Record rainfall, but Costa Blanca escapes worst of storm

Spanish Mediterranean hit by lots of rain and wind

Catalonia, the Valencia region, Murcia and the Balearic Islands have been dealing with adverse weather conditions since Monday, when there was rainfall of 212mm in Barx (Valencia), 115mm in Oliva (Valencia) and 93mm in San Javier airport (Murcia). The storm conditions are also bringing strong winds to…

Troubles ahead for Egypt as Ethiopia pushes Blue Nile dam

Egypt has for years been suffering from a severe water crisis that is largely blamed on population growth, and farmers try to make the most of the short supply. But other factors include climate change drying up the Nile, and water pollution due to sewage discharge as well as industrial and municipal…

Chinese cucumber price doubles and breaks the record of 3 yuan [0.43 USD]

The price of Chinese cucumbers has reached its highest position in the last few years. The overall production volume was relatively small this year but the main reason for the…

Campaign to get Singaporeans to grow, eat local produce

Singapore-farmed vegetables could appear on more menus and in Singaporean shopping carts next year, as a campaign to encourage Singaporeans to grow and eat local produce kicks off. "Next year, my ministry will launch a campaign on the Singapore Food Story to encourage Singaporeans to grow and eat local…

New Zealand: Fresh Tomato Biosecurity levy to come into effect soon

In 2017 New Zealand fresh tomato growers voted in support of a new biosecurity levy on fresh tomatoes at the TomatoesNZ Annual General Meeting. The levy was proposed to fund requirements needed to adequately prepare for biosecurity incursions through government-industry operational agreements (GIA). The…

US: USDA to expand agriculture export opportunities on seven trade missions in 2020

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will sponsor seven agribusiness trade missions in 2020 to grow and diversify export opportunities around the world for America’s…

Travelling the longest possible train route in the world

"Don't fall asleep, or you'll miss your...""...Oh, never mind."

Australian vegetable production increases despite industry challenges

The gross value of vegetable production increased by five (5) per cent in the 2017–18 financial year reaching $4.1 billion, according to a new Hort Innovation funded report produced by ABARES. This growth was mainly driven by increases in tomatoes, potatoes and mushrooms; however, Australian…

Dutch companies visit Serbia for soft fruit trade mission

The Agriculture Team of the Dutch Embassy organized a trade mission in the soft fruit sector to Serbia in the third week of November. Eleven Dutch companies were part of this mission. The visit provided insights in - and overview of - this sector in Serbia.The program consisted of series of meetings with…

Year overview May

Tomato trouble and Expansion May-nia

May was a month of almost manic expansion, with new locations opened left, right and center. Besides all the good news, there were also the lingering tomato problems: the Tomato Suspension Agreement between the US and Mexico was definitively terminated, and ToBRFV continued to rear its ugly head. Wendy's…

Interest and availability of organic greenhouse cukes grows

Greenhouse cucumbers look steady right now. “At this time of year, Canadian crops are finishing off,” says Jeff Madu of Windset Farms in Delta, BC. “Most of the Mexican crops started a few weeks ago and they’ll go right until May. There are good supplies on Mexican crops right now so the market seems…

Alain Tulpin, Tulpin Group

"Dropping strawberry prices have an impact on imports of Egyptian strawberries"

“Up until Wednesday 4 December there was a daily supply of Egyptian strawberries. There are somewhat lower volumes planned for the coming days due to the Belgian and Dutch strawberries that have fallen in price and that has an effect on the market,” says Alain Tulpin of the Tulpin Group. “Two weeks ago,…

Figures and interpretation by Hans-Christoph Behr

Tomato cultivation grows faster in North West Europe than in the South

The tomato sector is large and is still growing. Not so much in volumes, but when it comes to the hard knocks. This is thanks to the growth in the speciality segments, for which the consumer often has more money left over than for the "standard" single or vine tomato. During the Global Tomato Congress (view…

"Sustainable fruit and vegetables sourcing at a new high"

The volume of sustainably sourced fruit and vegetables, coming from outside of Europe, has risen significantly in the past years. The SIFAV partners currently trade a combined…

Jammu & Kashmir administration asks farmers to grow broccoli and parsley

Only about 100 hectares of the 40,000 hectares under vegetable cultivation in Kashmir currently cater to crops such as broccoli, lettuce and parsley. However, the Jammu & Kashmir administration has begun an outreach programme to encourage farmers of the Valley to cultivate exotic vegetables and herbs…

France and Germany, destination for more than 50% of Spanish zucchini

In the 2018/2019 campaign, more than half of Spanish zucchini exports (54.39%) were shipped to France and Germany at a price close to € 1 / kg, according to data from the…

Year overview April

All around the world

On April 1, we started with our sister publication, MMJ Daily, which is all about the cultivation of medical cannabis. Later that month we learned about expansions in Asia, as well as a consortium that includes big players like Fluence, Priva, BASF and Aerofarms, to develop crops for indoor agriculture. Of course our team was…

Better returns make Kenyan growers trade in sukumawiki cultivation for chillis

For years, Makutano farm in Kanduyi, Bungoma County, was specialised in growing the collard green vegetable, commonly known as sukumawiki. Unfortunately, this form of…

Chinese pepper price is rising because buyers are enthusiastically filling their warehouses

The supply volume of fresh peppers from the production area of Wucheng continues to grow. The fresh peppers from production areas in Hebei are also beginning to enter the…

USDA Advertised Specialty Crops Prices at Major Retail Supermarket Outlets

No significant increases in price for vegetables this week

Retail ads this week were aimed at two different types of shoppers – the last-minute shopper still trying to find the best price for their Thanksgiving dinner staples, and the early bird Christmas shopper already planning ahead for next month. Many stores featured short or extended ads to schedule around…

Netherlands creates markets for Zimbabwean growers

The Dutch embassy has urged the government of Zimbabwe to ensure transparency and policy consistency, especially on land to encourage more local small-scale farmers to venture into horticulture farming. Speaking at a media briefing in the capital, Dutch ambassador to Zimbabwe, Barbara Van Hellemond said…

Italy: FAO and Centro Agroalimentare Roma to promote the sale of local fresh fruits and vegetables

Supporting local farmers and food producers is crucial to promote sustainable, healthy diets in a context where overweight and obesity rates around the world continue to grow mainly due to the over consumption of highly processed foods. In line with this, FAO is partnering with the Rome-based Centro…

Report predicts up to 4% hike in 2020

Imported produce and climate change driving up Canadians’ grocery bills

Canadian families can expect to fork out $487 more on food this year. Rising meat, produce and seafood prices are to blame, according to the 2020 Canada’s Food Price Report. Released today, the 10th annual report provides a price forecast for eight food categories and is a joint project between the…

Erik de Smalen of Royal Brinkman España:

"Spain must take ToBRFV seriously to prevent tomato cultivation from being threatened"

This spring there were already rumors and now, at the start of the Spanish season, it has been confirmed: in Spain too they are dealing with the contagious Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV). "This is going to change cultivation," says Erik de Smalen of Royal Brinkman España. In recent years, the…

Year overview March

New market opportunities

March was a bit of a quiet month, but there was still plenty to write about, with new markets opening up around the world. Take Vietnam, for example, where we visited the HortEx. Meanwhile, North American companies explored new ventures, and some companies from outside the industry showed interest in horticulture, with…

US: The 2019 Organic Survey is arriving soon

This month, more than 22,000 organic producers are expected to receive in their mailboxes letters from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). NASS is conducting its 2019 survey of certified or transitioning to certified organic farmers, asking for…

USDA to conduct 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties this winter to provide a comprehensive picture of the U.S. horticulture industry. Survey codes will be mailed this month to more than 40,000 horticulture…

Price forecasting and span commercialization opportunities for Mexican agricultural products

Decision-making based on data analysis leads to knowing market trends and anticipating risks and opportunities. These allow farmers to improve their production plan as well as their chances to get an economic success. The aim of some recent research was to develop a methodology for price forecasting of…

Australia: Courts flex new muscle to protect plant breeders' intellectual property

A few weeks ago, the Federal Court of Australia ordered a farmer in New South Wales to pay A$290,000 to a blueberry-producing company because he had grown and sold a proprietary variety of the fruit without permission. At issue in the blueberry case were questions of intellectual property. Who owns the…

US: STEC outbreaks in romaine lettuce peak in April and October

From 1998 to 2018, foodborne illnesses and outbreaks associated with romaine lettuce occurred most frequently during March, April, September, and October—the time of the season prior to shifts in regional production. In 2017 and 2018 there were three multi-state, multi-national foodborne illness…

North Queensland growers have better access to QRIDA services

Horticulture growers in Townsville, Burdekin and Ayr have better access to support services after Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) dedicated more resources to the region. QRIDA’s eleventh Regional Area Manager office opened in Townsville in October, giving growers direct access…

Understanding sustainable agriculture in Vietnam

With one of the largest rice industries in the world, Vietnam is considered an agricultural giant. Indeed, the world sources much of its coffee, rubber and fish from the country. However, lurking in the shadows of Vietnam’s agricultural success are huge threats to its future: new breeds of pests,…

CAN: Transforming and modernizing the delivery of Ontario’s Building Code services

The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association (OFVGA) wrote to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) about the consultation on the Ontario Building Code services. The OFVGA in their letter addressed some of the factors that they wished the MMAH would consider as it finalizes its…

Spanish farmers troubled about no-deal Brexit

At this time of year, Juan Colomina is preparing for the start of the harvest of thousands of tonnes of fruit and vegetables grown under plastic in southern Spain and exported…

Turkey: Antalya exports prickly cucumbers

Producers in Antalya, a major city located in southern Turkey, grow prickly cucumbers and export them to Russia, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia and Bulgaria. Farmers in Kumluca district harvest cucumbers in greenhouses and sell them for 3 to 3.50 Turkish Lira (0.47 to 0.55 Euro) per kilo. Producer Suleyman…

The EU and China agree on the recognition of 100 mutual PGIs and PDOs

At the beginning of November, the European Union signed a trade agreement with China that involves the recognition of 100 indications and community names. The agricultural…

Low prices of mass consumption products cause problems

"The vegetable market is a changing one"

“The vegetable market is changing. What growers decide to grow today can change in less than five years. What we have been observing is that high consumption (or mass consumption) products, such as iceberg lettuce, have not yielded profitable prices for years. This causes problems,” says Pascual Blanco…

US (TX): Restrictions on tomato imports could mean volatile prices at grocery stores

Tomato prices could rise on the heels of an import restriction to scrutinize produce for a disease that could pose a threat to Texas crops, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts. All tomato imports from Mexico, Israel, the Netherlands and Canada will be inspected for signs of tomato…

Iran: Duties for tomato exports as of December 22

In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the price of tomatoes has been on the rise since last week, going up from 50,000 rials ($0.41) to 150,000-200,000 rials ($1.23-1.64) per…

Extremadura closes tomato campaign with record production

The tomato campaign in the Spanish region of Extremadura has come to an end with very positive results. The sector has achieved record yields and the production in stock with the potential to shape prices is lower. According to the president of the Association of Agricultural Cooperatives of Extremadura…

Year overview January

Trade shows, expansions, and a cancelled merger

January not only kicks off the new year, it's also the start of trade show season, with the IPM Essen as a main gathering for the industry. This month saw a number of expansions, while growers in Europe faced heavy weather, and a big merger in the Dutch tomato industry didn't go through. ToBRFV also…

6 out of every 10 Spanish tomatoes that were exported came from Almeria

During the 2018/2019 campaign, which went from September 1, 2018 to August 31, 2019, six out of every ten Spanish tomatoes exported came from the province of Almeria, according to data that Hortoinfo produced based on information of the Estacom statistical service (Icex-Tax Agency). The Andalusian…

"Production costs cannot be higher than sales prices"

"Harvesting will start in 15 days' time. For this campaign, we are looking to improve our overall quality and mostly the taste of our products. All our crops follow planning based on the agreements we signed with our partners," explains Vittorio Gona, president of Società cooperativa siciliana AlbaBio…

Ben Verwaayen at Future Trends & Innovations 2019:

"The boss is the biggest hurdle when it comes to innovation”

Things are going well in the greenhouse horticulture industry, but it is precisely because of this that it should and can all still be improved. The growth needs to be extended and preferably as fast as possible, because the competition has not been sitting idly by. “But does the industry really want…

US: Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries launches multiple online applications

Since July 2019, the Department of Agriculture and Industries’ (ADAI) Plant Section, in collaboration with Alabama Interactive, has launched eight online applications. The…

Industry overview

South Africa must prioritize market access to grow berry industry

In the next 5 years, South Africa’s berry industry is set to continue on its remarkable growth trajectory. The number of hectares planted is projected to increase by more than 80% by 2025. Agricultural Economist Nina Viljoen shared the findings of her survey after the Chairman’s report at South African…

But extreme weather made things more difficult

Polish blueberries had higher yields in 2019

Higher yields, but accompanied with challenges in terms of weather. This is what summarizes the Polish blueberry season quite well. Unpredictable heat and a lack of seasonal workers almost threw a monkey wrench in the entire season, but thanks to new fields and varieties the season still had enough to…

Weather factors into supplies of Mexican tomatoes

As Mexico ramps up for its tomato season, inclement weather may affect supplies. “They’ve had a lot of rain in Baja and Sinaloa throughout the past week so right now supplies are hindered by that rain,” says Matthew Bates of Surrey, BC.-based BC Hothouse and Star Group/Star Mexico, noting it affects…

Modular micro farms, a new approach to urban food production?

One key tenet of the “urban resilience” idea is local food production. If fruits, veggies and herbs are grown in cities, they’ll reduce the runoff, emissions, perishability and transport costs of produce. They’ll also make cities more self-sustaining, rather than having to fully rely on food grown…

Singapore: New agri-food research institute will develop and commercialise innovation and technology solutions

In his Opening Address on Day 1 of the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Week, taking place in Singapore November 20-22, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Dr Koh Poh Koon presented his vision and exciting developments for the region’s agri-food investment. In agri-food innovation and…

Road Haulage Association of Ireland:

“Hauliers in danger of being injured or killed by migrants”

Eugene Drennan, a member of the council of the Road Haulage Association of Ireland, said drivers were not getting enough protection or support from a number of governments. Drennan: “We don’t feel we’re getting enough protection from the north coast countries — France, Belgium and Holland. The rate of…

Farmworker group expresses concerns about US Farm Workforce Modernization Act

Many in the farm industry have expressed their pleasure with the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The bipartisan legislation put forward by Representative Dan Newhouse and others lays out options for foreign laborers to become legal citizens, while ensuring that farmers have the needed workers to ensure…

US truck stats – November 2019

Slight truck shortages Arizona and California

The four major elements affecting the trucking market show inbound container shipments are down. Load volume is down. Truck capacity is up, and fuel prices are up. Click here for the full report.

Fruit and vegetable imports from North African countries having impact on the European sector

Spanish fruit and vegetable imports from the six southern Mediterranean countries with which the European Commission has association agreements in force (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia) have all grown, except those of Lebanon, from where no fruit and vegetables have been imported.…

Australian fruit exporters fear trade loss because of Hong Kong protests

Farmers have warned that the continual unrest in Hong Kong could hurt Australian exports as pro-democracy protests cripple the city's economy. Hong Kong is Australia's eighth largest export market, worth $13 billion annually, and recently signed a free-trade agreement to open further to Australian trade.…

Good autumn for Scottish berry sales

Fresh berries are high on consumers’ shopping lists, as sales are continuing to increase throughout the autumn. In the past 12 weeks, the value of berries within the value of…

UK: Plans to turn Market Fresh site into a vertical farm

Ripon’s downtown grocery store has been for sale for some time. Soon, it may have a new owner — but the building will be used to grow food, not sell it. Ernessi Farms, which first opened in the lower level of the Bluemke’s building downtown, is planning to purchase the Market Fresh building at 111 E.…

Prison for two Spanish berry producers for illegal extraction of water from Doñana

Two administrators of an agricultural company in Almonte, in the Spanish province of Huelva, have been sentenced by the Criminal Court 4 of Huelva to 1 year and 6 months in jail for illegally extracting groundwater from aquifer 27, which supplies water to Doñana, for the irrigation of their berry…

Tomato production in Cuba falls and prices soar

Cuban tomato production has fallen throughout 2019 for various reasons, including the difficulties to access fertilizers, seeds, fuel, and a delay at the beginning of…

Japan to strengthen IP protection for high-end produce

Japanese governing bodies are stepping up efforts to make sure the profits from high-end fruits developed by its farmers end up in the right pockets. The agriculture ministry will select a private organization in fiscal 2020 to protect the intellectual property rights of new varieties of fruits and…

Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says industry would need to up its game

More New Zealand visas for temporary seasonal workers

The number of temporary visas for foreign seasonal workers will increase by just over 3000 in the next two years. In the first year, 1550 more visas will be available for…

Israel’s food-tech industry is growing with funding tripling from 2013-2018

According to the Israeli Innovation Authority, total funding for Israel’s Food-Tech industry in 2019 reached $135 million as of Q3 2019. "The level of investment we are seeing…

Singapore: Over 100 local farms benefit from fund to help them modernise, innovate and increase yield

A total of 107 local Singapore farms have benefited from a $63 million fund to help them boost yields and increase production capabilities, said Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, on Wednesday (Nov 27). The Agriculture Productivity Fund by the Singapore Food…

€467 million to be reimbursed to European farmers

The European Commission will reimburse €467 million to European farmers, in line with the regulation published today. Originally deducted from the 2019 budget for farmers’…

US: Congressional bill introduced to boost urban agriculture

Today, U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush, Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) introduced H.R.5266, the Urban Agriculture Healthy Food and Entrepreneur Act. This bill would establish two new programs — the Urban Agriculture Conservation Easement Program and the Urban Agriculture…

South Africa: Zaad is seeing good international growth

Stellenbosch-based Zeder Investments, which has just clinched a deal to sell its valuable stake in consumer brands giant Pioneer Foods, looks set to accelerate the growth of its 95.3% controlled seed development business Zaad Holdings. Over the past number of years Zeder has ploughed money into…

US (NE): Ringleader of O'Neill illegal labor scheme sentenced to prison, ordered to pay fines

The leader of an illegal scheme that employed undocumented workers for businesses in the O’Neill, Nebraska, area and his wife are headed to prison. The leader was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison — the maximum punishment for the charge of conspiring to harbor aliens to which he pleaded guilty in…

Getting attention by throwing oranges out of a hole

Suspected illegal immigrants trapped inside a refrigerated lorry

A group of eight suspected illegal immigrants trapped inside a refrigerated lorry trailer after they raised the alarm by throwing oranges out of a hole in its side. Motorists spotted the fruit being flung from a small hole in the trailer as the lorry became stuck in a traffic jam on the A14 near…

UK needs vital trade routes across the Channel, post-Brexit

Are there alternatives to Dover?

With less than three months to go until the UK is due to leave the EU, attention is focused on how to keep vital trade routes across the English Channel flowing as smoothly as possible. “I am…

India: Tunnel farming gains popularity among farmers

Tunnel farming technology for vegetable production has gained popularity among the small growers and farmers in Punjab. Sources in the Agriculture department said that tunnel farming was being carried out over 16,101 acres of land across the Province. Over 2,000 small farmers including female farmers…

Jeroen Vlayen, BelOrta

"Good demand and prices for Belgian strawberries"

After a period with sky-high strawberry prices, prices have now come down somewhat. “The prices are currently around 3 Euro per 500 grams. We are out of the expensive period, but we are still very satisfied with these prices," says Jeroen Vlayen from BelOrta. "The prices have fallen somewhat due to the…

Pakistan issues import permits for 16,000 tons of tomatoes

Following the directives of the federal government, the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) has issued import permits for the import of over 16,000 tons of tomato to arrest the commodity's skyrocketing prices in the domestic market. For last one month, the produce has been witnessing an enormous price…

US (MA): Container farm helps provide necessary greens for college lunch

In the early morning, Claire McGale, manager of HCC's Freight Farms urban agriculture program, received an urgent email message from Christopher Robert, chef supervisor for HCC dining services, which is managed by Aramark. They were in a bind. A national recall on Romaine lettuce from Salinas,…

Hedy Willems of Cucumber Nursery Willems offers final recipe books:

"We are glad the sector followed us in cucumber promotion”

"We have reached the last of our cucumber recipe books, but our campaign is far from over," says Hedy Willems of Cucumber Nursery Willems. Due to the EHEC-crisis in 2011 and 2012, the company decided that the cucumber could use some positive publicity, and so they did. The book ‘Cucumbers’ filled with…

New Zealand: Hail devastates Canterbury vegetable crops

An intense hailstorm in South Canterbury and mid-Canterbury this week caused widespread damage to crops, including vegetables destined for the home and international markets.…

North Bengal - India

Plea to help reduce strawberry farm costs

Indian strawberries that are grown in North Bengal completely rely on saplings and seeds brought in from Pune. The uptick in strawberry farming in north Bengal has encouraged…

More than 99% of the tomato Peru exported in 2019 was sent to the Chilean market

Peru exported 1,945,719 kilos of fresh tomato for a FOB value of US $588,207 during the first ten months of 2019. These figures reveal a slight decrease in volume and a more…

"Smallholder growers are often regarded as ‘unbankable'"

Rabo Foundation celebrated its 45th anniversary in Amsterdam on Thursday, November 21. Established in 1974, the Foundation is dedicated to improving future prospects for…

Prices at origin in Almeria fall by around 45%

In the period between week 39, when production in the province of Almeria was in full swing for many crops, and week 46, prices have fallen significantly compared to the same…

Philippines: Landbank launches program for greenhouse farm financing

The government-run Land Bank of the Philippines has recently launched a new credit program, which seeks to support modern and sustainable farming in the country. Dubbed as the…

Creating a more efficient growing space in your greenhouse

For greenhouse growers that are ready to expand their business, often one of the first thoughts is to build more or expand on existing greenhouses. While there certainly does come a time where it does makes sense for a grower to expand their operation, it may not be the best option for everyone. The…

Autogrow and Agritecture release first-ever Global CEA Census Report

Autogrow and Agritecture have released their first Global CEA Census Report, an in-depth global survey of indoor & controlled environment agriculture, with 316 total respondents from 54 countries. According to the two companies, farm operators see the potential for improvement and are optimistic about…

Indian agriculture sector to go Dutch in future?

The Indian agriculture sector may adapt Dutch technology for farming in the future because of its promising output. A consortium of Dutch companies is planning to launch two projects, one in Uttar Pradesh and the other one in Himachal Pradesh. The consortium aims to make Indian farmers aware of the…

USDA Survey

When do consumers go to the store?

In a recently released report, ERS researchers used data for 2014-17 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual American Time Use Survey (ATUS) to provide a snapshot of when Americans grocery shop on weekdays versus weekends. Saturdays and Sundays are somewhat more popular days for grocery shopping than…

Almeria-based entrepreneurs arrested for having workers perform identity theft

The Satélite operation, carried out by the National Police in Níjar, in the Spanish province of Almería, has resulted in the arrest of twelve people belonging to a business network that employed workers in an irregular situation through the use of supplanted identities. Nine of the twelve people arrested…

Bulgarian raspberry production up 30% compared to last year

Bulgaria’s raspberry production has increased by 30% compared to the last year. In this nation, the 2019 harvest yield is over 10,000 tons. Deputy Minister Krasteva stated…

Australia: Farm cash income remains steady for vegetable growers

The average farm cash income of Australian vegetable growers remained largely unchanged at an estimated $253,000 per farm according to the latest Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) data. Australian vegetable-growing farms: an economic survey 2017–18 and 2018–19…

Tomato anti-dumping agreement between U.S. and Mexico to remain in place

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on Friday, November 22nd, voted 4-0, making an affirmative determination that dumped tomatoes from Mexico threaten to injure the…

Coachella bell peppers saw late start

Supplies of bell peppers out of Coachella, Ca. for the fall season are satisfactory. “We started about two weeks ago on November 4th and look to have suitable supplies all the way through Christmas,” says Franz De Klotz of Pasha Marketing LLC in Mecca, Ca. He notes production started about a week…

Tomato prices don't reflect the reduction of the acreage in Almeria

The tomato acreage in Almería has been reduced by between 10 and 20% this year, according to the nurseries. Some of the main factors are the increase in production costs, the growing competition from other countries and the proliferation of new pests, such as the Tuta absoluta, in the spring months.…

Using controlled environment food production to solve food shortages

A review of the literature led by researchers from the University of Florida attempts to provide clarification and analysis on various aspects of what a controlled environment system entails and the extent to which differing food production approaches can be applied to the many current and hopeful…

"Prices of strawberry tomatoes and cherry tomatoes rising"

"Specialty tomatoes selling well in China"

“Overall, the tomato market in China this year has performed significantly better than the last, especially for specialty varieties such as strawberry tomatoes and cherry…

OVERVIEW GLOBAL TOMATO MARKET

"Unstable conditions in global tomato market"

The conditions in the tomato market are quite unstable at the moment. The unprotected cultivation is shifting from Northwestern Europe to Southern Europe. This change is putting some pressure on prices, although the prospect is that they will recover in the coming days. The acreage devoted to the crop in…

Rabobank presents horticulture update

Dutch breeding industry takes first step towards (pre-competitive) collaboration

The Dutch horticultural industry has had a decent 2019, as Rabobank notes in the latest edition of the Rabo Horticulture barometer. The operating return for most companies was sufficient. However, the entrepreneurs are increasingly worried about labor, the authorization of crop protection products, and…

Cultivated lands increase in the north, while the south seeks more profitable references

The geography of the production of Italian tomatoes has changed

The campaign of table tomatoes has been underway for some time now and it certainly cannot be said that it is all roses. The reasons for this severe judgment lie in a series of contingent and structural factors that we addressed with Massimo Pavan, one of the leading experts in Italian agribusiness, and…

Arie Middelburg, GreenMatch:

"Good price formation for Dutch greenhouse season bar aubergines"

The Dutch greenhouse vegetable season hasn't been easy for anyone. "There have been quite a few differences between companies this season," says Arie Middelburg of GreenMatch, a company that focuses on data and advice in sales. “Generally speaking, pricing has been very good, but due to the very hot…

Els van Herpen, Auction Sales Manager at ZON:

"This year, for the first time, we are auctioning unsealed Spanish cucumbers"

The Dutch auction house, ZON, again has a range of Spanish vegetables on offer this winter. These are available alongside products from the Netherlands. It is the fifth year they are doing so. "The start of the Spanish season was difficult," says ZON's Auction Sales Manager, Els van Herpen. "Prices were,…

US: Indoor farming is one of the decade's hottest trends, but regulations make success elusive

Food and agriculture innovation have sucked up remarkable amounts of investor capital in recent years and could become a $700 billion market by 2030, according to a Union Bank of Switzerland report. Millions are being invested globally in indoor urban farms because of their promise to produce more food…

NZ: Opportunities in horticulture for school leavers

School leavers should consider horticulture as a career filled with variety, relevance and opportunities to see the world. ‘Horticulture has a massive range of careers to choose from,’ says Erin Simpson, Head of Capability Development at NZ Apples and Pears. ‘It’s not about picking bags and ladders…

UK: Could 'net zero' climate targets mean more indoor farming?

Farmers were told by Emily Norton during a breakfast meeting at Dunston Hall that "net zero" carbon reduction policies could dramatically transform Norfolk's agricultural landscape - potentially fast-tracking new innovations like indoor food production. Significant change is already on the horizon as…

National Agricultural Statistics Service - Disaster Analysis

USDA can monitor agricultural disasters in near real-time

The US National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) can now monitor agricultural disasters in near real-time and provide quantitative assessments using remotely sensed data and geospatial techniques. The page nass.usda.gov provides disaster assessments in geospatial data format, reports, and metadata…

Tomato prices surge to Rs 400/kg in Pakistan

Tomato prices in Pakistan have hit a record high, reaching Rs 400 (€2.32) per kg in a day. In the first week of November, the official retail rate of tomato was Rs117 per kg…

China may soon launch virtual currency

China could launch its own digital currency within the next 6 to 12 months, according to fund manager Edith Yeung. This could become a challenge to the US dollar’s global…

Downward trend of Spanish tomato exports over the last 8 campaigns

According to data from the Estacom statistical service (Icex-Tax Agency), using TARIC codes (Tariff Integrated of the European Communities), the volume of Spanish tomato exports has been falling for eight consecutive campaigns. However, Moroccan tomato exports have experienced steady growth every year,…

Marco Bergman, