Market Information

US: Romaine and leaf lettuces almost as popular as head lettuce

In 2017, 13.2 pounds per person of fresh head lettuce (iceberg, butter, Boston, and Bibb lettuces) were available for domestic consumption, according to ERS’s Food Availability data. Fresh head lettuce has declined 54 percent from its high of 28.6 pounds per person in 1989. In contrast, availability of…

Strong period for greenhouse tomato production in Mexico

Growers of greenhouse tomatoes are reporting strong production in the Mexican growing regions thanks to abundant sunshine and warm to hot weather. The hotter temperatures are finally settling into the regions, causing some transitions to take place between different sites, as explained by Jaime Garcia of…

They produce 80,000 tons a year

Irapuato is known in Mexico for its production of high-quality strawberries

The region of Irapuato, in the state of Guanajuato, is known in Mexico for its production of high-quality strawberries. Annual volumes amount to 80,000 tons and this crop…

Californian crops take hit from spring storms

Amid the hot weather baking much of California this week, the spate of rain and hail that hit the state last month may have faded from memory—but not for farmers who continue to tally damage from the spring storms. Farmers, pest control advisers and agricultural commissioners report damage to crops…

Nuristan province

Afghanistan: 550 kgs of explosives discovered in vegetables truck

Nuristan police forces seized 550 kilograms of explosives from a vegetable truck. The Ministry of Interior said Monday that the police also arrested two people in connection to the smuggling of these explosives. According to a Ministry statement, the militants had placed the explosives inside 55 sacks.…

Supplies and pricing reliable on domestic broccoli

Supplies of broccoli out of California are looking consistent again. “It always gets a little rough during the transition from Yuma, Ariz. back to Salinas, Ca.,” says Victor Wilcox with First Quality Produce in Fresno, Ca. “But now that it’s back in Salinas Valley, it should be—barring any major weather…

Raspberry production in Spain has grown by 13.5% this season

The Andalusian raspberry season is coming to an end with a 13.5% increase in the production, compared to the previous campaign. This has been stated in a report from the…

Europe braces for 'potentially dangerous' heatwave

A potentially record-breaking heatwave is forecast to grip much of continental Europe next week, with temperatures in cities from Spain to Germany expected to exceed 32C and climb to more than 38C or even 40C in the hottest areas. The combination of a storm stalled over the Atlantic and high pressure…

Sustainable Horticulture Chain Management

Healthy and nutritious food is a major contributor to the general health and wellbeing of people. A majority of the future generations will, however, be living in urban environments, which poses challenges on the accessibility of quality products. Exchanging on how to find sustainable solutions and…

Labinot Elshani (Landgard) and Volker Janssen (Frucht Janssen GbR):

"More and more strawberries grown in greenhouses"

All over the world soft fruit growers are covering their crops and moving their production indoors. Germany is no exception to this trend. "Protected cultivation in Germany is without a doubt on the rise, and it will keep rising in the future", says Labinot Elshani with Landgard. Labinot Elshani At the…

Prices for winter veggies cool down in New Zealand

According to a report by Stats NZ, winter vegetables were cheaper in May. Broccoli, potatoes, and cabbages all dropped in price that month. In May, broccoli fell 12 percent,…

US: Agricultural exports supported 1.2 million full-time jobs in 2017

U.S. agricultural exports support output, employment, income, and purchasing power in the overall domestic economy. ERS economists estimate that every $1 billion of U.S. agricultural exports in 2017—the most recent year in which data is available—supported approximately 8,400 American jobs throughout the…

Canadian vegetable prices rising at fastest pace in three years

Canadians are paying a premium to eat healthy as fresh vegetables are becoming far more expensive. According to new data released by Statistics Canada on June 19, prices for…

UAE looks to Europe for food security inspiration

Establishing effective ways to boost the UAE’s level of food security was the objective of two recent visits to Europe by Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of Food Security. The twin trips saw the minister travel to Germany and Ireland - countries ranked among the highest in the global food security rankings…

Greenport West-Holland and Végépoly are intensifying their cooperation

French-Dutch horticulture cooperation

The horticulture clusters Greenport West-Holland and Végépolys are going to cooperate intensively. To this purpose, Greenport and the French horticulture cluster have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Greenport West-Holland is the regional network organisation of the government, industry, educational…

California-based tech company Full Harvest

Can you solve food waste through an Airbnb model?

A recent study from Zest Labs about produce shelf life found that freshness varied significantly among products and stores. Furthermore, the study showed that the primary…

Vietnam: 'Impressive progress' in hi-tech agriculture development

After two years of carrying out the hi-tech applied agriculture project, the agricultural sector of Kon Tum province has made impressive progress and achieved very encouraging results. Kon Tum province defines that hi-tech agriculture development is an important solution to promote agricultural growth…

Innovations for a shrinking agricultural workforce

Recent studies provide evidence that the farm labor supply in the United States is becoming less elastic. Charlton and Taylor (2016) find that rural Mexico, the primary source…

Report on development possibilities Australia

North Queensland horticulture holds millions in untapped potential

According to a new study by the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia, there is more than $3 billion in unmet market demand for food products across…

VALUE4HERConnect launched in Nairobi

Africa’s first Online Platform for female agri entrepreneurs

VALUE4HERConnect, Africa’s first online platform for female agricultural entrepreneurs has been launched in Nairobi. The platform helps women entrepreneurs in agriculture to form a virtual community and share their knowledge with members. The network was launched at AWAN-Afrika’s first continental…

China: Fall in price of Bird's eye chillis

Prices of bird's eye chillis are dropping this week, as reported by the Henan Wanbang International Market. There are several factors that have contributed to this price drop.…

What is the true price of food?

Food production involves all kinds of costs that don’t factor into the price. Air pollution, child labour and loss of biodiversity for example. Willy Baltussen, researcher at Wageningen Economic Research, is working on a method that makes these hidden costs visible. That way, consumers will be able to make a more well-informed…

Buying greens more costly in Malaysia

As vegetable prices went up last month, these remain expensive - except for local red chillies that saw a small drop in price. Vegetable seller Ah Wee said local fresh red…

Support for NDP commitment to payment protection for produce sellers

The Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) and Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) said they recognize the commitment made on Sunday by the New Democratic Party (NDP)…

U.S. agricultural trade balance projected to fall to $8.0 billion in fiscal 2019

U.S. agricultural exports are projected to total $137.0 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2019 (October 2018–September 2019), while agricultural imports are expected to total $129.0 billion, according to ERS’s latest Outlook for U.S. Agricultural trade. The $8.0 billion surplus projected for FY 2019 is the…

Even the largest grower in Norway has difficulties meeting the demand

Largest cucumber grower in Norway is going to expand

Last year, Norwegians bought 26,000 tons of cucumbers, of which 63 percent originated in Norway. This year, the demand for cucumbers is so large that even the largest cucumber grower had difficulties supplying all his customers. Stig Tore Laugen, Frostagrønt: "Even though we are running at full capacity,…

Gap in supplies of California colored peppers

Colored peppers will see a gap in supplies out of California. “With red and yellow peppers, the Coachella Valley is close to done and the San Joaquin Valley is still about three weeks away so there will be a gap in supply between the two growing areas,” says Lori Hickey of Baloian Farms in Fresno, Ca.…

South Hessian season for outdoor herbs in full swing

"Greenhouse cultivation will never replace open fields"

The season for German outdoor herbs is nearing its peak: At present, large volumes of native varieties as well as special herbs are arriving at wholesalers and in the retail trade. The campaign is also gaining momentum in southern Hesse, says Kai Reinheimer, owner of the vegetable farm that bears the…

Ghana’s vegetable subsector in sorry state

In Ghana, the once lucrative business of harvesting vegetables for the export market is apparently losing its lustre. This is due to a combination of factors, the main ones…

Chinese pepper market experiences sudden fluctuations

The prices of several Chinese pepper varieties have shown a mild increase since October last year. This month, however, the price suddenly soared. The price of Heaven Facing…

Australia: Workforce planning toolkit for Queensland business

Jobs Queensland has released a toolkit for small and medium-sized enterprises to help grow workforce planning capability across Queensland. Workforce Planning Connect guides businesses through the workforce planning process to help them understand and plan for their current and future workforce needs.…

Mexican Growers Back Letter to U.S. Congress

Failure to reach agreement on tomato imports could slow approval of USMCA and threaten Bilateral Agricultural Trade

Trade associations representing most of the tomato growers in Mexico applauded the stance of the chairman of a key Mexican Senate committee today, who said a failure to agree…

More California growers planting daikon

Supplies of daikon out of California are relatively steady right now. “It’s hit and miss in terms of volume of daikon but it’s steady. There’s no gapping,’ says Joseph Krumpelman of Valley Specialty Produce in Fresno, Ca. of the vegetable that’s similar to a winter radish. That said, the vegetable, which…

The Netherlands consolidates as the EU's main supplier, with 948,654 tons

Prospects for summer tomato campaign in the EU

In its latest published report, the tomato working group, part of the "Group of Civil Dialogue for Horticulture and Olive Oil" of the European Commission, has offered its prospects for the summer campaign, predicting a stabilization of the acreage in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain and a slight…

The quota amounts to 285,000 tons

Morocco has used up the quota to export tomatoes to the EU

The agreement for the export of tomatoes signed between the EU and Morocco established a maximum export quota, set at 285,000 tons. According to the information published by the General Directorate of Taxation and Customs Union of the European Commission, in this tomato export season, which started on…

Thomas Ruiter and Menno Keppel: pioneers in Thailand

It has already been fifteen years since Thomas Ruiter and Menno Keppel of D.A.T.T. packed their bags and went off to Thailand to sell horticultural supplies and technology. Since 2019, Thomas, Menno and their Thai partner Nickey Panadda Inkeaw run a successful tomato company, and their product can be…

New techniques to prevent fraud with organic products

Parallel to the expansion of organic products, there has also been an increase in the number of cases of conventional products trying to pass as organic. In order to avoid this form of fraud, a research team has developed a method to detect the use of pesticides during cultivation. However, things are…

Global CEA Census launched to help drive agriculture industry forward

Global automation specialist Autogrow and New York based Agritecture Consulting are appealing to growers to take part in the inaugural Global CEA Census. The Census seeks to understand the scale and nature of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) to better determine the roadblocks to accelerating the…

Some historic highs

Czech Republic: Vegetable prices continue to rise

The prices of basic commodities in Czech shops continue to rise. According to data released by the Czech Statistics Office, consumer prices in May increased by 0.6 percent compared to April, driven mainly by higher prices of food, specifically fruit and vegetables. The prices of vegetables in May…

Turkey: Tomatoes top fresh produce exports from the Western Mediterranean

The Western Mediterranean Exporters' Association (BAIB) exported 157 million 494 thousand USD worth of fresh fruits and vegetables in the first four months of the year. Tomatoes were the top export product with a share of 61 million 547 thousand USD. The association exported 130 million 438 thousand USD…

Price of Chinese vegetables comes down

Data from the Beijing Xinfadi Market shows that the price of vegetables declined in the last week of May. The price decreased by 19.28% in comparison with the same period last…

The crop's export accounts for 10.8% of Spain's total exports

Pepper cultivation is gaining ground in the Spanish Region of Murcia

Pepper cultivation is becoming increasingly important in the Region of Murcia. According to the president of the Alhóndigas department of Proexport, Mariano Zapata, the possibility of creating a department specific to this crop is being discussed. "Up until May, we have been harvesting fairly good…

Central America: Vegetable exports up 15%

During the first nine months of 2018, Central American vegetable exports totaled $132 million, 15% more than in the same period in 2017, an increase explained by the behavior of company sales in Guatemala and Honduras. Honduras Leading Regional Sales During the first nine months of 2018, the main…

University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

UF/IFAS analysis shows negative effects of Mexican farm imports

A new economic analysis conducted by a University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) team in Gainesville has confirmed Mexican imports have significantly harmed fruit and vegetable producers in the Sunshine State. A steadily increasing surge of Mexican products has entered…

"Inserting seasonality into the USMCA would be a major step backward"

The Border Trade Alliance, a pro-trade advocacy organization representing public and private sector stakeholders, is applauding a bipartisan congressional coalition’s call to…

Australia: Building a reliable and productive workforce for the fresh produce industry

As part of its commitment to promote a reliable and productive fresh produce workforce, the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance has released its ‘People in Fresh Produce’…

CAN (AB): Primary agriculture, food and beverage manufacturing generated $8.5 billion in 2018

Primary agriculture, food and beverage manufacturing generated $8.5 billion to the provincial economy of Alberta in 2018. “That number was relatively flat compared to the previous year,” explains Jean Marie Uwizeyimana, agri-food statistician with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AF). He says that the…

December 3-5, Kiev

Organisers of Fresh Business Expo 2019 see growing interest in Ukrainian market

In some 5 months' time, the 7th edition of Fresh Business Expo will open its doors at the International Exhibition Centre (IEC) in Kyiv. The exhibition will take place from 3-5 December 2019. Being the only trade event in Ukraine that focuses exclusively on the Fresh Produce Industry the organisers of…

