roger has over 28 years of manufacturing and supply chain operations experience with CPG food companies including Danone and…

BayWa Global Produce and partners make first joint trade fair presentation

For the first time BayWa AG and its Group companies in the international fruit business will be represented with a joint trade fair presence at this year's Fruit Logistica…

New joint venture in the field of cold logistics chain

Martico sl, the third reefer forwarder in Europe, headquartered in Valencia, Spain, particularly specialized in handling reefer and frozen commodities (meat, fish, vegetables,…

Oerlemans Packaging Group takes over Frisiapack

On January the first 2019, Oerlemans Packaging Group took over the activities of Frisiapack. Frisiapack, located in Heerenveen (Netherlands), specializes in the supply of stretch sleeves that are used for plastic barrels, jerry cans, buckets, bottles and kegs, mainly for packaging liquids. For many years, subsidiary Oerlemans…

US: Plant health companies merge, uniting under one banner

Douglas Products announces the formation of a new Plant Health Division following the addition of two companies known for innovation in Biological plant nutrition and soil…

Argus Controls enters strategic alliances with new partners

Argus Controls communicated its recent development of strategic alliances with key partners that will extend its ability to provide environmental controls and nutrient management systems to the commercial horticultural industry, including the legal cannabis production markets in Canada and the US. Courtesy of Hydrofarm…

Osram sells North American service business, Sylvania Lighting Solutions

A WESCO International subsidiary will acquire the business operations of Osram's North American service unit, Sylvania Lighting Solutions. The North American-based distributor…

"Producing within 5 miles of the customer makes us 'hyper local'"

There's something else than Brexit news coming out of the UK this week. Yeeld, the vertical farm in Putney, is happy to announce that they have commenced the sustainable growing of fresh produce.  The start-up is the brainchild of ex-city trader Doug Barr who left his job as a commodities trader to tackle one very large problem.  How will…

Employing natural enemies of Tuta absoluta improves tomato yields

The tomato leaf miner ( Tuta absoluta) is one of the most destructive tomato pests worldwide. "We tested the quantity and quality of tomatoes after the combined use of two biological control agents - predatory mirid bug Nesidiocoris tenius and egg parasitoid Trichogramma brassicae ," report researchers…

UK Tories: Supermarkets should have aisles for local produce

According to Scottish Conservatives, supermarkets should have dedicated shelves and aisles for goods created in their local area. Shops would be able to point customers to…

Tomato prices in India to rise further

With the price of tomatoes nearing ₹60 (€0.74) per kg and expected to rise by another ₹5 in the next two days, many Indian’s favourite tomato dishes may end up leaving a more…

Iran approves tomato exports for 40 days

Reza Rahmani, Iran's Minister of Industries, Mines and Trade, has lifted the ban on tomato and tomato paste exports for 40 days. In a statement to the head of Iran's customs, the minister approved the export of various types of tomato, tomato paste, beans and relevant products from January 10 to February…

Cucumber prices continue to rise in Russia

Greenhouse cucumber prices continue to rise in the Russian market, according to analysts from EastFruit. This positive price trend is linked to a further reduction in the…

Australia & New Zealand compete for harvest workers

Australia and New Zealand are facing the same problem: we are both very short of workers for harvesting fruit and vegetables. This issue will not go away in the immediate or medium-term future and it will require some assistance from government. Low unemployment in many parts of the country, where there…

Spain: More than 40% of vegetables damaged by cold weather in Guadalentin

The agricultural professional organization ASAJA Murcia estimates that the cold has taken a severe toll on the horticultural crops of the Guadalentín Valley, especially in Lorca, Totana, and also in Fuente Álamo. More than 40% of lettuce, artichokes and beans have been lost due to the cold. As explained by the…

"Labor is the number one topic in all the conversations we are currently having"

