The star

The profile of the typical Canadian farmer is changing

Many have chosen to leave the city to improve work-life balance, have more space, or find more affordable housing. Choosing to leave the city to switch careers and become farmers? Yes, this is also happening. Going from urbanite to full-fledged farmer is one giant leap of faith. A 2018 Statistics Canada…

Introducing organic baby hemp greens

Field Fresh Farms, a grower/shipper of conventional and organic produce, will introduce its new baby hemp greens product at PMA Foodservice at booth 506 in Monterey, CA on July 21-22. Available as a baby leaf offering and as an ingredient in leafy green mixes to both foodservice and retail, this…

USDA PACA updates

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on Southern Produce Distributors Inc. (SPD), Faison, NC, for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These…

EU countries commit to having 25% organic farming by 2030

The European ministers of Agriculture from the 27 EU countries have unanimously committed to the goal of having 25% of the bloc's agricultural area dedicated to organic…

“Prices should go up again”

As a key player of the fruit and vegetable sector in the Loire Valley, Fruidis, based in Loire-Atlantique, is currently in the middle of its ratatouille vegetable campaign. The pepper, eggplant and tomato productions have been severely affected by aphid attacks, but the season is going quite well. “The season started on a high…

Transporting goods at more than 600 km/h

At the beginning of July, the American company Hyperloop TT presented its freight transport concept capable of carrying merchandise “at the speed of a plane and the cost of a train,” which is more than 600 km/h. The “HyperPort” project would make it possible to transport up to 2,800 containers per day. A…

Morocco plans to create a logistics platform in Poland to have better access to European markets

According to Hortoinfo, Morocco Foodex - the Moroccan body for the control and promotion of food exports under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development,…

Searchable database of FDA/USDA food recalls launched

The Food Industry Counsel, LLC launched its “FIC Recall Reporter™” business tool, a new, searchable database of all FDA and USDA published Class I, Class II and Class III food…

Moscow region to start own greenhouse strawberry production

Mr. Vladimir Golubev, the stockholder of the Adamant holding, an owner of the commercial real estate has become the winner of the auction, where 100% of LLC Spetsstroykompania shares was offered. Mr. Golubev noted that the acquisition is his private investment, not related to Adamant holding. According…

Downtoearth.org.in

Dragon fruit: next big thing in Indian horticulture

The dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) is indigenous to the Americas. Its name comes from its appearance — leather-like skin and scaly spikes on the exterior of the fruits. The low maintenance and high profitability of dragon fruits have attracted the farming community throughout India. The dragon fruit…

Floating Farm presented in Russia

In July, the Russian capital hosted Moscow Urban Forum 2021, the world's largest international convention on urban development. More than 350 foreign and Russian speakers, up to 7,000 participants, and about 20,000 online viewers joined the event. The experts discussed the practices adopted in modern…

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Israel to lower fresh produce costs by opening market

Israel’s government on Wednesday unveiled a plan to lower fresh produce costs by cutting customs duties and opening the sector to competition, potentially ending years of prices far above Western averages. The plan, which includes an aid package of direct and other support to Israeli farmers, is expected…

Britain announces plans to ease truck driver rules in hopes of addressing shortages

British officials have announced plans intended to attract more truck drivers whilst also simplifying training. This is an attempt to address a chronic shortage in the haulage…

Value of UK domestically produced vegetables increased to just under £1.7 billion in 2020

The value of UK domestically produced vegetables increased by 10% to just under £1.7 billion in 2020, and the volume of domestic production increased by 3% to 2.6 million tons. There was an increase in the value of field vegetables, which rose by 12% to £1.3 billion (£140 million increase) whilst the…

Counting the cost of labor shortages in Australia and New Zealand

The decision by the nations of Australia and New Zealand to shut their borders to non-residents during the pandemic has helped suppress COVID-19 and enabled economic growth…

Hot weather not affecting crops in Cornwall

This week Cornwall has seen temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius, which according to Greville Richards, Managing Director at Southern England Farms, is totally unheard of. However, despite the high temperatures crops on the farms have not been adversely affected as there is plenty of moisture in the soil…

How much did it cost to produce a hectare of aubergines in a greenhouse in Almeria this campaign?