Canada: Funding program delivery transfer unexpected by Agricultural Adaptation Council

The Agricultural Adaptation Council is shocked by a decision by the provincial government to end its role as a cost-effective delivery agent of the Canadian Agricultural…

Credit insurers: “Keep payment terms as short as possible”

Although once again delayed, Brexit is casting its shadow, particularly in the financial field. Credit insurers, who cover payment problems, have noticed that the uncertainty in the UK is leading to a decline of consumer confidence and they predict problems when and if there’s a hard Brexit. But not…

Competition from non-EU crops causes price crisis

Tomato acreage in Almeria and Murcia has been reduced by 10,000 hectares

The producer organization of the Bajo Almanzora area in the Levante Almeriense, SAT Tomasol, has decided not to produce tomatoes this season due to various factors that have…

Russia: Tomsk region 22% self-sufficient in greenhouse vegetables

The development of greenhouse vegetable growing has been discussed in a meeting with participation of the governor of the Tomsk region, Mr. Sergey Zhvachkin. According to the governor, the main task of the agricultural sphere is to ensure the self-sufficiency of the region in all food products. This goal…

VBT annual report

Strawberry turnover higher than tomatoes at Belgian auctions

The strawberry has knocked the tomato from the throne in the auctions connected to Verbond Belgische Veilingen (VBT). As far as turnover is concerned the strawberry has become the main product and has left the tomato behind. In the year 2018, strawberry sales represented a value of 152.5 million Euro.…

Parts of India: Heat wave causes vegetable prices to rise 40% in one week

The heatwave sweeping through large parts of India has made vegetable prices skyrocket with some areas seeing a 25-40% rise in bills in the past 10 days. Traders said prices are likely to remain volatile until monsoon rain covers the main growing areas in the country. In April, wholesale prices of food…

Hot temperatures herald end of Coachella eggplant season

With hot temperatures arriving in the Coachella region, this signals the end of the eggplant season in the area. Growers have enjoyed excellent conditions during May, providing a quality crop with good coloring and decent volumes, leaving a positive mark. With temperatures now well over 100 degrees…

Turkish companies are building greenhouses abroad

Turkish greenhouse companies are now competing on a global scale and building greenhouses in other countries. Company owners noted the improvements in the industry and declared that they are expecting a 70% market growth thanks to new government incentives. Speaking on behalf of the greenhouse companies,…

Werner Freese, ELO Producer Wholesale Market Langförden-Oldenburg eG:

"We have been lucky with the weather so far"

Heavy rainfall and corresponding damage to the fruit growers endanger the berry producers in various parts of Germany. In contrast to the eastern and southern German wine-growing regions, the region of Oldenburg - one of the most important growing areas in the republic - was spared hail and heavy rain.…

Economist Gianluca Bagnara from the European delegation

How to make sales in Japan

Over the past few days, the media have covered the mission to Tokyo of Europe's commissioner for agriculture Phil Hogan. The delegation also included Italian economist Gianluca Bagnara. The EPA agreement between Europe and Japan represents a great opportunity to reduce the costs to access this market. Japan has a food…

These are the countries where most adults still don’t have a smartphone

South Korea is the world leader in smartphone take-up – it is the only country where 100% of the adult population has a mobile phone. In South Korea, 95% of adults own a smartphone, and 5% have a regular mobile phone. By contrast, 75% of adults in India don’t have a smartphone, although 40% do have a…

Plenty of Norwegian and Swedish strawberries soon

The strawberry season is slowly starting in Scandinavia. 10 million trays of strawberries are expected to be supplied to the Norwegian retail trade throughout the season. "We hope for a long and good season after a cool spring and a long blossoming period," says Katrine Røed Meberg of branch organisation…

“It’s our job to make sure farmers grow in a sustainable way”

Brazil is among the world’s largest producers of fruits and vegetables. The Food Chain Partnership talked to Fabio Prata, Head of Customer Marketing at Bayer Brazil, and Fabio Maia, Fruits and Vegetables Crop Manager at Bayer Brazil, about the country’s major challenges in agriculture – and how Bayer…

Imports from Latin America make up a growing share of U.S. blueberry consumption

U.S. per capita consumption of blueberries has more than tripled since the mid 2000’s. Availability of blueberries is forecasted to reach record levels in the 2018/19 marketing season, totaling 660 million pounds. Rising U.S. demand over the last two decades has been supported by increased availability…