As we begin 2019, the moment is here to take a general look at the industry, and who better to discuss today’s topics with than Chris Higgins? With Hort Americas continually competing to be one of the leading wholesalers in North America, and Chris being a complete horti-geek, he’s on top of the…

Dutch pepper grower ready for climate agreement with heat network connection

Greenhouse horticulture area Alton in Heerhugowaard (North Holland) was officially connected to the heat network of waste and energy company HVC on Thursday 10 January 2019. Pepper grower NH Paprika will be the first greenhouse horticulture company to be connected to the grid and is therefore fully…

Video: Finding the right fertilizer for your berries

There are several types of small fruits and berries that are produced in pot culture in commercial greenhouses or outdoors, like blueberries, strawberries or raspberries. Horticulture Specialist Troy Buechel goes over the ideal PRO-MIX product to match your specific needs. For more information Premier Tech Horticulture Office 1, avenue…

The big five of genetically modified fruit

New varieties created through genetic editing and engineering promise to beat disease, offering enticing new flavours. Here are the big five. Tomatoes Brazilian scientists are hoping to create spicy tomatoes using Crispr gene-editing techniques. Although tomatoes contain the genes for capsaicinoids (the chemicals that…

Searching for the best genetics for new tomatoes

Thorough research is carried out before a new tomato variety can be introduced. We see that in this video from Ahern, supplier of vegetable seeds. Sales manager Enríque Peña says that a great deal of internal testing and research is carried out, for example in the area of the best genetics, but there are also demonstrations…

New ‘Florida Brilliance’ variety appealing to state’s strawberry industry

For years, University of Florida scientists looked for a few characteristics in a more desirable strawberry. Among those traits was a higher yield in November and December -- the early part of the Florida season when prices are highest. They also sought better fruit for the consumer. That meant a longer shelf life,…

"Patents on fruit and vegetables are a regulatory gap"

In June 2017, the European Patent Office (EPO) decided that no more patents would be granted on vegetables and fruit that originate from classical breeding techniques. However, the Technical Chamber of Appeal of the EPO concluded that this prohibition is in conflict with the European Patent Convention.…

Robots that will change the industry

There is not yet a real end in sight for the growth of the world population. With the current increases, there will be an enormous growth in agricultural needs and demands. To cover these needs fast, farmers are turning their attention toward robots. From planting to growing to collecting, all functions…

Turkish firm is producing pepquiños

Produced by a Turkish agricultural firm, olive-sized watermelons, also known as pepquiños, were put on display at a food fair on Wednesday. The tiny watermelons were featured at the 26th foodProduct, held in the Turkish Mediterranean province of Antalya. Head of the company, Mustafa Erust, stated that they produced the…

Reusable bag for fruits and vegetables from 100% renewable resources

In the supermarkets of the Swiss Coop corporation, there is now the Multi-Bag: a reusable bag for fruits and vegetables. This innovation is causing a stir among domestic consumers, being made of FSC-certified cellulose and having been awarded the Oecoplan label. The multi-bags can be used again and again and are…

"Muslim consumers want to feel fresh produce before they buy"

The Flemish agricultural sector is strongly focused on the classical Western consumer, while 1 in 5 Belgians has an ethnic background. During the Agriflanders exhibition in Gent, VLAM held a seminar about multicultural marketing. Various speakers gave their insight in the purchase and eating behavior of…

Laser Food launches ‘Natural Branding vs Burnt Skin’ campaign

Laser Food, a pioneer of safe, efficient laser labelling technology for fresh fruits and vegetables, has announced the launch of a new promotional campaign to raise awareness of the differences between the system marketed under Laser Food’s own ‘Natural Branding’ name and inferior laser-burning systems…

"Tight market situation for onions and pre-cut French salad"

The cold has now definitely arrived everywhere in Europe and as a result, there are price movements in every product segment. The dropping temperatures are also noticeable in the convenience sector, according to Claus Lermer, owner of the Siegsdorf wholesaler with the same name, which supplies…