According to an analysis carried out by Hortoinfo, based on the data of the Observatory of Prices and Markets of the Junta de Andalucía, the cost of growing one hectare of…

Photo by Greenway Cannabis Instagram

Why one of Canada's largest vegetable producers has entered the cannabis industry

Before the family behind one of Canada’s greenhouse vegetable growing operations got into cannabis, they had two concerns. The first was fears about how some of their U.S. competitors might react and if they would use the company’s cannabis position against them, says Jamie D’Alimonte, the CEO of…

Establishment of a grocer code of conduct in Canada

Following last week’s Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) meeting of Canada’s Ministers of Agriculture, the Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) expresses its support for the…

Another campaign in Almeria in which the numbers do not add up

Almeria's vegetable producers were left with a bitter feeling last season because, once again, the numbers have not added up for many of them. Tomato, watermelon and melon…

“Grown to be great": California promotes local produce

The Buy California Marketing Agreement, also known as California Grown. is introducing a new digital media campaign, called “Grown to Be Great,” with the objective of inspiring consumers–especially those with a serious interest in cooking–to choose California specialty crops and share information about…

Mexico’s agrifood exports highest in 29 years between January and May

The value of Mexico’s agrifood exports in the first five months of the year was the highest in 29 years, the Agriculture Ministry said.  Agrifood products destined for foreign shores…

Fusarium solani threats the zucchini production in Greece

"In September 2020, a severe crown and foot rot disease was observed in self-rooted zucchini plants (Cucurbita pepo, cv. Local-green), in an open-field crop in Fodele, Crete, Greece," report scientists at the Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture. Diseased plants exhibited wilting,…

"The Indian government needs to steer growers in the right direction"

India has long been the promised land for food production, but there are still big steps to be taken in the field of food safety and food security. This is all happening far too slowly, according to Arjen Janmaat of Ridder. “The Indian government should push growers more and make subsidies available to…

My joy online

Resilience for West African producers in a post covid context

Fairtrade Africa, West Africa Network has organized a two-day Regional Convention under the theme: “Building Producer Resilience through trade”. The Opening Ceremony of the event was attended by Patrick Nimo, Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade; Gizella Tetteh, the MP of Awutu Senya as well as…

Leningrad region increases strawberry production

Growers in the Leningrad region have grown over 10 tons of berries since the beginning of the season, of which 4 tons have been cropped in the high-tech greenhouse complex Utkonos. The innovative greenhouse specialising in growing berries has been visited by the governor of Leningrad region, Mr.…

US: Kitchen Minis tabletop vegetables collection receives 2 awards

PanAmerican Seed is proud to accept two recent industry awards for its new tabletop vegetables collection Kitchen Minis™ during the Cultivate’21 tradeshow and educational event in Columbus, Ohio. The compact potted edibles program received a Retailer’s Choice Award during the show, which recognizes the…

NZ: "grower frustration with government becomes more visible"

Farmer and grower frustration with the New Zealand Government became much more visible to the whole of New Zealand last Friday. Widespread public publicity like this is…

Business Ghana

Ghanaian producer and exporter of vegetables dreams big

41-year-old Felix Kamassah, a former economist, is now a producer and exporter of vegetables in Ghana. The Chief Executive Officer of Maphlix Trust Farm, left the banking sector in 2010 for vegetable farming in the Ketu North District of the Volta Region and has since turned some teachers in the locality…

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Organic farming battle pits aquaponics and hydroponics against soil farms

The global organic farming market is expected to hit $103 billion dollars this year, up 8% from last year. In the U.S., part of the growth is due to high-tech indoor farming. The growing trend is raising questions about the true meaning of organic. Organic shoppers rely on the U.S. Department of…

The early pepper campaign begins to take shape in Almeria

The 2021-2022 horticultural campaign is already beginning to take shape in some locations in the province of Almeria. This is the case in the highest areas of west Almeria and…

Photo credit: Yossi Zamir

UAE food minister talks tomatoes with Hebrew university’s agriculture experts

United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister for Food and Water Security Mariam Al-Muhairi met Wednesday with representatives of Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) to promote a research and innovation partnership based on FoodTech and Agtech. As part of her visit, Al-Muhairi met with HU’s Professor Mona…

NL: "Nationwide auctioning takes us further"

The role of the auction is crucial when it comes to pricing. In fact, auctioning was first introduced 110 years ago as an instrument for optimal pricing - and to prevent growers and buyers from being put up against each other. And so, even in the midst of the enormous changes we're experiencing, the…

