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back on Tuesday

Happy Easter!

Raising greenhouse height: a strategic choice for growers

Easter signifies the start of microgreens and edible flower seasons

Jerry Bleckley and Scott Thompson retire from Prospiant:

"If horticulture has a Hall of Fame, we need to get these two guys in it"

Artificial lighting aids in 47 KG bell pepper yield

US Army gets high-tech greenhouses for crop research capabilities

ToBRFV arrives in Ukraine

UF/IFAS close to lettuce bacterial leaf spot breakthrough

Monitoring: the backbone of effective IPM

Sector | Greenhouse expansion projects

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Uzbekistan launches smart greenhouse for Firmmit strawberry production

Kazakhstan's greenhouse tomato production expands with advanced technology
high-tech center inaugurated

New French applied research complex meets the needs of Breton growers

Young growers drive greenhouse expansion in the Netherlands despite energy uncertainty

Uzbekistan to establish greenhouse economic zone in Surkhandarya region

Xinjiang expands greenhouse blueberry production for winter market

South Africa: North-West University secures automated greenhouse to advance food research

Sector | Cultivation

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Nigerian greenhouse farming grows to boost yields and exports
The proposals of the seed company Maraldi Sementi

Summer valerian: how to obtain high quality even in the most critical months
Free samples shipped worldwide to test the difference

“Breathable geotextile felt grow bags boost root health, reduce rot for growers”
Meet Hydroponic Systems at Greentech Americas Stand 726, ground floor

Why root zone management has never mattered more

Hydroponic floating systems: low investment, high yields, and well suited to Central Mexico’s climate

Finland: All-time record harvest for greenhouse cucumber

South Korean greenhouse growers face rising fuel costs and lower returns

Sector | Technique

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IUNU expands platform to scale crop intelligence across greenhouses

New lineup allows growers to collect plant data manually, semi-autonomously, or with fully autonomous robots
Marco de Bruin:

“If you want to make impact in the market, you have to compete with outdoor lettuce”
Source.ag implements next generation AI model

“The most tangible change for growers is how much less the model asks of them"

Restoring soil structure as technology targets root development and resource efficiency

Updated spray robots showcased
cherries in greenhouses

"We do not have time to wait for the result of regulations"

From struggle to success with the help of oxygen nanobubbles

Sector | Climate

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Cold snap cuts yields and delays Florida blueberry harvest

Uzbekistan to restrict new greenhouse construction around Tashkent from October 2026
Trädgårds Expo / Puutarha Expo 2026

Scandinavian growers look to closed greenhouse strategies as energy prices surge

Georgia growers relieved following last week’s cold temperatures
Wim de Weert, Rei de Morangos:

“Storm damage hits Portuguese strawberry crop, but high prices offset losses”

Florida strawberries weathered recent freeze better than blueberries
Hortisecur following Storm Nils

“However, it will still take time before all the damage is repaired and compensation is fully paid.”

Sector | Company News

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Hydro Space founder, Abhi, speaks from India after being forced to leave Sweden

"I had to either sell my company or file for bankruptcy"

BayWa restructuring hit by U.S. policy shift

Profile Products announces new CEO

Adama US announces new Head of Sales

Modiform enters a new phase with successful transactions

Gavita International expands leadership team

New hybrid approach reinforces grower support in Leamington

Sector | Grower in the Spotlight

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Montenegro blueberry farm expands with EU support

Belgian strawberry grower anticipates strong season despite variety shake-up
Freshchoi launches Dutch season for Asian leafy vegetables

“With our import lines and Dutch production, we can offer a complete Asian range”
Fri-El focuses on tomato and cucumber snacks

Italian geopower and photovoltaics to make greenhouses energy self-sufficient
Fellini Patrizio

Sales of agretti grown in Northern Italy have started

Zimbabwean farmers’ undercover success stories

Japanese grower using thermal energy to grow strawberries

Sector | Crop Protection

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SchermNed leads the way in replacing harmonic insect netting at Holland Plant and FortaPlant

Biobest Extends Plant Products’ distribution across the U.S.

Australia: Queensland fruit fly reported in South Perth

Adama releases new crop protection agent
“Chemically we lost that war long ago and they have reduced our arsenal”

Tuned LED light traps offer new hope against diamondback moth in South African brassicas

Horticulture New Zealand welcomes lifting of fruit fly movement controls
“The key is not waiting for pressure to spike”

Rethinking pest control: A mechanical approach gains ground in greenhouse production

Sector | Market Information

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Seasonal perishable products weekly update - 1 April:

U.S. produce market mixed as tomato and avocado prices rise

Spring chile crops awaited to relieve supply crisis

Grower groups request White House action on specialty crop relief
plastics, fertilizers, substrates, investment decisions

Middle East war drives costs for growers up throughout whole chain
Ahmet Avzar of Fusa FrüchteExpress:

"Dutch greenhouse pak choi available starting in week 11"

