Polish peppers and berries

Pepper producers expect smaller harvests than in previous years, the quality of processing strawberries is decreasing, and blueberry season will start in two weeks.  Difficult season for pepper producersThe harvest of green peppers began at the beginning of June. The first batches of Polish red pepper are also appearing on the market.…

Canadian Visa application centre in Mexico City closed

WALI was notified on July 2 that the Canadian Visa Application Centre (CVAC) in Mexico City has temporarily ceased operations and quarantined all staff. This office is…

Strawberry producers focus on quality in tough season

There may be fewer Piñata strawberries on Australian supermarket shelves this winter - due to the effects of drought on strawberry runners - but leading producer Piñata Farms says fruit quality is as good as ever. Piñata Farms' managing director Gavin Scurr said berry eating consumers could expect big,…

Enterprise Singapore sets aside over S$55 million for local agriculture and aquaculture

Enterprise Singapore (ESG) has set aside over S$55 million to accelerate the growth of promising local agriculture and aquaculture companies by developing their innovation capabilities to grow more with less. This builds on ESG’s ongoing efforts to develop a vibrant agri-food tech ecosystem that will…

Bad moment for zucchini

Zucchini prices have been ridiculously low over the past few days. Things were not going too bad until June 20th 2020, then they changed. Roberto Bortolotti, a trader from the Bologna market, explains that "things have been terrible. Consumption is low, partly due to the fact that things are slow in the H&R sector." Prices hovered between €1.00…

Caroselli and barattieri are preferred to the common cucumber

"For about two months I have been marketing cucumbers produced by organic farming, but I must say that this product turned out to be unsuccessful, due to the arrival of other…

Honduras facilitates the arrival of qualified labor to Spain

The shortage of labor is a recurring problem in Spanish agriculture. It is especially daunting in some producing regions where the challenge of finding qualified agricultural workers is limiting the growth of companies. That's why the Circulo de Comercio Internacional association, together with the…

Vegetable imports Russian Federation up in first quarter of 2020

According to SeaNews Russian Foreign Trade Customs Statistics online service, in Q1 2020 Russia imported 575,200 of vegetables worth $583.5 million. In tonnage terms, imports…

Croatians urged to buy domestic vegetables

This Saturday, the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture (HPK) called on consumers, buyers and retailers to help domestic farmers by buying domestic vegetables. The reason behind…

Andalusia's tomato achieved good results in retail during the pandemic

DIA increases its purchases from Grupo La Caña by 40%The main management team of the Grupo DIA, represented by Stephan DuCharme, executive president, and Ricardo Alvarez, CEO of Spain, visited on June 3 Grupo La Caña's production plant in Castell de Ferro (Granada), which grows the cherry tomatoes that…

European Commission

Short-term European tomato outlook

The European production of fresh tomato is expected to decrease by 2% in 2020. This trend is driven by a decline of production in Spain (-7%), which is the largest producing country.  Spanish producers are switching to the production of more profitable greenhouse vegetables. In contrast, the production in…

How a Scottish pioneer serves the world with CEA tech

IGS has, as a company, focused from the outset on automation, intelligent system design, and the energy equation of CEA vertical farming. This has garnered them a reputation as one of the leading and most innovative companies in the industry. Farmtech society took some time to have a chat with them and…

Dutch lettuce grower cultivates throughout the summer

Grower Jan de Winter from the Dutch town of Ridderkerk started the cultivation of a patch of lettuce of a new, fusarium resistant variety so he can cultivate throughout the summer without having to steam the soil. “Last week, the demand was quite high due to the warm weather, so I have high expectations for…

Update on plant health rules for fresh capsicum exported to the EU

An update of “COLEACP Guidelines on the Export of Capsicum from Africa, Madagascar, Cape Verde, and Mauritius” has just been published. This guide provides a clear explanation…

Interview Ted Duijvesestijn on geothermal energy, waste and the future of indoor growing

Mariska Dreschler (GreenTech) and Ted Duijvestijn (CEO Duijvestijn Tomatoes), discuss indoor growing and the following topics: Why circularity is important and how Duijvestijn incorporates this How can you reuse excess and waste? Geothermal energy, is it too early? Data and digitisation in the greenhouse…