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US: Commercial greenhouses attract more and more institutional dollars

As rising heat across the United States disrupts the growth of leafy green vegetables, more investors are putting up money to help develop farming inside specialized buildings with controlled environments. The latest greenhouse investment fund from Equilibrium Capital raised $1.022 billion, more than…

Japan-forward

Japanese patented fruits receive legal protection against overseas growers

Japanese brand name and high-quality agricultural products, including highly popular fruit varieties developed exclusively in Japan, have been surreptitiously slipped overseas, where they are cultivated without permission and sold in foreign and domestic markets to compete with Japanese farm products.…

Kazakhstan: Big greenhouse complex launched in the Almaty region

A contemporary greenhouse complex with an overall acreage of 5.1 ha has been launched in Eltaysky area of Karasaysky region.  Mr. Aybolat Abenov, the chairman of SC Agrarnaya Kreditnaya Kompaniya underlined that the state has allocated reserves for the construction on preferential terms. “We are very glad…

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CAN: Government support of agricultural technology projects

The Canadian greenhouse sector is innovative and expanding, but labor issues and increasing regulations are significant pain points.   Greenhouse operators may find some benefit to new government incentives aimed at increasing automation and reducing carbon emissions.  However, deciding if the incentives are right for…

"Fluctuating supply will continue well into the bell pepper season"

"Spring 2021 went well for Harvest House's bell pepper sales, as did the prices. That offers no guarantees for the rest of the year, as recent figures show. Because now, halfway through the year, trade is declining somewhat," says salesman Marco Bergman. "The past few weeks have been difficult. That has everything…

Flavourfresh

UK: M&S presents Flavourfresh' sweet rosso tomatoes on TV

M&S Select Farmers: Andy Roe features in TV campaignPartnering with M&S for over 20 years, the collaboration between Flavourfresh, Sweet Rosso tomatoes and the premium food retailer hits a sweet spot this month as our Head of Tomato Production, Andy Roe, features in their current Fresh Market Update…

Tomato association responds to claims around Tomato Suspension Agreement

Despite erroneous claims by the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA), the Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE) hasn’t proposed any changes to the Tomato Suspension…

Photo by Delphy

“Digital transformation of the green fingers is key for food production"

"Sense, analyze, act, that’s what growers are doing all day. Monitoring and judging the plants, analyzing all information and taking action when needed. The expertise and experience of the growers are the main sources for actions to be taken," says Aad van den Berg, Managing Director at Delphy. In this…

Israel & UAE sign MOU to cooperate on agrotech and research & development

Yesterday, Israeli Agriculture Minister Oded Forer and United Arab Emirates Defense Minister Miriam Al-Mahiri signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding between the two…

"NZ government policy must support the horticulture industry"

"Government policy must support the horticulture industry and not add unnecessary cost and compliance, if the industry is to deliver for New Zealand, both environmentally and…

"Hydroponics systems can improve Barbados' food security"

One of Barbados’ newest entrepreneurs is on a mission to put a dent in the island’s massive food import bill and help improve food security. Through the use of new and…

Still no full opening of hospitality in Ireland

Ireland is still technically in lockdown, being one of the last European countries to reopen. On the 6th of June outdoor dining was reopened with inside dining supposed to follow on 7th July, but this didn’t happen as COVID cases remained too high. This is taking its toll on the fresh produce trade who…

India: Horticulture and floriculture production hits record high

According to the second advance estimate of horticulture production released by the Ministry of Agriculture today, India is expected to have the highest ever horticulture…

Zucchini with flowers a niche, yet popular product

Zucchini with flowers from Cuneo are a niche product whose season, this year, will last between June 24th and August 15th. Demand is not bad and quotations are better than in other years. "In the summer, we destine two hectares to the production of zucchini with flowers, which produce around 15-20 tons. Commercialization…

Alexander Arnholm Dandora

Kenya: Introducing urban farming solutions to provide income and healthy produce

“Life is tough here, and there wasn’t much healthy food available, says Charles Lukania, Project Coordinator at Voices4Change in Kenya. “When Erik Lundgren from Ljusgårda came to visit in 2019, he provided farming materials so we could start the first hydroponics demo site in the informal community of…

Khabarovsk region: evaluation of the region's potential for greenhouse construction