Adana to have one of the biggest greenhouse production zones in Turkey

Adana governor Mahmut Demirtas spoke to the press about current economic developments in the city and informed them about the efforts undertaken to establish a greenhouse production zone in the Turkish city. The zone will be a part of the Sera A.S. national company which will be formed to improve…

Dutch Greenhouse Delta takes next step to realize Chinese High-Tech Agriculture Park

The shareholders agreement was signed this week between Jiashan Sino-Dutch Industrial Park Investment Company and Dutch Greenhouse Delta. This marks the start of the joint venture for the development of a high-tech Agriculture Park in China. The park will be the Chinese landing site for Dutch top…

Price levels expected to remain high for another month

Water shortages and heat are hiking prices of Indian vegetables

A lack of water resources and the searing heat have taken a toll on production of vegetables, sending prices of several vegetables soaring this month in the Indian city of…

Qatar: Mahaseel vegetables arrive at Al Meera

Locally-produced vegetables from Mahaseel, the marketing arm of Hassad Food, are now available in Al Meera stores. Mahaseel, which was established by Hassad with the aim of supporting the private agricultural sector in achieving self-sufficiency, aims to contribute to said self-sufficiency in the…

By joining forces, Almeria's producers could make 700 million more per campaign

In a debate held in the Agroateneo forum of Almería, opened by the leaders of the main trading groups in the province (Unica, CASI and Anecoop, it was concluded that it is necessary to improve the sector's internal organization in order to compete with greater guarantees of success in national and…

CAN (ON): New Place to Grow program to boost industry competitiveness and innovation

Ontario's government is helping to grow the province's agri-food and agri-products sectors by launching the Place to Grow: Agri-food Innovation Initiative - a program which…

Vietnam: Central province approves hi-tech farming project

Quảng Ngãi High-Tech Agricultural Joint Stock Co under Trần Việt Group got approval in principle from the Quảng Ngãi People's Committee to develop a hi-tech farming project in the locality. The project, expected to cost about VNĐ294 billion (US$13 million), will cover 196ha in Mỗ Đức District. It will…

"The sector's disorganization prevents better prices in Almeria"

On the occasion of a new Agroateneo meeting, this analysis forum, organized by La Voz de Almeria, Cadena SER and Agricultura 2000 with the sponsorship of the National Association of Vegetable Producers (ANOVE) and the collaboration of the Tecnova Foundation and the CUAM (El Ejido Municipal Analytical…

Great nutritional contribution, low caloric content

Mexico produces 110,000 tons of cauliflower a year

Mexico's main cauliflower producing states are Guanajuato, Puebla, and Hidalgo, which produce more than 110 thousand tons of this vegetable a year, according to data from the…

Drought ravages salad-bowl regions

Australia: Queensland farmer spends $800,000 carting water

This summer season, Queensland fruit and vegetable growers have to go to extraordinary lengths to grow crops. One farmer has spent in excess of $800,000 this season on having…

Fernando Veiga, of Horsal:

Padron peppers in Spanish region of Galicia threatened by TSWV

The current Padrón pepper campaign in Galicia is threatened by the Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV). "Our cooperative will lose just over 10% of the Padrón pepper production, but for some of our partners, the situation is truly tragic, since they have lost almost their entire production," says Fernando…

Russia: Breeding center to be created in Moscow region

The government of the Moscow region is planning to create a breeding center for developing various varieties of fruit and berries. As the Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Moscow region, Mr. Andrey Razin has announced there will also be a test field for seeds approbation. It is planned to include…

The Agroecology Service will help improve waste management

Almeria's greenhouses as a model for sustainability

Almeria's greenhouse system has improved its energy processes and resource management, increasing the sustainability of its facilities. Its main source of energy is solar,…

US: Crop insurance benefits available to military veteran growers

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced new benefits available to military veterans with farms or ranches who are seeking federal crop insurance coverage, including…

"Product innovation is key to our visibility in the Chinese pumpkin market"

"Chinese consumers are starting to pay more attention to pumpkins and the market is gradually growing. People are increasingly aware of their nutritional value, which is the main reason this market is growing. Furthermore, the Chinese growers worked hard to improve the product quality, which is another…

Every second Polish strawberry is exported

In terms of strawberry production, Poland ranks second in Europe and eighth in the world, reports the Ministry of Agriculture. In 2018, the country produced approximately 196…

US imports of select Mexican agricultural products in 2018

According to an article on ibtimes.com , the tariffs on Mexican goods scheduled to go into effect next Monday could cost American households dearly. While cars and auto parts make up the largest chunk of US imports from the south, Mexico is also an important supplier of agricultural goods to the United…

CAN (AB): Labour productivity in Alberta significantly on the rise

“Labour productivity measures how efficiently an economy transforms inputs into outputs,” explains Jean Marie Uwizeyimana, agri-food statistician with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AF). “An economy is considered to be more productive when it produces the same amount or more outputs with fewer hours.…

Eating Queensland strawberries this winter

Queensland’s annual strawberry season launched last week on the Sunshine Coast, serving as the perfect reminder for customers to add fresh strawberries to their shopping lists once again. by Growcom CEO, David Thomson Strawberries have long been one of Queensland’s favourite fruits renowned for their…

Rains reduced supply of strawberries from Serbia and southern Ukraine

Floods in the central regions of Serbia led to huge losses for farmers growing vegetables, fruits and berries. Due to bad weather, the supply of products has drastically…

Border Trade Alliance happy with suspension of tariffs against Mexico

The Border Trade Alliance released the following statements after the announcement that planned tariffs against Mexico have been suspended indefinitely: BTA President Ms.…

What's got investors betting on the future of food

Boston venture firm Spark Capital has backed some of the tech sector's biggest hits: Twitter, Slack, Tumblr and Medium, just to name a few. So, what does Spark cofounder Todd Dagres see as the next hot thing? Try scarlet kale. Well, not kale itself but, rather, an innovative way of growing the leafy…

Ukraine returns 38 tons of tomatoes back to Turkey

Ukraine returned 38 tons of tomatoes back to Turkey on the grounds that they contained "unhealthy substances". According to the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and…

Blaming imports from Greece and Macedonia

Bulgarian growers protest low prices for greenhouse tomatoes

Vegetable producers from the region of the southwestern Bulgaria's towns Sandanski and Petrich protest against the low prices of greenhouse tomatoes. The price of vegetables…

IFA Soft Fruit Growers Chairman Jimmy Kearns:

"It is critical that strawberry growers receive a fair return"

IFA President Joe Healy has called on consumers and retailers to support the Irish strawberry sector – a vital indigenous industry worth €47m at farm gate, with 57 growers producing over 8,000 tonnes annually. Joe Healy said Irish growers produce top class produce year on year with production expected to…

HortInvest project strengthens Rwandan horticulture sector

‘Investing in Horticultural Development in Rwanda’ (HortInvest) is a four-year horticultural value chain-strengthening project funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) in Rwanda. The project supports the overall objective of Rwandan National Horticulture Policy in terms of fast…

Turkey: Current tomato prices doesn’t even cover labor costs for growers

Opposition party Antalya Senator Cetin Osman Budak spoke to the press and remarked that tomatoes are sold for 0.15 USD per kg whereas cucumber is sold for 0.04 USD per kg at Antalya wholesale halls. The senator: “These price levels are not high enough even to cover the labor costs and at this level, we…

Michel den Ouden, Purple Pride:

"High Dutch production means challenges for aubergine sales"

Aubergine sales are not going smoothly this year. "Prices have been under pressure for weeks. Spain has also made their season longer than last year. Dutch production is high too," says Dutch company, Purple Pride's, Commercial Manager, Michel den Ouden. "The Spanish season has since ended. Most clients…

Turkey: Hoping to boost tomato exports to $1 billion

Hayrettin Uçak, president of the Aegean Union of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, stated that with the development of greenhouses in the country, Turkey is now able to…

Israeli robs two banks with an avocado

This week, an Israeli man was charged with aggravated robbery after stealing nearly $8,300 from two banks last month. His weapon of choice was an avocado. The man, who lives in southern Israel, targeted two Beersheba banks, The Times of Israel reported. During the first robbery, at a Postal Bank branch…

Stocks of avocado buyers Chipotle and Calavo Growers dropping

US: Trump announces tariffs on Mexico over immigration

Last Thursday, president Trump announced new tariffs on Mexico in an effort to pressure the country to halt the flow of migrants from Central America. This escalation of his…

US (NY): Application window open for Grow-NY food and agricultural competition

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the application window is now open for round one of the Grow-NY food and agriculture competition. The competition is focused on growing an enduring food and agriculture innovation cluster in New York's Finger Lakes, Central New York and Southern Tier regions. The…

Supports for Broader Public Sector

Ontario releases Local Food Report

The Ontario government released the 2019 Local Food Report , highlighting the hardworking entrepreneurs of Ontario's local food economy. "Local food is the heart of Ontario's agri-food industry. Over this past year, our government - working with stakeholders, local food businesses and the Broader Public…

India: Measures to expand Himachal Pradesh’s horti production

Horticulture is a major contributor to the economy of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, which can cultivate a wide varieties of fruits and vegetables due to its diverse climate and topography, and measures to expand the sector are underway. Horticulture Minister Mahender Singh Thakur said more than…

Prices on locally produced tomatoes go down in Poland

An analysis from East-Fruit reports a dramatic drop in tomato prices in Poland. According to representatives of Polish greenhouse growers, supplies in the local market are currently significantly exceeding the demand. Within the past weekend the tomato prices dropped by 18%. As the market players are…

Border Trade Alliance urges U.S. and Mexico to continue dialogue in attempt to avert new tariffs

The Border Trade Alliance on Wednesday urged the United States and Mexico to continue working cooperatively and prevent any tariffs from taking place as talks at the White…

Paprika pods see higher prices due to cold snap

An unusual cold snap in China has adversely affected the harvest of paprika pods and overall yields are down nearly 50%. This premium grade paprika, which is around 14 cm long and grows on top of the plant, has experienced a 20% drop in yields and that has pushed prices up. According to Paul Donohoe, who…

Singapore: Action taken against four cases of illegal fruit & vegetable imports

In Singapore, there were four cases of fruits and vegetables illegally imported between January and April this year, with enforcement action taken against the companies…

The cluster tomatoes are marketed in Italy with the "Cuori Rossi" brand

Dutch cluster tomato imports remain stable

The cluster tomatoes grown in hydroponic greenhouses represents almost half of the imports from the Netherlands into Italy. Approximately 51,406 tons were imported in 2018. One of the Italian companies which maintains one of the longest and most professional relations with the Netherlands is Cherry…

Too few Norwegian cucumbers to meet demand

The supply of Norwegian cucumbers is a little too low to meet the high demand. This means there is room for imports. Next week, tomato prices will fall to more in line with…

Sowing the seeds of growth in Myanmar

Once the rice bowl of Asia, even today, agriculture continues to be a vital contributor to Myanmar’s economy. The sector provides employment to about 53 percent of the country’s labor force and is a source of livelihood for about 70 percent of the rural population. It also contributes almost 38 percent…

Cold storage is hot item in US real estate investment

Thanks to new food delivery services such as Peapod by Giant, Amazon Fresh and Blue Apron, cold storage warehouses and distribution centers are suddenly in high demand. Spencer Levy, senior economic advisor for CBRE research: “It is very niche. About 2% or 3% of all goods on groceries are bought online,…

People are waiting for the monsoon

India: Vegetable prices in Maharashtra have risen by 50%

In the wake of a reduced vegetable influx, prices have shot up considerably in the state of Maharashtra. The prices are expected to go down only after rains, but over the last…

American and Mexican officials to begin talks over tariffs & border

Mexico launched a counteroffensive on Monday against the threat of US tariffs, warning not only that it hurt the economies of both countries but also would allow a quarter million more Central Americans to migrate north. A high-level delegation from the Mexican government held a press conference at the…

€21m European AgTech Venture Capital Fund launched

Yield Lab Europe has announced the launch of Yield Lab Europe Fund 1 LP, a new European AgTech venture capital fund which will invest in innovative early stage businesses in…

Ireland: Total Produce ready for more acquisitions

In a statement, Irish fruit and vegetable distributor Total Produce has said it is open to making further acquisitions, despite being mainly focused on continuing to integrate…

Also increased apple exports by 35%

Azerbaijan: 99.7% of tomato exports go to Russia

In January-March 2019, Azerbaijan exported 21,371 tons of tomatoes in the amount of $ 25.5 million. Compared to the same period in 2018, exports in quantitative terms…

Hungarian greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers may be cheaper this year

Despite this year's smaller production area, the Hungarian Fruit and Vegetable Product Board (FruitVeb) has predicted that producers will obtain between 5 and 10 percent more…

Euro area annual inflation down to 1.2%

Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 1.2% in May 2019, down from 1.7% in April according to a flash estimate from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Looking at the main components of euro area inflation, energy is expected to have the highest annual rate in May (3.8%,…

Netherlands: Growers become shareholders of their cooperative

Since this spring, Prominent's tomato growers are, besides being members of their cooperative, also shareholders in the cooperative. As a result, the individual entrepreneurs at Prominent benefit not only from mutual knowledge sharing, joint purchasing and packaging, but also from the developments at…

Winter cultivation of greenhouse vegetables increasing in Morocco

Moroccan products seem to be a good alternative to Spanish and Italian vegetables in the winter months. More and more Moroccan product is entering the EU in Spain and France. The EU import from Morocco has significantly increased in the past ten years (+51%). Two Dutch companies active in Morocco tell…

Government bans exportation of all leafy vegetables

Ghana: Agriculture Minister to explain leafy vegetable ban

Parliament’s Food and Agriculture Committee will soon invite the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Afriyie Akoto, to provide an explanation for the government’s decision…

Students in the Philippines must plant 10 trees to graduate

Students in the Philippines now have a final requirement in order to graduate from school: they must plant 10 trees. The new law, which came into effect on May 15, 2019, will apply to graduates from elementary and high schools, and college or university. Called the "Graduation Legacy for the Environment…

Canada: Investment to attract youth in agriculture

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau was at the Centre des Moissons to announce a new investment of up to $3.75 million that will help bring youth into the agriculture industry. The Youth Employment and Skills Program will provide funding to employers across the agriculture sector to…

Trump’s tariffs are making these products at Costco more expensive

Costco Wholesale Corporation discusses the latest casualties of president Trump’s trade war between the US and China. “At the end of the day, prices will go up on things,” the…

Jammu, India: Seedless cucumber commercial production launch

Progressive Jammu farmers, partnering with the Department of Agriculture, launched the commercial production of seedless cucumber at Krishi Bhawan. The programme was inaugurated by the Director of Agriculture P.S. Rathore, in the presence of the Joint Director of Agriculture (Extension), Anil Arora and a…

Agrologistics Platform Mexico 2030 to improve potential of agri-food system

On Tuesday 28 May 2019 a group of 35 CEOs of Mexican Agri-Food companies gave their commitment to set up an Agrologistics Platform Mexico 2030 (Plataforma Agrologistica Mexico 2030). This platform will be created by the National Agrifood Council (Consejo Nacional Agropecuario (CNA)) with the support of…

Global CEA Census launched to help drive agriculture industry forward

Global automation specialist Autogrow and New York based Agritecture Consulting are appealing to growers to take part in the inaugural Global CEA Census. The Census seeks to…

French tomato crisis: several tons of goods destroyed

Although tomatoes are the most consumed vegetable in France, they are currently experiencing an unprecedented crisis. "We've been throwing away more than 100 tons a week for…

"No winners in Trump's Mexico tariff plan"

With President Trump threatening Mexico with additional tariffs on goods, the fresh produce industry is certainly keeping a close eye on proceedings. At this stage, a 5 percent tariff is due to come into force on June 10, increasing by 5 percent each month up to a maximum of 25 percent by October. The…

Nigeria: NIHORT offers solutions to seasonal tomato scarcity

Dr. Abayomi Olaniyan, Executive Director of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) has advised tomato farmers in the country to ensure that they plant tomato seeds that are pest and disease resistant in order to curb the annual scarcity experienced during the raining season. Olaniyan in a…

Horticultural output in India marginally up at 314.87 million tons

India’s total horticulture production is estimated to rise marginally to 314.87 million tons in the 2018-19 crop year, according to official data. Last Friday, the agriculture…

Gérard Roué, Refaly (Groupe Pomona):

The tomato market is particularly challenging

The tomato market, just like last year, has been particularly challenging in 2019. "Prices are low for the month of May and consumption remains below expectations. This week the weather is rather good in France, but the market is struggling to recover," explains Gérard Roué, product manager at Refaly, a…

U.S. produce importers and distributors:

"New tariff on Mexican goods will impose a $3 billion food tax on American consumers"

Americans will be paying an extra $3 billion for avocados, tomatoes, mangos and other fruits and vegetables if 25% tariffs on Mexican imports into the U.S. take effect in October, according to the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas. “This is a tax on healthy diets, plain and simple,” said FPAA…

Ronald van Vossen, Fruit World:

"Greenhouse strawberry growers will have to think about the future"

The soft fruit season has had a very varied period so far. The constant factor on the strawberry market is that the price of the summer fruits has been under pressure since the start of the Dutch season. "The expansion on the Dutch greenhouse strawberry area by as much as 20%, combined with the fact that…

UGA alumnus responds to UGA Study on USMCA

"The sensational assertions are flat wrong"

The University of Georgia recently published a study claiming the new United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement would cost some Georgia vegetable and fruit growers revenue and…

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