"At the moment, the supply of vegetables available in Almeria is insufficient to meet the demand"

In the last days of January, the fruit and vegetable products of Almeria have been reaching very good prices at the province's auctions, like La Union's, where most vegetables have easily exceeded the Euro per kilo (in the case of striped eggplant, their price on January 26 stood at 2.75 € / kg),…

Laredo District in Texas is number 1 for US-Mexico agricultural trade

Fueled by produce shipments traveling via trucks and rail, the Laredo customs district was the top U.S.-Mexico border port of entry (POE) for agricultural trade from January…

California canning tomato price at record high

The 2023 California canning tomato price is set at $138 per ton for the conventional crop. This is a record price, 31% higher than last year’s base price of $105. The…

The Government of Spain will pay 300 million euro to farmers because of increased fertilizer prices

The Council of Ministers has agreed to authorize the payment of EUR 300 million in aid to holders of agricultural holdings as compensation for the accumulated increase in the…

"70% of tomatoes in supermarket are now of foreign origin"

In the first months of the year, Flemish tomato production goes through a standard off-peak period when only the exposed greenhouse growers bring their fruit to the auctions.…

USDA

EU consumers save on food and buy less organic in 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic boosted organic food sales in the EU, enabling it to overtake the U.S. market in 2021. However, spiraling inflation combined with high food and energy prices will likely reduce organic food sales in most EU markets in 2022. Despite this, there continues to be good prospects for U.S.…

First Dutch aubergines back on shelves

Purple Pride's first Dutch aubergines are already back on retailer shelves. The Dutch aubergine season has officially started with the harvest of the first purple aubergines at Greenbrothers' growing locations in Zevenbergen and Van Duijn De Jong Aubergines in Westdorpe. The rest of Growers United's…

In 2022, the average price paid to Andalusian tomato producers was the highest of the last ten years

According to calculations by Hortofinfo, based on the Observatory of Prices and Markets of the Junta de Andalucía, in 2022, producers in Andalusia were paid an average of…

High cucumber pricing factors into the 'salad category' demand

The cucumber market is a strong one right now and is anticipated to continue to be in the near future. “Last year, the cucumber market was not very strong. There was such an oversupply that many growers broke even, didn’t make much, or lost money. This year there was less planted in both growing areas,…

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India: Uttarakhand government to construct 50,000 poly houses in state: CM Dhami

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recently stated that the government plans to construct 50,000 poly houses in Uttarakhand in the next two years. The Uttarakhand Chief Minister confirmed that the state government would construct these poly houses with the help of the National Bank for…

"Cucumbers had a good season, so more tomato growers have switched to them"

In Belgium, cucumbers seem to be escaping the downward trend many fruit vegetables are experiencing. "We started selling the standard crop last week, and demand is already…

California rains highlight inability to capture enough rainwater

It’s been said that California doesn’t have a water issue but rather a water storage issue. Following recent record rains and even flooding in the state, where does that leave things? “A lot of water came down in California. There was the ability to catch some of it, but the main problem here continues…

Crisis update: TTF gas price reached low point again

On Wednesday, the short-term TTF gas price again dropped to a, by crisis standards, low. 56.66 euros per megawatt-hour was the lowest price since December 2021. The electricity price has also been dropping in recent days. On Thursday, that decline continued. The gas price hovers below the 60-euro mark.…

"In February, there will be a production gap in cucumbers, zucchinis, and eggplants"

"We are in the middle of the campaign. It's the end of the autumn-winter cycle, in which the cucumber and zucchini cycle ends. The cycle, however, is ending a little early.…

Spanish and Dutch pepper sales in the EU decrease while Moroccan pepper sales grow

According to a study by Hortoinfo, Spanish pepper sales in the EU between January and October 2022 decreased by 8.53% (i.e., -42.69 million kilos) over the previous year. This…

Long-term impact of California rains on strawberries unknown

The excessive rainfall and atmospheric rivers seem to have stopped in California, at least for the moment. They started in early December 2022 and continued until January 27, 2023. According to the Santa Maria CIMIS weather station, the Santa Maria area received a total of 12.39 inches (314.7 mm) of rain…

lid.ch/ji

Swiss greenhouses to operate without fossil fuels by 2040

By 2040, Swiss greenhouses are to be heated without fossil fuels. At an event of the Swiss Agricultural Journalists Association (SAJ) in Buchs, VSGP director Matija Nuic pointed out the association's goals. By the end of 2030, greenhouses should run without fossil fuels for 80% and by the end of 2040 for…