Kaufland is now also purchasing fruit and vegetables with visual defects

Kaufland takes responsibility for its fellow human beings and the environment as a whole. The retail company is fighting food waste and is now buying fruit and vegetables with…

Promotion of EU agri-food products funding increased to €191.6 million

The European Commission has launched the calls for proposals for programmes to promote European agricultural products throughout the world and within the EU. A total of €191.6 million was allocated to promotion programmes in 2019, including €181.6 million for the co-financing of the programmes and another €10 million…

China: Coco peat show its worth in fruit nurseries in Yunnan

In recent years, coco peat and coco-peat based blends have been gaining popularity and used by an increasing number of nurseries and farm operators, citing the superior technical attributes of coco products in terms of water retention, roots area aeration as well as the direct benefit of cost advantage…

Organic vegetables, grown unheated in the cold season

"Harvesting organic vegetables in winter means a great market opportunity for farms. We therefore see great potential for our farmers through the ongoing project 'Winter Vegetables'. In the medium term, imported vegetables in winter could even be replaced. In the future, we aim to ensure that Austrians…

PARPILLON Fabien

US government shutdown has no impact on romaine safety

News of the government shutdown’s impact on federal public health agencies has raised concerns about the safety of the U.S. food supply. Leafy greens producers want consumers to know the shutdown is not having an impact on efforts to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks on their farms. In fact, the…

First report of tomato brown rugose fruit virus infecting tomato in Germany

In July 2018, unusual fruit and leaf symptoms were observed in numerous greenhouses cultivating tomatoes commercially in the Lower Rhine region of North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany.  In total, more than 25 ha of greenhouse tomatoes were affected. New Disease Reports, an international online peer-reviewed journal…

Limited offer of strawberries with high prices awaiting increasing Spanish supply

The good strawberry prices from before the holidays have continued in the first weeks of the new year. A limited supply of lighted winter cultivation is currently traded at good prices of around 12 euros per kilo. A lot runs through campaigns, while little is brought before the clock, as became clear…

'Low demand for Turkish peppers after Christmas'

The situation on the German wholesale markets is very subdued, so shortly after the turn of the year. In Nuremberg the market has stabilized as well, after the increased sales during the Christmas season. January is also a quiet month for Turkish retailers, confirms Ali Macara of Ikram Gbr/Macara Fruits,…

US (OH): Automated indoor farm secures significant financing

80 Acres Farms has received a significant investment from Virgo Investment Group, a San Francisco Bay Area based private equity firm. Terms of the financing were not disclosed. The Virgo investment will enable 80 Acres Farms to complete the previously announced facility in Hamilton, Ohio, a fully automated indoor farm.…

Inuit organization experiments with local vegetable cultivation

Food products are generally quite expensive in the Arctic areas of Canada, but mainly there is a lack of fresh vegetables. That is why Inuit organization Makivik in the Canadian province of Nunavik has started with experimental vegetable cultivation. The vegetables are cultivated in a standard 40-feet container that has…

Singapore: Republic Polytechnic offers urban farming education

Republic Polytechnic (RP) is paving the way for the future of Singapore's high-tech urban farming. On Wednesday (Jan 9), the poly launched the specialised diploma in urban agricultural technology - the first full-qualification diploma in the field. Commencing in June with an inaugural batch of 25 students, the part-time diploma in applied…

Chinese moon plant dies

Remember that cotton plant that sprouted after a Chinese space mission had put it on the dark side of the moon? It started growing only yesterday , but today it's already dead. It turned out that the…

Chief Innovation Officer to develop research strategy at HEXO

HEXO is strengthening its commitment towards research and innovation by appointing Veronique Hamel as its Chief Innovation Officer. With global experience in new product development Ms. Hamel is well positioned to develop research strategy and oversee HEXO’s research and innovation pipeline.  “I am pleased to welcome Veronique to our leadership…

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