Temperature is the biggest challenge for cultivation in the Maldives

A pearly white beach and a vast blue ocean. This is the picturesque location for which many tourists travel to the Maldives every year. However, these islands in the Indian Ocean are tiny and are highly dependent on imports for fresh produce. They currently import 95% of their food. Fruit and vegetables…

Growth of online sales of local products in Spain

As reported by food marketplace Mentta, the number of consumers purchasing domestic products online has increased significantly. "The great range that online sales channels…

Agro-Food and horticulture roadshow to Zhenjiang and Nanjing

On June 22-23, the Consulate General (CG) in Shanghai in cooperation with Tuspark Jiangsu and the Netherlands Business Support Office in Nanjing (NBSO) organized the first…

Tatyana Vychegzhanina

Georgian vegetable production increased by 13% overall in 2019

The National Statistics Office of the Republic of Georgia has published its annual publication for the agricultural sector - Agriculture of Georgia 2019. The publication shows that agriculture, forestry, and fishing comprised 7.2% of the nominal GDP in 2019, slightly lower than the 7.8% share in 2018,…

US Postal Service reveals fruit and vegetables stamps with 10 designs

The United States Postal Service has created a new Fruits and Vegetables set of 10 non-denominated (55¢) stamps, which will be issued July 17. They will come out in a double-sided pane of 20, which the Postal Service identifies as a booklet. Charleston, W.Va., has been selected as the official first-day…

Perfecting produce and powering a sprouting industry

The virtual Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit will host two dedicated track sessions focusing on the nutritional value of crops, optimizing seeds for indoor agriculture and reducing energy consumption. Watch live and connect directly online with the world’s leading farm operators, food retailers and seed…

US (LA): Search for best-tasting tomato by restauranteur

When New Orleans restauranteur Dickie Brennan was ready to find tomato varieties for his restaurants, he called on the LSU AgCenter. “I want to serve, sell and promote local, vine-ripe tomatoes picked here — tomatoes that stay longer on the vine are sweeter and juicier,” he said. Brennan recently opened…

Ownership transition for eight ShopRite stores

US: Walmart hires 265,000 veterans, promotes more than 44,000 to higher-paying rolesWalmart has hired 265,000 veterans as part of its Veterans Welcome Home Commitment program, with more than 44,000 promoted to roles with higher pay and greater responsibility. “We’re forever grateful to our veterans for…

Penn State University

RAIN grants awarded to realize commercial potential of research projects

Three research projects that have great potential to be successful in the marketplace have received grants through a Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences program designed to spur innovation. The Research Applications for INnovation Grants program — known as RAIN grants — provides financial support…

Farmers welcome airfreight boost for Australia’s fruit and vegetable exports

The Australian Fresh Produce Alliance (AFPA) welcomes the Australian Government’s new $240 million commitment for Australia’s airfreight exporters, which will allow the…

Lettuce: a disastrous first half of 2020

The current trend on the lettuce market is not the best; as a matter of fact, this was not a good year both because of the poorly paid products and for the abundant offer that…

Tomatoes still very popular with the German consumer

German production increased by a further 3,400 tonnes last marketing year. Also, the trend towards more domestic goods continues. Consumer prices rose by over 13 percentage points…

"Greenhouse tomatoes flooding China market"

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall fruit market this year has been sluggish. From growing to sales, each link of the supply chain has been facing various challenges in its operations different from previous years. As far as greenhouse tomatoes are concerned, sales performance earlier on is…

Cardenas Markets: First store in the Los Angeles metropolitan area

US: Ingles Markets to give employees another bonusIngles Markets will distribute a total of $5mln in bonuses to its employees at the end of July, according to a press release from the North Carolina-based supermarket chain. Full-time Ingles workers will receive $300 bonuses, while part-time employees…

US could export agricultural products worth 32 billion USD to China in the next 2 years

A recent news announcement stated that US food exporters are currently preparing a draft proposal that will help to solve potential problems in the export of agricultural…

Tenerife's tomato sector is walking a tightrope

Tenerife's tomato sector is facing an increasingly difficult scenario. In addition to the increase in production costs, the competition from third countries and Brexit, this year it has also had to deal with the economic paralysis caused by the pandemic, which has aggravated the crisis that they had been…

Agri-food tech firms in Singapore can tap $55m grant

Over $55 million has been set aside by Enterprise Singapore (ESG) to help local agriculture and aquaculture companies grow. The grant will be used to boost their innovation capabilities, so they can work towards resource-efficient and high-yielding farming solutions. Senior Minister of State for Trade…

CAN (BC): Work permits necessary prior to TFW travel

Western Agriculture Labour Initiative (WALI) reminds employers that under the COVID special measures, all workers must be in possession of a valid work permit before they fly…

"Raspberry market’s growth delayed"

Wim Aalbersberg is Advanced Berry Breeding’s (ABB) director. This Dutch company focuses on breeding soft fruit, including raspberries. Wim’s noticed that the raspberry…

UK: Value of protected vegetables increased by 5.1% to £335 million

The value of home produced vegetables in the UK increased by 3.9% to just under £1.5 billion in 2019, and the volume of home production decreased by 1.8% to 2.4 million tonnes. There was an increase in the value of field vegetables, which rose by 3.5% to £1.1 billion (£39 million increase) whilst the…

Report shows cost increases for the fruit sector during Covid-19 times

The National Farmers Union, the British Growers Association, British Summer Fruits and British Apples and Pears have jointly instructed John Pelham of Andersons Midlands to prepare a report on the potential implications of Covid-19 for UK fruit and vegetable growers’ costs of production in 2020. The…

Produce Traceability Initiative announces improvements to traceability guidance

The Produce Traceability Initiative, consisting of CPMA, GS1 US, PMA, and United Fresh, and its many volunteer industry members, announced the release of four new or improved…

Petrol & diesel price hike affects Delhi vegetable prices

The COVID-19 situation is continuing to prevail in India, affecting daily life. Petrol prices are increasing, which resulted in the rise of vegetables and fruit rates in the…

Community Plant Variety Office

Updated plant variety guidance on Brexit

In the context of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the European Commission and the Community Plant Variety Office have published updated guidance for stakeholders regarding the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the EU rules applicable in the field…

Publix: High rankings on Newsweek’s 2020 America’s Best Customer Service list

Amazon to pay $500mln in one-time bonuses to front-line workersAmazon.com Inc said it would spend $500mln on one-time bonuses to its front-line employees and partners working through the coronavirus crisis. Employees and partners who have been with the e-commerce company through June will receive bonuses…

Seasonal workers redefine 'unskilled'

Efficient, productive, committed workers that return each year and don’t need retraining – more and more growers are finding value in the Seasonal Workers Programme (SWP) and seeing skill in the ‘unskilled’. In a year when COVID-19 added a raft of challenges to sourcing harvest labour, the Seasonal…

CAN (ON): Comprehensive agri-food COVID-19 response

Essex County leaders have partnered with the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG) to improve the health and safety of the communities by increasing COVID-19 testing…

"We hope that the increased appreciation for domestic products will continue after the crisis"

On the vegetable island of Reichenau, too, a measure of calm is now slowly returning. The sudden changes in purchasing behaviour and the increased demands of the trade in the wake of the Corona pandemic have also posed some major challenges for the southern German cooperative, confirms Deputy Managing Director…

‘UK food supplies could be affected more by no-deal Brexit than by COVID-19’

According to academics, a no-deal Brexit may have a far more severe impact on the UK's food supplies than the Coronavirus. Experts from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) have…

National Treasury

South African Rand retreats from recovering dollar

The South African Rand was retreating from a strengthening dollar on Wednesday after the warm reception initially given to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's emergency budget was overcome by a tide of risk aversion as trade tensions resurfaced and fears of a second coronavirus wave lingered. The currency…

Are consumers more interested in eating local?

While in the past decade consumers have become increasingly interested in the concept of buying food that’s grown closer to home, some companies say that the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has led consumers to commit more to eating local for other reasons as well. “Eating local is something that we’re very…

Blueberry season has started in Serbia

ABB Growers BV has its office and blueberry production in Serbia. They started harvesting the blueberries from their plantations around June 10th and they also started purchasing blueberries throughout the country. The first quantities were purchased last week and were shipped to The Netherlands. On the premises…

'Growing Kent & Medway' initiative awarded £18 million government funding

A project led by NIAB EMR to strengthen the competitiveness of Britain’s horticulture, food and drink industries has been awarded £18 million of government funding. The Growing Kent & Medway initiative is one of seven national projects that will drive innovation-led growth and support areas of R&D…

Giant Food: A new integrated eCommerce shopping experience

US: Albertsons CEO: Coronavirus pushed people to form new habitsThe coronavirus pandemic drove higher demand for food-at-home, online sales and curbside pickup, and that could have permanently changed the way some people shop. One of those new habits, is the desire for more options of curbside and…

The UK will impose tariffs on berries if a trade deal isn't reached

The Union of Farmers and Ranchers Unions expressed its concern about the United Kingdom's intent to impose tariffs on community agricultural food products if it does not reach…

Less asparagus volume for July 4th holiday

As domestic production of asparagus wraps up, supplies are being imported from Central Mexico and Peru. “We adjust our volumes seasonally—we have a strong customer base that we work year-round with so we adjust those volumes in the summer months to reflect the short window of production from some of the…

Free strawberries as a treat for Scottish customers

At the peak of this Scottish strawberry season, many thousands of free punnets of strawberries will be delivered to households across Scotland this week. AVA Berries and…

USMCA takes effect: welcome news for struggling farmers

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) goes into effect, at a crucial time for farmers and ranchers struggling to recover from COVID-19 losses and a depressed…

Key findings and lessons from Dutch publicly funded horticulture initiatives in LMICs

A stronger horticulture sector in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is expected to contribute to (inclusive) business development, profit and income generation, employment creation, enhanced Food and Nutrition Security and economic growth. As such it has the potential to contribute to many of the…

Dutch grower paving the way with a mix of three colored pointed peppers

After years of searching for three uniform sweet pointed pepper varieties to put in their three-color mix, grower Thimo van Marrewijk of nursery Het Westland has finally found the right combination this year. So now, it’s time to really start rolling out the mix that could already be found on the shelves…

Russia’s greenhouse vegetable production grows by 24%

According to the operational data of the regional agro-industrial complex management bodies, as of June 10, 2020, 604.6 thousand tons of vegetables were harvested in winter…

Nigeria: Taraba to export cucumber to Europe and US

The Taraba State Investment and Property Development Ltd. said it had concluded arrangements to start exporting cucumber to Europe and the United States. Managing Director  of the…

Berries reclaim their top three position in dollar gains

While summer sales patterns are in full swing, demand for fresh, frozen and canned produce continues to shift. Consumers increasingly have the opportunity to dine out and many are fatigued with their tried-and-true recipes. Restaurant transactions and spending gained back ground during the second week of…

FEPEX requests the modification of the method to calculate the import value of Moroccan tomatoes

At the meeting of the Tomato Group of the Market Observatory of the European Commission, held on June 24 by videoconference, FEPEX outlined the difficult situation that the Spanish tomato exporting sector is going through, with an interannual drop in shipments to the EU of 12% in the period between…

Meijer: Free support to blind and low vision customers

US: Target adds hundreds of fresh, frozen groceries to curbside pickup as Americans look for safer ways to shopTarget is adding 750 fresh and frozen items, such as fruits, vegetables and meat, to same-day order pickup and drive up services. The retailer will offer the expanded assortment at over 400…

UK growers seek views on ‘outdated’ compulsory levy body

A group of professional growers based in Lincolnshire is organising a ballot to obtain views on the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). The three growers collectively grow potatoes, vegetables and flowers across 2,025 ha (5,000 acres) of land, and 5.6 ha (14 acres) of glasshouses;…

“The Green Deal offers opportunities we must grab with both hands”

After the 'extraordinary' COVID-19 period, things are almost 'back to normal' at REO Veiling in Belgium. "We took measures quickly. So, we, as a cooperative, could keep doing our work," says REO Veiling's Dominiek Keersebilck. "After the hoarding weeks, demand has somewhat stabilized again. But, not all…

Dutch horticultural exports down in April

In April 2020, Dutch horticultural exports were 11 percent lower than in April 2019. The export of cut flowers saw the sharpest drop at 35 percent. This is reported by Wageningen Economic Research (WUR) and Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on the basis of joint research commissioned by the Ministry of…

Several Spanish horticultural farms report coronavirus outbreaks

Spanish fruit and vegetable farms have not escaped the wave of coronavirus outbreaks after the end of the state of alarm was declared in the country. In Aragon, already four…

Strawberry exports from Huelva fell by 14.5% in April due to the pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic had barely any impact on strawberry exports from Huelva in March, when the lockdown started, as international shipments only fell by 3% compared to the same month of 2019; however, sales in April were more notably affected by the health crisis. This is also the month when…

Carrots, apples and lettuces are contaminated with microplastics

Common fruits and vegetables like carrots, lettuces and apples are contaminated with tiny particles of plastic and should be a cause for “considerable concern” among public…

"Air freight capacity limits overseas pepper export, cucumbers on the rise and loose tomatoes taking hits"

The impact of the Corona crisis is extremely varied for the companies in the fresh produce sector, commercial manager Henri Schockman of Levarht from Aalsmeer notes. "Companies that focus on supplying to retail in Northwestern Europe have generally performed well in recent months. The companies that…

Increase of cucumber production in Baja California

Cucumber cultivation is gaining ground in the agricultural fields of the Baja California coastal area. According to Juan Manuel Martínez Núñez, in charge of the office of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development in the State, a total of 24,500 tons was obtained in 2019, which generated 245…

"If Brits don't take overseas holidays, retail demand for greenhouse vegetables will remain strong"

There's an unabated demand for Dutch greenhouse vegetables from British supermarkets. That's according to Johan Vrijland of JNV Produce in Maasdijk, the Netherlands. "European countries - with France in the lead - might remain closed. Brits might, therefore, not be able to go on holiday. Then, I expect…

USDA cites Custom Fresh Cuts Inc. in California for PACA violations

As a part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the U.S. Department of…

German horticultural enterprises under water

The heavy rainfall on the weekend of the 13th/14th of June, with rain amounts of 100 l/m² and more, also hit horticultural businesses and tree nurseries hard in isolated cases. Especially in the north-west of Lower Saxony (Ammerland district), some of the crops grown in the open countryside were under water.…

"‘Five a day’ at risk under no-deal Brexit"

The supply of fruit and vegetables will be further impacted by a no-Brexit deal after disruptions caused by Covid-19. The UK faces a shortage of fruit and vegetables under a no-deal Brexit scenario unless new markets are found soon, experts at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) have warned. Cesar…

Tomato prices reached record peak in Bulgaria

Tomato prices in Bulgaria, both purchase prices and those at which the goods are sold in the retail, have reached the highest level of the last ten years, especially in the…

US (CA): Report details pandemic losses to farms and ranches

Pandemic-related losses to California farms, ranches and agricultural businesses will range between $5.9 billion and $8.6 billion this year, according to an economic study…

Delphine Descamps about financing growth in indoor agtech

With the indoor agtech sector facing many challenges due to the current crisis, what is the right type of finance to help grow the industry and how can growers access capital? Hear from Delphine Descamps, Managing Director at Creadev share her thoughts on financing growth in the indoor agtech sector,…

FMI and Label Insight: New research report

US: Why Twin Cities food co-ops haven't fared as well as supermarkets in pandemicAs COVID-19 took hold in the U.S., conventional supermarkets saw sales increase about 12% in April and in May, according to Supermarket News, a trade publication. Co-ops, on the other hand, experienced a 5.7% sales decrease…

Mangoes get delivered by Lamborghini in Dubai

While the mango is known as the king of fruits in India, it is surely getting the royal treatment in Dubai, where the fruit is being delivered in a Lamborghini. Managing director of ‘Pakistan Supermarket’, Mohammad Jehanzeb, is delivering mangoes personally in own his vehicle as he believes that "the…

Rost

Russian grower plans 17 ha greenhouse complex in Nizhny Novgorod

In 2020, Rost, one of the biggest vegetable producers in Russia, are planning to open a greenhouse complex in the city of Bor (Nizhny Novgorod) at the cost of 65.5 million euros. The acreage of the first phase of the greenhouse complex should comprise 17.3 ha. It is planned to grow cucumbers and tomatoes…

US: Springworks products now available in Hannaford supermarkets

Springworks, the largest aquaponic greenhouse operation in New England, announced that its Green Leaf and Boston Bibb products are now available in all Hannaford Supermarkets stores. The increased distribution to the retailer’s Scodac, NY distribution center comes just ten months after Springworks…

Californian agri sector shrinking under weight of regulations

Dairy owner Steve Nash used to be enmeshed in California politics, staying active in the Fresno County Farm Bureau and appearing before state legislators and regulators to…

Shortage of tourists forces drug dealers to sell vegetables for a living

Drug dealers living in Goa have taken to odd jobs to make a living during the coronavirus outbreak. Several people were rendered jobless due to the coronavirus lockdown as the…

Analyzing Germany's asparagus acreage from space

The satellites of the European Space Agency (ESA) will track the economic impact that the coronavirus crisis is leaving on the world from space, through a program presented…

"Bird's eye chillis available in China in July"

“The Bird's eye chilli is native to Thailand. Its seeds were then introduced to China and many varieties were cultivated. This chilli is grown in most parts of China, including Guizhou, Jiangxi, and Hebei,” said Mr. Peng of Jiangxi Woshenghui Agricultural Development Co., Ltd.  Red bird's eye chillis "Our red…

US (NJ): Webinar on implementing guidance for workers

The webinar for ag employers regarding the understanding and implementation of NJ's COVID-19 guidance for migrant and seasonal farmworkers, employers and housing providers,…

Horticulture Directorate projects year-end rebound for Kenyan horticulture

The horticultural sector is expected to recover from the Covid-19 shocks at the end of the year, according to Head of Horticulture Directorate Benjamin Tito. He said the…

US (MI): MDARD to begin inspections of produce farms with more than $250,000 in gross annual sales

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) will begin produce safety inspections on farms grossing over $250,000 in total annual food sales on…

Transportation challenges and opportunities discussed at United Fresh LIVE!

The United Fresh LIVE! virtual trade show featured many different types of events, among which were Coffee Talks. These talks were more casual and worked with audience participation to discuss the topic at hand. One of these talks looked at transportation challenges and opportunities in the produce…

Qatar Ministry and Mahaseel launch guarantee programme to support local farms

Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality and Environment, in cooperation with Mahaseel (Mahaseel for Marketing and Agricultural Services Company), has launched the guarantee programme…

Matt O'Hara

Hydroponic, aquaponic and aeroponic growers wanted for USDA-funded research

For the research project, “Systems Analysis of Hydroponic, Aquaponic, and Aeroponic Food Production in the United States," which is funded by the United State Department of Agriculture and administered by Dr. Blaire O’Neal, a postdoctoral fellow at San Diego State University, a survey is currently being…

Scandinavian countries have discovered Sicilian aromatic herbs

Mountain air and unspoiled soil are essential to cultivate high-quality aromatic herbs in the same environments where they grow spontaneously. Concetto Dinatale "We just sow plants using geometry where they would grow anyway. We reorganize nature in tidy rows of oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme, bay and…

Freshfel Europe calls for EU and UK negotiators not to let the fresh fruit and vegetable sector down

Freshfel Europe calls for EU and UK negotiators not to let the fresh fruit and vegetables sector down and to allow businesses to recover after COVID-19 before major changes…

LDC launches corporate venture capital program

Louis Dreyfus Company B.V. (LDC) launched its corporate venture capital program, ‘LDC Innovations’, as an essential element in LDC’s strategic plans to reinforce its position as a key value chain participant. “This program is another positive step in our strategic growth plans, as part of which we are…

Rain doesn’t end problems for Irish vegetable growers

There may have been rain over the past few days, but vegetable growers will be counting the cost of recent drought conditions for a long time to come. Over the past three…

Self-isolation exemption for seasonal agricultural workers UK

Seasonal agricultural workers arriving in the UK will not have to self-isolate for 14 days, as long as they follow specific instructions, the government has said. Those…

Angelo Caputo's Fresh Markets has chosen Locai

US: Union demands food retailers reinstate hazard payThe United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents 1.3mln workers in grocery stores and other businesses, has called on major supermarket chains such as The Kroger Co. to reinstate hazard pay following news reports that…

Dundee community groups supporting vulnerable locals with vertically grown veg

Community groups across the Dundee area have been delivering fresh produce to local residents who have been most heavily impacted by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The produce has been grown by IGS in Scotland’s first vertical farm based at the James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie.  IGS grows purely for R&D…

Market study on greenhouse industry in Kazakhstan

For ten years Kazakhstan increased greenhouse area by almost 20 times and reached 1,164 hectares by 2018. The volume of the greenhouse vegetables market amounted to 219 thousand tons. Next 3-4 years, about 40-50 hectares of greenhouses will be built in Kazakhstan. Unlike Russia, in Kazakhstan there are a…

"There is a rising trend in tomato prices again"

The export of Belgian tomatoes is currently going well. "There is a lot of demand and we can sell good volumes to Spain and Italy," says Philippe Degré of Rotom Tomatoes. Despite the high demand, prices are at a fairly low price level. “There is currently a lot of supply from the Netherlands and Belgium,…

"Cherries delivered an additional $25 million versus the same week a year ago"

The first week of June marks three full months of coronavirus-related shopping patterns. While restaurant competition for the food dollar is gearing up, grocery sales remained highly elevated. Additionally, trends in trips, basket size, product selections and channel choices continue to change as…

Ghana: Specific policy necessary for vegetable value chain development

The vegetable sector in Ghana will miss out on huge opportunities of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), once the implementation of the AfCFTA begins without…

Honoring essential workers of the food supply chain’s front lines

Marking its sixteenth year recognizing exceptional retail produce managers, United Fresh Produce Association honored its 2020 Retail Produce Manager Awards Program winners…

Asia-Pacific seed trade slowly emerges from COVID-19 lockdowns

The seed trade in the Asia-Pacific region has been strongly affected by COVID-19 related lockdown measures. A survey in early April among seed enterprise members of the Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA) showed reduced demand for sowing seed of all crops, problems in seed production, and challenges…

“Kiwifruit, citrus and apples have become the most demanded products in India”

The Indian fruit market has changed since the lockdown started. Although restrictions have been lifted in certain states, others are still struggling. It has resulted in less demand for the more perishable products, like grapes. Meanwhile kiwifruit and citrus have become more popular in the country.…

Taiga | Dreamstime.com

U.S. limits visas for temporary workers, exemptions for agrifood

President Trump on Monday expanded a measure restricting visas to the United States to target many more temporary foreign workers, limiting immigrants from coming to the country for employment in industries including technology, academia, hotels and construction. The order primarily affects H-1B visas,…

"Crop technician apprenticeship could benefit wider industry"

A bespoke apprenticeship for crop technicians has proved so successful for the APS Group that the company is keen to share its benefits across the commercial growing industry. One of the UK's leading suppliers of British tomatoes, the APS Group realised it needed a career route for talented employees to…

"I see a future in direct sales to consumers”

The first orders have been picked up and sent out, and with that, the webshop set up by Dutch grower Joost van Luijk of Hot Pepper King is now officially launched. “It is a fun way for us to supply the ‘pepper diehards’”, says the pepper grower, who doesn’t see pricing in the market as all that good yet.…

Ability to expand Ontario's fruit and vegetable sector

New research from the Greenbelt Foundation highlights a timely opportunity to grow Ontario's $2.2 billion fruit and vegetable sector, including more local production of fresh…

PMA's State of the Industry report outlines post-COVID-19 trends for fresh produce

Produce Marketing Association Australia-New Zealand (PMA A-NZ) says the Coronavirus pandemic has led to widespread disruption of the fresh produce industry, driving change at a rapid pace, affecting the way the fresh produce industry works, lives, eats, moves and uses technology. With Hort Connections…

Hebei Province rushes to replenish Beijing's vegetable supply

North China's Hebei Province has asked its major vegetable-growing counties to prioritize supplies to Beijing, after the national capital closed its largest wholesale produce…

United Fresh LIVE! workshop discusses global trade challenges in pandemic

Each day of the United Fresh LIVE! virtual trade show this week features multiple workshops for visitors to attend. On Tuesday June 16th, the workshop entitled Global Trade Challenges in the COVID-19 brought together leaders from around the globe to discuss the challenges faced by trade partners…

Cambodian vegetables stand to gain EU market

Cambodia will seize the opportunity to export vegetables to EU markets while its neighbors are banned from exporting vegetables to EU markets, Ministry of Agriculture,…

Andalusia tries to speed up the repatriation of the 7,200 Moroccan temporary workers trapped in Huelva