Government and horticulture sector target $12b in exports by 2035

A new Government and industry strategy launched today has its sights on growing the value of New Zealand’s horticultural production to $12 billion by 2035, Agriculture…

Sharp rise in vine tomatoes in week 4

Tomato volumes from local greenhouses are lower than normal. The autumn crop is over, and many new crops have yet to really come into production. For the average prices on the…

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Teaching self-sustainability to schools and communities across South Africa

“If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” This proverb could not be more true for a partnership between snack giant Mondelēz International and Inmed South Africa, which are taking the idea of self-sustainability to schools and communities…

Mint is seeing an interesting pickup in demand

With the holidays being behind us, demand for rosemary, thyme, and sage slowly returns to their traditional levels. “Throughout the year, it’s basil that drives the herb category,” says Jeff Bruff with Rock Garden, a Coosemans Worldwide company. Sales in both retail and food service are showing…

Rising temperature complicates the flowering of peppers in Morocco

Several factors are putting Moroccan producers in difficulty, suggesting a likely decline in export volumes of some products, according to Mr. Yassine Tlati of the Moroccan exporter Aitr Zohour. "In peppers, for example, we are facing a fall of blossoms because of the temperature. Volumes could drop by…

Cucumber season expected to end two to three weeks earlier

The cucumber export season is underway in Almeria and Granada with very good results and is expected to end a few weeks earlier than usual due to the advanced state of the crops. The unusual temperatures recorded until the first half of January have accelerated the ripening and caused the production to…

France is preparing a law allowing the industry to better negotiate with retailers

The French National Assembly has just passed a bill aimed at giving more weight to the industry in negotiations with retailers. So far, in France, if suppliers and retailers…

Spanish zucchini exports decrease by almost 22% while purchases of Moroccan zucchini increased by more than 33%

Spanish zucchini exports in the first eleven months of 2022 registered a considerable decrease over the same period of the previous year. According to Hortofinfo, in that…

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UK: Plans for more soft fruit polytunnels at a Colworth farm are resubmitted

Arun District Council officers said the application failed to sufficiently survey for Great Crested Newts within the ponds adjacent to the site at Colworth Manor Farm, Colworth Lane. A planning, sustainable design, and access statement by Douglas Briggs Partnership for the new plans said the applicants…

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More than 5,000 tons of tomatoes arrived in Russia from Turkmenistan since the start of '23

A significant share of the supply of fresh tomatoes to the Russian market comes from Turkmenistan. Every year the Republic is increasing exports in this direction. So, since the beginning of 2023, the Office of the Rosselkhoznadzor for the city of Moscow, the Moscow and Tula regions have already…

Despite challenging 2022, Serbian fruit exports are increasing

Despite a challenging 2022, the Serbian fresh fruit export sector still represents 20% of the country’s exports, participants heard at last week’s Agro Belgrade 2023 exhibition. Known for its raspberry production, the country has also invested more in strawberries and blueberries production, with an…

“We are confident about the 2023 cucumber campaign”

Many cucumber producers were faced with a lot of uncertainty last year regarding the success of the 2022 season, but cucumbers are gaining in popularity in France. "Cucumber prices had increased by more than 30% at the end of the previous campaign. Thanks to prices that remained high throughout the…

Foto: Erwin Laux GmbH & Co. KG.

French imported lettuce price rises slightly

"The demand, as well as the quality of French lettuces, is very good this winter. Compared to previous years, the price is also quite low," informs us Ralf Laux, managing director of Erwin Laux Ltd & Co. from Landau, informs us. Overall, larger quantities are also available, which is also reflected in…

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Cultivating urban farming in Malaysia

City dwellers have been growing fresh produce like fruits and vegetables in vacant lots, rooftops, and abandoned indoor spaces since the World War II era. During that period, millions of Americans practiced urban farming, which they called “victory gardens” in their backyards to produce additional fruits…