Marketing substantiation of the commercial feasibility of greenhouse projects with forecasts of changes in market capacity, competition, and prices. Vegetable production in…

The challenges faced by Australian exporters during the COVID-19 pandemic

Customers around the world want to continue to buy Australian fruit and vegetables, but currently, there are many challenges getting the product to them, according to the Export Council of Australia. Hosting an export supply chain discussion panel at the Queensland Horticulture Export Congress, held in…

Trend.az

Russia bans import of tomatoes and peaches from Azerbaijan

The Caucasian Interregional Administration of the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control has banned the import of a batch of tomatoes and peaches from Azerbaijan to the territory of Russia, was reported on July 14 referring to the service. The total volume of products that…

China to import 300 tons of chilis from Pakistan in August

According to Wu Guang, General Manager of Pakistan Subsidiary, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), China will import 300 tons of chilis picked and dried at a pilot…

Australian farmers protest workers’ pay changes

In Australia, farmers are very upset about plans to change the piece rate pay for picking workers. They argue the costs of fruit and vegetables will skyrocket for consumers.…

Six of the 30 largest Andalusian exporting firms are part of Almeria's agri-food sector

The ranking of the largest Andalusian exporting companies, which was prepared by Andalucía Económica, has highlighted the importance that Almeria's agri-food sector companies…

Russian government supports greenhouse development in the Far East

High dependence of the Far East on foreign and interregional import of fresh vegetables of all kinds, which occupies more than 60% of the consumer market of the Federal…

Sunset

Talking titles: tomatoes and their flavors

When Paul Mastronardi joined his family’s produce company full time in 1994, he didn’t like tomatoes. He set out to change that by visiting seed companies around the world, trying as many tomato varieties in development as possible. In the Netherlands, he tasted the Campari, a variation on the proverbial…

Mexico establishes itself as a world leader in pepper exports

In 2020 Mexico achieved its highest historical participation in the total global exports of peppers with 23.9%, consolidating itself as a leader in the world market of this…

Kenya mulls promotion of horticultural produce in new markets

Kenya has embarked on the promotion of its horticultural products in non-traditional markets to boost foreign exchange earnings and cushion the sector from pandemic shocks, an…

Capsicum prices up as vegetables lead rise in New Zealand food prices

Capsicum prices hit an all-time high of $24 per kilogram in June as vegetables lead a sharp increase in food prices. According to Stats NZ, vegetable prices made their biggest…

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Gene editing accepted more often in vegetables than in livestock

Public opinion can affect the adoption of genome editing technologies. In food production, genome editing can be applied to a wide range of applications, in different species and with different purposes. This study analyzed how the public responds to five different applications of genome editing, varying…

Minister urged to intervene as consumers lose out with irradiated food approval

Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) has put industry profit before peoples health in its recommendation to approve irradiation of all types of fruit and…

Dutch fact finding mission to Yucounty, China

Dutch Greenhouse Delta (DGD) organized a Dutch fact-finding mission to Yucounty, by invitation of their strategic partner; the Yucounty government, and supported by HX Agriculture partners of DGD. The mission, in which 11 representatives of Dutch horticulture participated, took place on 5 and 6 July…

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"Farmers are trapped in unsustainable cycle by biotechnology"

Believe it or not, farmers in the United States did not always need to purchase their own seeds. Instead, a core function of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) when it was founded in 1862 – and the Patent Office before that – was the collection and public distribution of germplasm, or seed. The…

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India: Kerala farm varsity sets aside €600k for research

The general council of the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has approved an annual budget of ₹695.24 crore (about € 87,5 mln) for the year 2021-22. Expecting an annual revenue of ₹456.96 crore (about € 57,5 mln), the budget will be a ₹238.28-crore (about € 30 mln) deficit budget. The budget has…

Naija 247 News

Nigeria spends millions on tomato paste imports

Dangote’s 1,200-ton a day plant is producing at 20% of capacity because farmers don’t have enough resources to boost acreage. The factory was meant to reverse Nigeria’s spending over $200 million importing paste from China and United States. But by 2017, the company had to idle the plant after pests…

Credit – SFarmLab

Nigeria: "Why should food production be seasonal when hunger isn't?"

To ensure food security and non-seasonal food production in Nigeria, farmers like Samson Ogbole, Founder of SFarmLab, practice hydroponics. Although soilless farming is not a new phenomenon, it has only recently become popular in Nigeria.  Established in Abeokuta in 2014, Soilless Farmlab provides a comprehensive…

Australia helps Vietnam develop hi-tech agriculture

A project to improve the knowledge and capacity of Vietnamese businesses in hi-tech agriculture will be soon carried out by Asialink Business of Melbourne University and Beanstalk AgTech of Australia. The project is part of the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Grant Pilot Programme (AVEG)…

Daily Star

Qatar company interested in importing seeds and saplings from Bangladesh

Qatar's agro-based company Al Sulaiteen Group has shown interest in importing seeds and saplings from Bangladesh. The group Chairman Abdullah Salem Al Sulaiteen expressed his desire to the Bangladeshi Ambassador to Qatar, Jasim Uddin, during a meeting in Doha yesterday. Al Sulaiteen Group operates one of…

Photo: Xinhua

Urban agriculture increasing income opportunities for Zambia citizens

Maureen Mubanga, a resident of Lusaka, Zambia's capital, grows vegetables in her backyard for domestic consumption. Growing a variety of vegetables also gives 45-year-old Mubanga, an elementary teacher, some extra income which she uses to supplement her monthly earnings. "Vegetable cultivation is…

May air cargo 9.4% above pre-COVID levels

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released May 2021 data for global air cargo markets showing that demand continued its strong growth trend. As comparisons…

The blade / Rebecca Benson

US (OH): Growers worry Swanton Township lawsuit could impact other operations too

Swanton Township’s lawsuit against Soul Patch owner Devon Shaw could test a state exemption and have repercussions for all growers in the area, officials and fellow greenhouse operators worry. “I am no expert on the law, but I know that Devon Shaw is not doing anything to grow and sell plants that is…

Deciphering US produce labels and codes

It is the responsibility of the Food and Drug Administration for assuring that foods sold in the US are safe, wholesome and properly labeled for either domestic or food from…

Strawberry crop back on track, but poor weather means less demand

The UK strawberry harvest in now in full swing and New Forest Fruit, one of the earlier growers in the UK are back on track after a late start due to less than optimal growing conditions. The glasshouse production was right on schedule with an average crop, the French tunnels started later than normal due…

Photo by Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Society

CAN: Funding for Indigenous agriculture makes food security project grow into fresh produce

A Prince Rupert hydroponic greenhouse has become an overwhelming success with partial financial assistance through B.C. Agriculture Development Funding of which a new round is available, announced the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Development, on July 5. The funding is available through the B.C.…

Courtesy Dhaka Tribune

Is hydroponics the future of farming in Bangladesh?

Farmers across the Khulna region have not been able to make good use of the land for the cultivation of crops and vegetables. This is due to the region being flood-prone and the salinity of the soil. “We can neither cultivate crops nor fishes,” says a 45-year-old farmer from Satkhira district in the…

Program to promote Vietnamese products at trade office in Holland

In order to support Vietnamese businesses to approach and penetrate the Dutch market through promoting and introducing products at the Trade Office’s showroom, the showroom is equipped with projection screens, shelves for displaying documents, catalogs, and sample products to provide information of…

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Serbia: Highest prices and lowest yields of raspberries ever

The most important news when it comes to raspberry production in Serbia is this year's purchasing price of raspberries, which is around €3.5 per kilogram. The public sees it as a big profit for producers, the state as progress, and no one is dealing with facts and real calculations. 24.000 hectares of…

Ben Stevnens / Parsons Media

UK supermarket is making strawberries greener this summer

While strawberries are flying off the shelves this summer, producing them does have an impact on the environment, as they require a lot of warmth and water to grow, particularly in colder climates like the UK. Tesco and its suppliers have been working hard behind the scenes to reinvent the way…

NL: Wholesaler circulates 350,000 crates daily for distribution

Dutch vegetable wholesaler Versland Selection specializes in leafy vegetables and radishes. It does sales for a group of about 120 vegetable growers. These are mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium. Versland also has farmers in France, Spain, and Italy. That's to meet the year-round demand for all these crops.…

Australian spinach growers set to reduce food waste and harvest more of their crop

Woolworths is supporting Australian growers and helping customers save money on a healthy basket with Chopped Spinach being added to the supermarket's popular Odd Bunch range.  The launch of the range will allow Australian spinach growers to harvest more of their crop and reduce food waste, while also making…

Kenya News Agency

Kenya: Embrace agriculture to reduce unemployment, CAS Anne Nyaga urges youths

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock and Cooperatives is partnering with County Governments to implement policies geared towards making agriculture attractive to young persons.Chief Administrative Secretary, Ms Anne Nyaga said youth involvement in Agriculture have been hampered by negative…

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How COVID disrupted the Indian tomato supply chain

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic created catastrophic failure in global supply chains, particularly its impact on the food supply chain wreaked havoc across the globe. The objective of this study is to understand the challenges imposed by the pandemic on the agricultural supply chain in the context of…

Australia opens its doors for ASEAN agricultural workers

In an attempt to stem chronic agricultural labor shortages., the Australian government has announced it intends to soon create a seasonal farm work visa for ASEAN workers.…

New mechanism will stop import of fruits & vegetables from epidemic-hit countries

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture will start implementing a new mechanism for importing vegetables and fruits, effective from August 9. Through…

Qatar: 760 tons of local vegetables sold in June

Total sales of local vegetables through the Premium Qatari Vegetables and Qatar Farms programs amounted to about 760 tons in June, according to the Ministry of Municipality…

'Extended hours for exhausted hauliers won't fix delivery crisis'

A measure to help alleviate the HGV driver shortage crisis by extending their hours is facing fierce criticism from the haulage sector. Transport minister Baroness Vere…

So far, little impact for Florida growers following Hurricane Elsa

After Hurricane Elsa’s arrival yesterday in the southeast, growers in Florida, which was said to be where the hurricane was heading, seem to be breathing a sigh of relief. “Florida was spared any significant impact as the system shifted its track slightly to the west as it skirted the Florida coast,”…

Eggplant market: the importance of yield and shelf-life

Eggplant is a vegetable product widely cultivated all over the world, mainly in hot regions due to its low resistance to low temperature. According to FAO Statistical Database, the largest producer on the world is China with almost 35.6 millions of tons produced, followed by India. In Mediterranean…

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Canada invests in greenhouse research projects

“Canada’s horticulture sector relies on the high-quality, original research being conducted by the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. Federal investments such as these are crucial to ensuring the VRIC can continue to advance its work and position our horticultural sector for a brighter tomorrow,'…

UK food group wants Army assistance to relieve lorry driver crisis

Premier Foods is one of Britain's biggest food companies. It has been calling on the UK government to consider using the army to distribute goods to help relieve a severe shortage of truck drivers. Last week, industry leaders already warned that Britain could face gaps on supermarket shelves this summer…

NIAB EMR

NIAB EMR in East Malling hopes Malling Ace strawberry will deliver boost to soft fruit industry

Scientists in the county have served up what they believe is set to be a game-changer strawberry - the traditional treat of tennis tournament Wimbledon. The Malling Ace variety could transform the fortunes of growers in the UK by providing fruit throughout the year while, they claim, retaining the…

Ethiopia informs Egypt it has resumed filling Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

Egypt’s irrigation minister has received official notice from Ethiopia that the latter had begun filling the reservoir behind its giant hydropower dam, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), for a second year. Egypt has informed Ethiopia of its categorical rejection of the measure, which it regards…

Chinese farmers earn millions from livestreaming fruit on China’s TikTok

In 2018, Jin Guowei was heavily indebted, peddling fruit to tourists in the streets of Lijiang, Yunnan. Now he’s Brother Pomegranate, an Internet sensation with 7.3 million…

An open day on tomato varieties with the Italian company Isi Sementi

On 29 June 2021, the Italian company Isi Sementi Isi held an open day in Buttapietra (Verona) at the Brunelli company. It was sunny and that added a nice touch to the day. Indeed, sunshine is essential for the ripening of the many varieties and selections of tomatoes under protected cultivation in the…

Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group

Californian growers to pay for groundwater because of droughts

The water spigots on California farms will soon be twisted tighter. As the state faces a growing threat from drought, an increasing number of water agencies are planning to require flow meters on agricultural wells, part of a landmark effort to measure and constrain pumping that used to be free and…

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US: Tame strawberry prices expected to jump starting in late july

US strawberry prices and availability showed minimal impact from California’s unseasonable mid-June heatwave. But consumers should expect tighter supplies and higher prices starting in late July and August as production shifts to the southern part of the No. 1 strawberry-growing state.  A Gro historical analysis…

Herald.co.zw

Zimbabwe: horticultural farmers hit by frost

Several horticultural farmers across the country are counting losses running into thousands of dollars after frosty conditions affected their crops following a cold spell at the weekend. Temperatures fell significantly in some areas which caused damage to tomatoes, peas, butternut, and potatoes. The…

Brussels promotes a code of responsible conduct for the food industry

The European Commission presented on Monday the new code of conduct on responsible commercial and business practices in the food sector. The goal of this code, which already…

Equilibrium closes industry’s largest Controlled Environment Agriculture fund at $1.022 billion

“There have been boom periods in controlled agriculture, in high tech greenhouses. But even the Dutch industry now realizes something different is happening right now,” says David Chen, CEO with Equilibrium. Today, the company closes the industry's largest Environment Agriculture fund at $1.022 billion.…

Kingpengintl.com

Standard of glass in the making for Chinese greenhouse glass

With an increasing demand for glass greenhouses in China, many questions are coming up, one of which is the standard of glass used for greenhouses.  On 17th June, a meeting regarding developing a standard for horticultural glass was held by China Building Material Council (the CBMC). Although China has a lot…

Putin: ‘Russia’s agricultural growth will curb rising domestic food prices’

Russian president Putin has stated that this year’s harvest will help to lower food prices in the country. He explained that prices have risen due to a shortage of domestic…

US: N.C. has shortage of landscaping plants, materials

The N.C. Nursery and Landscape Association recently issued a press release describing shortages of landscaping plants and the materials used with them. The press release said the shortages resulted primarily from the COVID-19 pandemic North Carolina establishments selling plants were deemed “essential…

USDA

Ongoing shortage of qualified truck drivers continues to affect trade

The ongoing shortage of qualified truck drivers continues to affect all aspects of life, often in ways consumers would never have anticipated. Temporary delivery issues and associated pump outages have been reported in the week ahead of the holidays in parts of Colorado, the Florida Keys, central Iowa,…

Traceability adds value to both the crop and the supply chain

Crops are always the best advertising tool of a grower or an organization, but to be appreciated they must be traceable and certified according to the most modern standards of the fruit and vegetable sector. The Sicilian farm Libretti stands out for the strict application of these parameters and…

Businesstech.co.za

Food prices South Africa much higher than last year

According to the most recent Household Affordability Index - by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice & Dignity group (PMBEJD) - while food prices have dropped slightly in June, shopping baskets are way more expensive to fill than last year, outpacing inflation by some margin. The civil society…

European Commission joins ranks of algae supporters

A growing receptivity, a flagrant interest and a better understanding emerge from the exchanges between the actors of the world of algae and our institutions. The latest proof is a 24-page document dated May 17, 2021, which specifies the future role of algae, among others: "Communication from the…

Share of income spent on food in U.S. dropped 10 percent in 2020 to historic low

During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and economic recession in 2020, the share of U.S. consumers’ disposable personal income (DPI) spent on food decreased 10.1 percent from the previous year to 8.62 percent, the lowest share in the past 60 years. DPI is the amount of money that U.S. consumers have left…

Record heat scorches North America

Highways are cracking, roads are buckling, and railway tracks are being warped by the record-breaking heat searing the Pacific Northwest. Flights have been canceled and…

Rosselkhoznadzor allows tomato imports from more Azerbaijani enterprises

Russian agriculture watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has lifted the ban on tomato imports from another eleven Azerbaijani enterprises, starting from July 1. This decision was made…

Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit

Mapping a pathway to competitive production

"We believe CEA will be fuelled by the diversity of crops. We need to focus on products for consumers and food producers, looking forward to other stable crops we can produce. We have to break the perception of what can be grown and what cannot be grown in CEA as we believe it's the future of growing…

Strawberry crops on wood fibre substrate

Already two years ago, "Genson Fresh Fruits & Vegetables" tested Klasmann-Deilmann’s innovative substrate for strawberries. The new feature is a high proportion of wood fibre. The results were convincing. Now the Dutch company is cultivating the first plants in the substrate mix "TS 1 medium-basic" for…

European tomato market in flux due to ToBRFV

The Belgian tomato market has been in a state of flux for the last few weeks. The production has been high for weeks, but the prices are holding up well despite this. The upward trend in the price of vine tomatoes is particularly noticeable. The market for loose tomatoes is more stable. Maarten Verhaegen…

UK faces critical shortage of truck drivers

Britain could face gaps on supermarket shelves this summer and an “unimaginable” collapse of supply chains after the pandemic and Brexit led to a shortage of more than 100,000 truck drivers, industry leaders have warned. In a letter to Boris Johnson coordinated by the Road Haulage Association, the…

Newhouse protects U.S. food supply from Chinese influence

Today, Representative Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced an amendment to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill…

Water-soluble polymer could make vaporized aluminum in food packaging unnecessary

A thin layer of vaporized aluminum inside the packaging keeps chips crisp and coffee aromatic. But it is precisely this oxygen-resistant layer that makes thin food packaging difficult to recycle. In addition, it costs a lot of energy to manufacture the packaging layer by layer. Researchers in Wageningen…

ChemChina seeking $10 bln in Syngenta IPO

ChemChina is aiming to raise around $10 billion from a Shanghai IPO for Swiss agrichemical giant Syngenta Group, in what is set to be the world's largest flotation this year, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. ChemChina, which became part of Sinochem Holdings Corp last month, is…

Australia: Fresh produce prices will stay high for months

Consumers should expect to pay more for fresh produce for at least the next 18 months, says a major grower. The reason behind this is the fact that the horticultural industry…

"China has gone ‘too far’ in clamping down on big tech"

The Chinese government has gone “too far” in cracking down on large technology companies — that will hurt innovation and slow down economic growth, an analyst said Tuesday. “There’s certainly a logic to clamping down on monopolies and some of the abuses of power that we see from some of the companies.…

70% chance of horticultural experience coming to NEXTdegree

"If you drive along the A15 or Karstraat, you can see from the shape of the building that something is happening here with greenhouse horticulture." That is what alderman Johan Sluiter of the municipality of Lingewaard told De Gelderlander last week. The newspaper focused on the horticultural experience that…

New chopped salad kit features watermelon

Taylor Farms is launching the Watermelon Crunch Chopped Kit with real watermelon flavor. The salad kit has a vegetable base of romaine lettuce sprinkled with crimson radicchio, feta cheese, chopped roasted almonds and toasted watermelon seeds. Consumers can enjoy as is or serve alongside summer dishes…

US: Veterans working in farming supported by tractor grant

Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) is getting an extra boost from Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, this Fourth of July holiday. On Sunday July 4th, Tractor Supply stores will honor the men and women of the Armed Forces with a biannual 15% discount to all…

Pakistan: Tomato prices Karachi up by 150-plus percent in retail

Tomato prices have gone up by more than 150 percent in Karachi’s retail markets in the last few days, resulting in rates of between Rs32-40 to Rs100-120 per kilogram. Prices…

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Fresh produce prices skyrocket in Israel

The prices of summer fruits are especially high this year, and some are sold for tens of shekels per kilogram. Vegetable prices have also skyrocketed, which has stirred up the debate again: who is to blame for these prices? The parties involved in the process – from the grower to the plate of the…

“Almost every strawberry plantation was saved from frost damages”

The Serbian soft fruit season is in full swing, and, according to one exporter, the strawberries have hardly endured any frost damage this year. As these frosts have destroyed quite a few plantations in Europe, demand for the soft fruit from Serbia is rather high this year. According to Aleksandar…

US fresh produce industry still hampered by transportation issues

The fresh produce industry is continuing to struggle with several challenges related to transporting goods. Trade markets for all products have been tumultuous over the past…

Bucks local news

BrightFarms ends lease in Lower Makefield Township, site of former Pennsylvania greenhouse operation

The Lower Makefield Board of Supervisors voted unanimously at its June meeting to terminate its lease agreement with the New York-based company BrightFarms, which had grown vegetables and fruits in a 50,000-plus square-foot facility in Bucks County for nearly a decade. The township entered into a 10-year…

Russia: Greenhouse vegetables production has increased by 9%

Greenhouse production is one of the most dynamically developing segments of agriculture in Russia. In June, 669 thousand tons of vegetables and greenery have been grown in…

Uzbekistan greenhouse cucumber export increased by 76%

In January-April of 2021, Uzbekistan exported 4.2 thousand tons of cucumbers in the amount of $5.1 million, which is $2.2 more compared to the same period of last year. In…