The General Directorate for the Coordination of Migration Policies of the Government of Andalusia, together with the Subdelegation of the Government of Huelva, are…

US: SECURE guidance and webinars

As part of its ongoing efforts to implement the new Sustainable, Ecological, Consistent, Uniform, Responsible, Efficient (SECURE) biotechnology regulations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s…

Organic courgettes and cucumbers see a boom in orders, requested mainly from Northern Europe

"After having completed the broccoli campaign, we are now moving on to more summery, fresher products, which are grown using strictly organic farming. We have just started the zucchini and cucumber season, and it looks like a great start, both for the requests and for the quotations" - commented Giuseppe…

CAN (NL): $13 million for plan to develop agriculture sector and create jobs

Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, announced nearly $13 million in funding to create jobs in the agriculture sector and assist farmers and producers. The funding is part of a plan to support employment in rural communities and…

"We are seeing a good supply situation - there is no shortage"

"The tomato market seems to be relatively normal at this time of year - but if the hospitality industry would have been functioning normally, the price levels would have been a lot higher. Paprika was trading for slightly more for a short time; now the prices are dropping gradually," Daniel Schury -…

USDA restricts PACA violators in Georgia, Massachusetts and Mississippi

As part of its efforts to enforce the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act and ensure fair trading practices within the U.S. produce industry, the Department of Agriculture…

Iran: Tomato exports at $97 million in first two months

Iran’s exports of tomatoes reached $97 million during the first two months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-May 21), according to data released by the Islamic…

Gultekdi wholesale vegetable market again functioning at full strength

The Gultekdi wholesale vegetable and fruit market in Pune has started functioning at full strength, while its retail section reopened on Sunday. The supplies have started coming in from other states like Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. "The market functioning is…

Two million UK strawberries could be wasted after cancellation Wimbledon

Around two million strawberries are under threat after the cancellation of the Wimbledon event.  An annual tradition for many, new research collated by Fresh Student Living reveals…

Andalusia exports fewer tomatoes to the EU, but more peppers

According to data from Andalusia's Prices and Markets Observatory on the region's main vegetable exports to the EU in the 2019/2020 campaign, tomato exports have been slightly reduced compared to the previous season, with 3% fewer kilos exported, even though the value of those exports remained the same.…

Summer of Scottish strawberries

Nothing says ‘it’s summer’ like the first bite of a juicy strawberry. In the absence of the country's favourite tennis event of the year, IPL encourages Scots to support local suppliers and opt for…

Australian research into new fresh produce postharvest treatment using supercharged air

Australian fresh produce growers may soon have a new method of treating fruit and vegetables that minimise microbial food safety risks, with promising results from a current project with the potential to greatly improve food safety and reduce postharvest losses. The New South Wales Department of Primary…

Report finds supply chain inefficiencies are costing Australian fresh produce industry over $1billion

Australia loses an estimated 18-22 per cent of produce, due to inefficiencies along the supply chain, according to Produce Marketing Association Australia-New Zealand (PMA A-NZ)'s State of the Industry report.   The annual study, commissioned Ernst & Young, found that those losses were equivalent to $1.72 billion.…

BBC

UK growers says most volunteer pickers dropped out

Ed Grey, who runs Watts Farm in Kent, had more than 300 furloughed workers to help harvest crops growing on his land as part of the Pick For Britain scheme, which encouraged furloughed workers to help pick produce during the coronavirus pandemic. However, only 20 of those who volunteered remain on his…

Smooth gap-free transition for California celery

Supplies of California celery are transitioning growing regions, but the transition looks to be smooth. “In the next two to three-week period there will be the move from the Oxnard growing area to the Santa Maria and Salinas growing areas. It’s going to be pretty smooth,” says Russ Widerburg of Oxnard,…

UK and EU farmers united in call for free trade agreement

Farming organisations from across the EU have joined the NFU in its call for an urgent breakthrough in trade talks in order to establish a UK/EU free trade agreement. The call came at a webinar which highlighted the importance of agri-food trade between the UK and EU, as well as the significant impact…

Expert insights on opportunities for indoor and vertical farming

The indoor and vertical farming industry has fast-tracked many opportunities to help feed consumers during a global pandemic. The virtual Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit will identify how the world’s leading farm operators found a gap in the market to meet consumer demand and deliver fresh and healthy…