New white strawberry variety targets year-round supply

In the fall of 2022, a new white strawberry variety called Florida Pearl® Brand FL 16 78 109 cv (Florida Pearl) was launched. "We started with large-scale trials in 2022 and officially launched the variety at the 2022 Fruit Attraction show in Madrid," says José Jon García, Commercial Manager for Europe…

Increased energy costs hit winter production of cucumbers on the northern hemisphere hard

The increased energy costs have hit the winter production of cucumbers on the northern hemisphere hard. Many northern European cucumber growers have opted out of heating or lighting their cucumber crops this winter, including those in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, causing gaps in…

Italy exports approximately 60% of its tomatoes to the US every year

Fresh Up Your Life is a project promoted by CSO Italy and financed by the European Union. It has returned to the US at the Winter Fancy Food show, which ended on January 17 in…

Higher cucumber pricing reflects lessened supply and inflated costs

Supplies of cucumber look to be tighter out of Mexico. For Produce House LLC, this is a transition time when its shade house cucumbers are coming from the northern region of Sonora. “We’re able to have enough supply to get us through the winter,” says Raquel Espinoza of Produce House, noting that…

Sub-zero frosts harm Murcia crops

This week, farmers in the Murcia region are waking up in different scenes of devastation: lettuce, artichokes, and even citrus fruits are frozen solid in their fields as a…

Greenhouse horticulture goes for people-oriented employment

The board of Glastuinbouw Nederland recently adopted the Human Capital Agenda for the next three years. The HCA is greenhouse horticulture's policy agenda for attracting,…

UK cucumber growers won't plant until late February or March

Energy and labor issues are the main issues affecting cucumber production in the UK, especially in the Lea Valley. "Normally, growers would be planting cucumbers in the…

NL: How popular is greenhouse horticulture among young people?

The future of greenhouse horticulture lies in the hands of the new generation. But are they interested in it? How attractive is a career in greenhouse horticulture among young people and young adults? We spoke with 25-year-old Stef from Greenhouse Horticulture Netherlands, Inholland Delft University of…

“The blueberry sector is looking to expand its production window in Huelva”

The province of Huelva increased its blueberry area by 2% this campaign, accounting for 30.5% of the 11,802 hectares of berries that have been planted for the 2022/2023 campaign. "We started harvesting our blueberries in Perlahuelva yesterday," stated Ramon Hernandez. "We grow Matias, Windsor, and Star…

Morocco approaches the volume of tomatoes that Spain sold in the European Union

Between 2018 and 2022, Moroccan tomato sales to EU Member States in January to October period increased by 38.05%. In the same period of time, Spanish tomato exports to its…

South African consumer has to expect higher-priced tomatoes in near future

Although tomato volumes have dropped, sales remain stable as prices hit an upward trend for now. Unfortunately, South African load shedding does have an impact on those who…

Prices of tomatoes skyrocket at Koyambedu market in Chennai

The supply of tomatoes at the Koyambedu wholesale market in Chennai has dropped. This has led to the prices of this vegetable to skyrocket. Some vegetable traders have,…

Qatar produces more vegetables than it needs

According to the Executive Director of Business Relations at Hassad Food, Mubarak al-Sahouti, Qatar's production of some vegetables exceeds consumption rates. Al-Sahouti said…

"Spanish tomatoes, bell peppers' situation finally improving"

Expectations ran high ahead of the Spanish greenhouse vegetable season. It seemed the sky was the limit for these crops, given the lower winter production in the Netherlands. Those sky-high prices were lacking for some time but are now being reached for, especially bell peppers and tomatoes. "Bell…

Frost destroyed vegetable crops in the south of Kazakhstan

Greenhouses in the south of Kazakhstan could not stand the freezing cold caused by the recent snowfall and broke under the weight of the snow, leading to many young crops…

Effects of Brexit have become clearer for UK growers

In the years since Britain voted to leave the EU, many Eastern Europeans have left the country. This led to a shortfall of about 330,000 workers. Two years after Britain left…

European Commission unveils new packaging regulations – to take effect from 2025

The European Commission has unveiled new packaging regulations that will take effect from 2025 and require all packaging used in the bloc to be recyclable by 2030. These…

Average price vine tomato drops, loose tomato rises further in week 3

The tomato price had been on the rise since the end of last year. Last week, however, the vine tomato price at the Federation of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives (VBT)…

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Pestalotiopsis causes losses of up to 50% in Michoacan's strawberry production

The pestalotiopsis plague in Mexico's strawberry cultivation and the losses it is generating to the sector have led producers to think about the possibility of starting to produce strawberry plants in the country. "We are in talks with the state government and the federal government to see if we can make…

Crisis update: "European price cap could cause sudden market changes"

Friday, January 20, the short-term TTF gas price closed at just under 67 euros per megawatt hour. During last week, the price rose due to more wintry weather. Electricity prices are also on the rise. In this new crisis update, we list the price and market developments again. TTF gas price for February…

Horticultural products drive total U.S. agricultural import growth

The value of U.S. agricultural imports (adjusted for inflation) grew an average of 4 percent a year between fiscal years 2012 and 2022 (October to September). Over that time, total U.S. agricultural imports rose from $139 billion to $194 billion, with growth concentrated in select commodity groups.…

DE: Agricultural Minister of Colombia explores opportunities for cooperation

Frosty weather welcomed the Colombian delegation led by Minister of Agriculture Cecilia López in Kleinmachnow on 18 January. The minister used her visit to the Green Week in Berlin to visit the nearby JKI premises and met with JKI President Prof. Frank Ordon for exploratory talks. Ms. López was…

India: Joint Kisan Manch seeks policy for farmers and horticulturists in Himachal

The Joint Kisan Manch of various organizations of farmers and horticulturists has urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to take necessary steps to provide relief to the…

Crisis update: TTF gas price dives below €60/MWh

A new week opened yesterday with a solid drop in the gas price by about nine percent. This put the gas price below €60 per megawatt-hour at the Title Transfer Facility on Monday morning. The electricity price is going up quite a bit, as already announced. In this crisis update, we list the energy…

"Procurement costs of Turkish goods sometimes increased by up to 50 percent"

Quinces, pomegranates as well as pointed peppers characterize the current range of Turkish products. "One truck of pomegranates per week will sell without any problems. In view of the current market prices, we cannot complain at all," says Vahit Can, managing director, and stand manager of Pina and…

Bulgaria: Third largest importer of Turkish tomatoes

The volume of tomato exports from Turkey in 2022 increased by 4% compared to 2021 - to more than 377 million dollars. Romania was the leading importer of tomatoes from Turkey…

Türkiye starts 2023 with a large minimum wage hike

Türkiye entered 2023 with a significant rise in its national minimum wage. As announced by president Erdoğan in the second half of December 2022, the Turkish minimum wage has…

“Expecting strong demand for our Mexican berries during Feb-April with limited competition”

The stellar growth of FD Berries in Mexico is continuing with expansion plans to reach just over 750 acres (303 hectares) by March, while they are preparing the ground in Sebring, Florida, in the US, for 100 acres (40 hectares) of blueberries. Sam Ahilan, CEO of FD Berries, says their intention was…

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Why is lettuce getting more expensive?

If you've noticed that lettuce prices have skyrocketed recently, you're not alone. "Food prices normally fluctuate throughout the seasons or with inflation," says Nick Cutsumpas, an urban farmer and plant coach who designs exterior landscapes on Netflix's Instant Dream Home and wrote Plant Coach: The…

Widespread lettuce ice forming in Arizona

The Arizona and California desert region experienced strong winds early in the week, resulting in current morning temperatures dipping into the low-to mid-30°Fs, causing widespread lettuce ice to form. Low temperatures will persist for the next five days, with continuing lettuce ice events through the early…

"Spain is the only EU Member State that has this tax on non-reusable plastic packaging"

The new Spanish tax on non-reusable plastic packaging, included in Law 7/2022 of April 8 on Waste, Contaminated Land, and Circular Economy, which entered into force on January…

"For a long time, iceberg lettuce was much too cheap"

Both in summer and winter, iceberg lettuce is the mainstay of Gemüsehandel Reymers Ltd at the Hamburg wholesale market. "For a long time, iceberg lettuce was much too cheap. There were many traders here at the wholesale market who offered their goods very cheaply and pushed the price down accordingly,"…

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Qatar: Tech advancement offers growth opportunities in agri sector

Technological advancement and government support offer opportunities for Qatar’s agricultural sector to prosper as it plays a crucial role in the economic growth of a country.  The top three reasons to invest in Qatar’s agritech sector are its mobile internet speed, world-class technological infrastructure,…

“Pioneers get killed, second-generation farmers get rich”

"What currently is happening in vertical farming with high valuations, but also bankruptcies shows that the industry is maturing. The second generation of Vertical Farming companies, the so-called settlers, can learn a lot from the mistakes that have been made by the first generation, the pioneers.…

Australia’s self-regulating pesticide monitoring regime picked up far fewer violations than government study

The pesticide testing Australia relies on to pick up chemicals in fresh fruit and vegetables sold domestically routinely picked up far fewer breaches than a government study…

USDA

Peru blueberry shipments through Philadelphia and New York City expected to decrease seasonally

The state of California is experiencing unprecedented catastrophic flooding that is relentless and very destructive. It is affecting the agricultural industry by curtailing harvest due to record amounts of rainfall in some parts of the state. It is too early to update on any related crop damages until…

“New Covent Garden is challenging the national suppliers who buy on cost, not quality”

The tomato supply into the UK is coming from Spain, Morocco, and the Canary Islands, as the Dutch season has now finished. "We are getting all varieties of tomatoes from cherry, vine to beef tomatoes," said Gary Marshall from Bevington Salads, based in London's New Covent Garden wholesale market. "The tomato…

Canada: Vegetable price hikes kept food costs high in December

Statistics Canada reports that a rapid rise in prices for fresh vegetables in December offset slower price growth for other food items and kept overall food inflation high.…

Growers' purchasing behavior and implications for suppliers' go-to-market strategies

Every four years, the Purdue University Center for Food and Agricultural Business conducts the Large Commercial Producer (LCP) survey, which collects data from approximately 2,000 farmers across the U.S. This survey has consistently shown that farmers behave differently when buying different inputs,…

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ZA: Higher-priced tomatoes expected in the near future

Although tomato volumes have dropped, sales remain stable as prices hit an upward trend for now. But as with everything else in South Africa, load shedding does have an impact on those who farm with these vegetables hydroponically. There are fewer tomatoes on South Africa’s shelves due to a nationwide…

Crisis update: Gas price keeps falling steadily

When will my power bill be lower? Europeans are increasingly asking this as energy prices continue to fall. After a sharp decline on Monday, January 16, the TTF gas price drop continued steadily on Tuesday morning. Electricity prices were the same as on Monday, while on the Belgian Power Exchange, that…

Ukraine approves grants for greenhouses

In 2022, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine approved grant applications for the creation of greenhouses, both for the industry and domestic gardening. This…

Tomato and lettuce prices on the rise, but real peak in strawberry

With an average kilogram price for vine tomatoes of almost €1.80, the price at the VBT auctions cannot yet match that of 2022, but the price is above the five-year average…

UK: Key challenges remain for hort sector in 2023

As the new year starts, NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett reflects that key challenges remain for the sector. I hope you all managed to get some rest and recuperation over the festive period, though I expect it already feels like a distant memory. The start of 2023, as expected,…

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Predictions on EU CEA-grown market didn't come true

The greenhouse vegetable industry of the European Union faced huge problems in 2021. Their main reason was the energy crisis, which has hit industries using a lot of fuel and electricity. The greenhouse industry is one of them. EastFruit project analysts report this with reference to the fresh-market…

Chilean berry grower expands production to Peru, Mexico, US and Morocco

The Chilean headquartered Agroberries with farms and offices in both hemispheres are excited to reap the benefits of their investments in new farms and varieties to keep growing with over 43 000 MT of berries already marketed in 2022. According to Juan Pablo Vogt, Commercial and Logistics Manager of…

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Pakistan: Greenhouses owners suffer $3 million losses in Farah

Local officials in the western province of Farah said that owners of greenhouses have suffered more than $3 million loss due to cold weather in the province. Owners of greenhouses said they are unable to continue their business due to recent financial losses that they have suffered over cold weather.…

Jamaicans called on to embrace agriculture

The fallout from the geopolitical factors, such as the ongoing Ukraine/Russia war and disruptions in the global supply chains, have underscored the need for Jamaica to do much more to enhance its food security and nutrition. Because of this, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will be going all out…

Predictions for the Greenhouse Industry in 2023

For a crop to be of the best quality, a precise degree of competence is needed. Many growers achieve this by getting into the habit of using good growing practices and being aware of emerging trends. To already help growers get ahead of the trends in the new year, the team over at GreenPro Ventures has…

"Prices are slowly rising again, partly due to high demand in Europe"

High-priced tomatoes are kicking off the season for disFruta Fruchtimport Ltd, as far as goods from Turkey are concerned. "Every week, we will market 6 to 8 trucks full of tomatoes, which we obtain from Turkey, Spain, and Morocco," says Managing Director Ersan Yildizak. The tomatoes are marketed…

"There is a worldwide hype for hot chili peppers, and Morocco can make itself a place in this industry"

Mzab hot chili peppers, a Moroccan company producing and exporting habanero, will enter the international market in the summer of 2023. This announcement was made by Mr. Saleh Halfi, CEO of the company: "We went from 5 tons last year to 50 tons expected this season. We sent our samples all over Europe…

Dutch fruit and vegetable export value up by 2% in 2022, volume down 1%

The Dutch fruit and vegetable trade sector had a particularly demanding 2022. Early in the year, the lockdown made things difficult for food service fruit and vegetable suppliers. Add geopolitical shifts, the energy crisis, and labor market uncertainty, and the challenge was complete, reports…

UK: Border Force strikes could extend to Dover and other ports

It seems that Border Force strikes over pay and conditions could be extended to UK ports, including Dover, within weeks. After eight days of industrial action focused around…

How automation is being used in agtech

What factors are driving the rise of automation in the agriculture sector, and what are some of the most exciting and transformative technologies being used today? There are six factors driving automation use in the farming sector: 1. Reduced costs With thin profit margins, the agricultural industry…

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Qatar’s agricultural output tops 100,000 tonnes in 2022

Qatar produced 100,000 tonnes of agricultural produce in 2022, increasing the self-sufficiency rate of the country in vegetables to 46 percent, an official has said. “Local vegetable production witnessed an increase of over 100 percent last year compared to 2017, said the Director of the Agricultural…

UK and EU work on final deal to end Brexit troubles

Negotiators from the European Union and the UK are preparing to enter an intense phase of talks starting next week, aimed at overcoming the dispute over the post-Brexit…

thenationaonlineeng.net

Lagos, Netherlands’ horticultural project to lessen food insecurity

Netherlands Consulate-General in Lagos, Michel Deelen Nigeria, has said the horticultural project between Lagos and Netherlands, which aims to use vertical farming systems to lessen food insecurity and stimulate economic growth, is on course. The diplomat, who spoke with The Nation on the sidelines of…

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Kenya: Growers urged to invest in dragon fruit cultivation

Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that has become increasingly popular in recent years. In Kenya, it is a relatively new crop, and being in the family of cactus, it grows in most arid and semi-arid conditions. Dr. Monicah Waiganjo, a researcher and horticulture crop specialist, has been promoting the…

In the past five years, Spanish tomato exports between January and October have decreased by 25.22%

Since 2018, Spanish tomato exports between January and October have fallen by 25.22%, while its tomato imports from Morocco have increased by 51.29 percent, according to data…

Is the crisis in the fresh produce sector due to the climate or structural problems?

"Il Poker dell'Agricoltura" (The Poker of Agriculture) read the sign of a well-known fresh produce giant located in Vittoria (RG) in the 1990s. There has never been a more appropriate definition to indicate the ability of doing business at these latitudes. Why? The answer is simple: because then, just…

South Africa’s food security endangered by rolling blackouts

South African agricultural associations are warning that the ongoing energy crisis could have a detrimental impact on food security. The impacts of load shedding are expected…

Cost-effective procurement of green electricity and gas

Landgard is intensifying the already existing cooperation with Energie-Handels-Gesellschaft & Co. This is pointed out by the Hamburg-based energy service provider in a…

Germany ponders proposal to scrap VAT on fruit and vegetables

German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir has proposed lowering the value-added tax (VAT) on fruit and vegetables to zero. While experts see the idea as a step in the right…

Tanzania’s tomato growers need solar-powered cold storages

The African Postharvest Losses Information System reports indicate that countries in Africa waste more than 30% of fresh fruits and vegetables through inefficient post-harvest…

Middle price of vine tomato climbs at start 2023

At the end of last year, the rise in tomato prices was still somewhat meager, but Week 1 saw a serious plus on top of the average price for vine tomatoes on the VBT clocks.…

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Could Almería's greenhouses serve as one large solar park?

The 33,000 hectares of greenhouses in Almería are an important source of food and have the potential to be much more, according to the Sana Energy company. Their development in nano-paste could ensure that Almería's greenhouses also become a source of electrical energy. But what is nano-paste? According…

Scaling up vegetable farms for wholesale markets

Selling to the wholesale market can help smaller-scale farmers connect with more customers to increase brand recognition and profitability.  A new educational resource from Sustainable Agriculture Research Education (SARE), a NIFA-funded organization, provides a variety of strategies and tools to help owners…

NL: No true real estate crisis in greenhouse horticulture in 2022

A new round with new chances; a new year with new opportunities? Or were things not too bad, and a real estate crisis did not materialize in the Netherlands? Two real estate brokers look…

UK government provides boost to horticulture industry regarding seasonal workers

The British government has announced 45,000 new visas for seasonal workers for horticultural businesses next year. According to Defra officials, the Seasonal Agricultural…

Greenhouses in Ukraine switched from cucumbers to tomatoes

Large greenhouse producers have reduced the cultivation of cucumbers and increased the cultivation of tomatoes since it requires less energy. Maksym Myronenko, the owner of a…

US: Rising farm worker wages suggest tightening farm labor markets

Between 2000 and 2022, the real (inflation-adjusted) hourly wage rate of hired farm workers increased by 28 percent. Growth in the average wage rate of hired farm workers during that period outpaced the hourly wage growth of nonfarm workers by 11 percentage points. Further, the gap between real farm…

USDA

Movement of blueberries through Arizona, California and Texas is expected to increase

The national average diesel fuel price has been falling steadily for nearly two months from peak prices experienced earlier in the year. With these lower costs, many truck rates are also going down, and some are back near levels not seen since late 2019. The truck and driver shortages that strained the…

US fresh produce industry tries to cope with higher labor costs

The percentage of US farm labor wages is rising and is as high as 38% for fruit and 29% for the vegetable share of production.  Producers in the US are also struggling to secure…

Import tomato fodder for debate

With this winter's tomato crop under light down sharply due to rising (energy) costs, supermarkets are looking for an imported product to fill the shelves. After all, consumers have become accustomed…

Mexican strawberry growers focus on supplying US market

The Mexican strawberry season is in full swing after brisk Thanksgiving and Christmas sales in the US, two of the peak periods for the industry. Mexico has several producers who concentrate on growing and packing while the distribution, sales, and branding are done by the companies they pack for,…

Increase in energy costs puts pressure on tomato grower margins

At the start of the New Year the global tomato market is faced with many of the same issues seen in 2022, with the increase in energy costs putting pressure on grower margins still at the top of the list. This is particularly evident in the Northern European markets, where supplies have dropped…

After a slow pace in November, the European demand for Moroccan produce is now rising

European demand for Moroccan fruits and vegetables picked up in December after a slow start last month. Ms. Asmaa Baibane, export manager for BL Agri, an Agadir-based exporter, explains this as a result of the abundant availability of locally produced fruits and vegetables in Europe in November. According…

Resistance in Spain against the ban on using plastic packaging for fruit and vegetable presentations of less than 1.5 kg

Spain is expected to approve this month a Draft Royal Decree on packaging and packaging waste that will ban plastic packaging for fresh fruit and vegetables in quantities of…

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US: Specialty crops took hard hit in 2022, drought responsible for lower yields

Severe drought and some of the highest temperatures seen in years caused many Arkansas fruit and nut crops to suffer yield losses in 2022. July and August had less than average rainfall throughout the state, resulting in severe or moderate drought conditions for much of the state, according to the United…

USDA

Avocados were far and away the most advertised produce item last week

Many retailers opted to delay releasing new ads until the new year, resulting in a lower total ad count this week. Nonetheless, flyers were sparkling with colorful ads for party favorite foods, décor, and libations. Limes and lemons showed up strong for New Year's drinks and seafood dinners. Avocados…

More than 200 million UAH will be spent on the restoration of Ukraine's irrigation systems

A total of 200 million UAH was allocated for the restoration of the irrigation system in the controlled territory of Ukraine. This was announced by the First Deputy Minister…

Keonjhar District tomato growers resort to distress sales

Keonjhar District growers have had a very good harvest of tomatoes this season. However, they are resorting to distress sales due to a lack of marketing facilities and cold…

Chilean white strawberries can be quite profitable

Chilean white strawberries (frutilla blanca) are described as being very sweet, delicate, aromatic, and floral, without the acidity of their red counterparts. They aren't the…

USDA approves world's first vaccine for honeybees

Dalan Animal Health, Inc., a biotech company pioneering insect health, announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture granted a conditional license for the…

What the Colorado River crisis could mean for indoor agriculture

For over two decades, the Colorado River Basin has suffered from what has been dubbed a "megadrought." After continual cuts to water usage, the United States Bureau of Reclamation is threatening to impose its own water conservation plan if the affected states cannot come to a sufficient water…

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US (NY): Lettuce prices are skyrocketing. Local restaurant owners are eating the cost — for now

The owner of Voula’s on Monroe Avenue doesn’t want to charge you more for salad. But the skyrocketing prices of food — up 10.6% from last year at this time — are putting Voula Katsetos-Garwood, who started her namesake restaurant almost 11 years ago, on edge. “We make about 15% less on each salad sale,”…

Thanksgiving 2022 fresh produce volume stays close to last year's levels

Thanksgiving sales make or break November in food retailing. According to the November IRI survey of primary shoppers, many Americans were back to celebrating like normal. "However, inflation did take a bite out of Thanksgiving spending, and for some categories, this was a substantial one. Fresh produce…

Clouds gather around outbound East Asia corridors

According to Xeneta air freight press release in December 2022, airlines saw demand drop 2% month-over-month in November as general airfreight volumes dipped for a ninth consecutive month. Freight forwarders are taking a 'wait and see' approach before making long-term air cargo capacity commitments. In…

Labor shortage limits supply, increases prices before Christmas

Fruit and vegetable prices will likely go up for West Australians this Christmas as supply issues hit wholesalers. A combination of high input costs, labor shortfalls in…

Spain will be the only European country to incorporate tax on non-reusable plastic

The Spanish government has rejected the request to postpone the entry into force of the special tax on disposable plastic packaging. The law has been in force since January 1,…

Bangladesh: Vegetable cultivation holds great promise in Pabna district

Vegetable cultivation is gaining popularity in Bangladesh's Pabna district as increased profits have spurred local farmers to expand their activities over the past few years.…

Poland: Number of organic farms increases 7.6% year-on-year

According to an article on agroberichtenbuitenland.nl, organic farming in Poland is reviving after the downtime at the start of the Covid pandemic. This is the result of the…

Canada: Fruit and vegetable growers are not driving price increases

Inflation, particularly the rising cost of food, has been one of the top issues facing Canadians last year. Food inflation continues to make headlines across the country as…

Optimistic prospect for Vietnamese agro exports as China eases Covid rules

China’s relaxation of Covid rules is expected to spur Vietnam’s vegetable and fruit exports and help the sector earn US$4 billion in 2023. Agro products exported to China via…

Increase of organic farming in Poland

Organic farming in Poland is reviving after the downtime at the beginning of the pandemic. This is the result of the popularization and greater availability of bioproducts and the growing awareness of the need for systemic support for organic farmers. There are more organic farms in Poland, and the share…

Growing demand for hydroponic produce in Egypt

The Egyptian company Hydrofarms is about to take a major leap in its expansion, from a volume of 240 tons this season to 3000 tons next season. This news, announced by the CEO of Hydrofarms, Mr. Adel El Shentenawy, is due to the company's investment plan, which comes in response to growing demand. The company…

European Commission

Study shows crucial role of producer organizations in the EU fruit and vegetable sector

Producer organizations (POs) play a crucial role in sustaining and fostering growth in the fruit and vegetable sector in the European Union. This is done, among other things, through channeling the EU financial support for the sector. This is one of the conclusions of the synthesis study of national…