UK strawberry season starts early with Herefordshire supply

Brazil: Greenhouse crops record good yields in Northern Paraná

Sector | Energy

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Austria:

Price hike of 15 to 20 percent expected for Viennese growers

Growers warn soaring energy charges could hit UK food production

UK Growers warn of energy cost shock as Easter recess begins

Spanish researchers demonstrate agrivoltaic systems can cut irrigation water use by 50% in tomato production

With volatile energy prices, screen installations are back in focus
VersPodium explores the future of the greenhouse industry

"The energy transition is no longer a distant prospect, but part of day-to-day operations"

Battery storage reinforces energy hub for greenhouse growers in Gelderland, Netherlands

Sector | Fertilizers

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Jan Pieter de Jong:

The true effect of the war in Iran on fertilizer prices

Sulfur's key role in plant nutrition

Israeli fertiliser and packaging costs surge due to supply disruptions

UK: Industry pushes for government to back local biofertilizers

Greek fertiliser and vegetable prices increase on higher input costs

Dutch fertilizer sector reports no immediate supply disruptions despite Middle East tensions

From seaweed to circular production

Sector | Breeding

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Belarus introduces chocolate and black cherry tomatoes and presents Spatkanne hybrid

Creating a sweet pepper as healthy as it is delicious

Class 1 strawberry variety to open for UK sales next season
one-bite cucumber designed for modern life

"What happens when a clearly identified behavioural shift drives breeding decisions?"
Mitchel Visser new at BASF | Nunhems

"WinVine sets a new standard in large truss tomatoes"

Anove discusses the future of the EU's varietal protection system

"How we developed 18 ToBRFV HR resistant tomato varieties in 7 years"

Sector | Product Info

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Scaling high-quality blueberry yields with advanced substrate cultivation in Peru

New ZERO line meets consumer needs for food attributes
differentiation on store shelves key for Greenbelt Organic Greens:

"So many new local greenhouses that it's hard to stand out"

Permeable ground covers offer weed control and soil benefits beyond the greenhouse

Four new flavors for value-added salad lineup
Patrick Niederer, Lock Drives

"The difference lies in the technology"

New baby romaine hearts product launches

Sector | Open field vegetables

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US (NC): Strawberry season nears as agronomists help growers with tissue sampling to boost berry production

Butternut squash oversupply pressures pricing

Volatile cucumber pricing expected for near future

Little Gem lettuce growing transitioning to Salinas

US (CA): Valley heat speeds up crop growth, concerns rise for winter vegetables
Joseph Ruffo - Tripod Farmers Group

Consistency pays off for salad grower

Discovery Field Days in Murcia focus on leafy crop resistance

Sector | Substrates and starting materials

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Dutch pepper growers test Growbags

Tajikistan greenhouse produces vegetable seedlings for retail and commercial growers
Matteo Molari of G-Berries now accepts bookings

Blueberry nursery sees 35% growth ahead of autumn season

Eurofins Agro Testing launches expanded European seed testing service
American Biochar Institute outlines how the S668 standard can help growers

"Non-compliant biochar means inconsistent data, and inconsistent data means risk"

Mexico's substrate market faces major turbulence over coconut fiber tariff reclassification
DavìPlant uses C-LED technology for its lighting system

"Our nursery has produced more than 250 million seedlings"

Sector | Organic cultivation

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Grower upgrades sowing lines as organic production demands tighter process control

USDA proposes allowing CO2 use in organic crop production

US (MN): Featherstone Farm marks 32 years of local, organic vegetable production

Japanese film-based greenhouse technology tested in Ukraine for vegetable production

UK: Organic sector “holding its breath” over government support announcement

India: Turning organic tomatoes into an offseason money maker

Ukraine publishes updated export-oriented catalogue of organic berry and nut producers

Sector | Today on social media

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Brock Penner

Applied Horticultural Research

Martha Springham

Pluck'd

“Many growers were cautious about making the switch”

Sector | Food Safety & Sanitation

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U.S. open field cucumber Salmonella outbreaks hit 69 cases in 2025

Anti-algae coating proves its worth at Dutch pot plant nursery

Russia detects quarantine pests in imported tomatoes from Turkey and Kazakhstan

Australia: Growing food safety standards for professionals

Tomato virus cases rise as Russia blocks shipments and returns unlabeled produce

Study finds that tomatoes, carrots and lettuce store pharmaceutical byproducts in their leaves

18 tonnes of Turkmen tomatoes blocked in Orenburg region over quarantine pest

Sector | Events

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Change of date for HortiContact 2027

British Tomato Fortnight dates announced for 2026

ISF underscores international seed trade as a pillar of global food security

Belgian growers explore advanced screen technologies
"Dutch expertise, technology, and contracts flow to Uzbekistan, with more missions on the way"

Uzbek–Dutch trade mission lays groundwork for fruit and berry partnerships

Photo report: GreenTech Americas

The future of lit cultivation in the Netherlands: opportunities and rising costs

Sector | Labor and automation

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Shaping the future of horticulture and robots together

Berg Hortimotive announces appointment of new General Manager

Mexican grower showcases autonomous climate control for beef and TOV tomatoes

German startup eternal.ag launches fully autonomous harvesting robot
Logiqs celebrates 50 years:

"There will come a moment when things move very fast again"

"A drone that inspects greenhouse plants to detect issues early before they spread"

Morocco: Workers protest over "harsh" conditions

Sector | Retail

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UK: Retailers urged against deep discounting of vegetables over Easter
Fantastico Group opened its first store in Plovdiv

Jumbo Belgium: 4 new stores set to open

Sainsbury’s signs five-year contracts with 62 UK berry farms
SPAR International has officially entered the North Macedonian market

Sainsbury’s: 15p British seasonal veggies this Easter

New study: Placing fruit and vegetable sections near supermarket entrances increases the amount purchased
Morrisons: Price of British farmed veg just 4p ahead of Easter

Free carrots to Asda customers across 581 stores on Good Friday

23,000 Lidl workers in Italy win predictable shifts and guaranteed hours

Sector | Lighting

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Louis Golaz steps down from RED Horticulture leadership
P.L. Light Systems celebrates 45 years anniversary:

"Our lights are built to last so long you’ll be handing them down for generations"

Delivering light uniformity at the top of plants and between the rows

Silent failures, invisible losses — and what some Dutch growers are now doing about it
helioSENSE to launch at GreenTech 2026

Housing the latest technologies for Westland’s greenhouses

Climalux successfully defends invention of vertical ventilation technology

"Thermoplastic lenses can result in discolouring and reduced light output"

Sector | Irrigation

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Propagating 45% of global hops supply demands precision in water quality

Gutter for pepper cultivation gaining ground in Canada

Taking care of water management with the Kathari System at Van Leeuwen Westland
Ecofarm Storti (Italy)

The role of ozone in horticulture: From disinfection to boosting profitability
Boštjan Veronik, CEO of Waboost:

"Preventing conditions that allow Pythium to thrive"

Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) to launch upgraded global water standard
The future of steel roofs on water silos

"A steel roof transforms the silo into a solid building instead of a container with a cover on it"

Sector | Medicinal production

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BotaniX’s Yishai Nissan on how vertical farming unlocks the full potential of medicinal plants

“Growing great plants is only half the battle, keeping their natural power intact is what matters”

Sector | Post-harvest & Packaging

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Coöperatie Hoogstraten partners with KMSKA to feature art on packaging

"Like painting, cultivation goes beyond simply growing"

"Growing interest in blueberry sorting machines is not random; it reflects global trends"

Label manufacturer switches to daily pricing amid raw material volatility
Tekin Güngör of GOG 2000 GmbH in Cologne:

"We welcome both fast food and fine dining"
Ecocool launches an eco-friendly alternative to styrofoam:

"Jute packaging fits perfectly into the sustainable INNO packaging line"
Dutch Graphic Group ready for new season

"Despite scarcity in the market, we have restored our inventory levels"
Ger Vissers marks 45 years as a commission agent

"Much has changed in our profession, but Mother Nature remains in charge"

Sector | Education and research

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What is the potential of controlled environment strawberry production within the South central United States?
Fortified aeroponic pea shoots deliver full daily B12 dose in 15-gram serving, study finds

"This novel fortification method can be done at extremely low cost"

Jamaica: Greenhouse boost for St Catherine High School
University of Bologna trials support food-production case for Brazil’s Kaatop plantable tile

“Production results comparable to those obtained in traditional hydroponic systems”

Using water more efficiently to enhance strawberry crops

One pot process to convert sugarcane waste to jet fuel

US NH): Macfarlane Research Greenhouses Open House to be held April 18

Sector | Cartoons

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Domino’s seeks Vatican forgiveness for pineapple pizza

UBC unveils world’s first mushroom-powered waterless toilet

Man sets world record by eating 85 ultra-hot 7 Pot Primo peppers

Sector | Management and funding

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Ali Capper appointed chair of British Berry Growers
Tomatoes New Zealand:

"Refined industry structure will build on existing organisations to represent the vegetable industry better"

Morocco banks on export aid to sell tomatoes outside of Europe

One in five Dutch farmers and growers facing structural financial uncertainty, survey finds

Ausveg congratulates Darren Chester on appointment as Shadow Minister for Agriculture

Government-supported polyhouses transform grower’s livelihood in Jammu & Kashmir

UK: CambridgeHOK secures sales to surpass record turnover just two months into its 70th year

Sector | Logistics

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Freight rate volatility rises but remains below Covid levels

Kenya expands cold-chain and cargo capacity at JKIA

Italy fresh-cut supplier builds logistics around reusable packaging

Air freight from India to Gulf sustains produce supply during disruptions

Peruvian blueberry sector faces rising logistics costs and route disruptions

Moroccan soft fruit growers complain of slow operations at Tanger Med port

Ethiopian Airlines to resume direct flights to Atlanta beginning May 21 2026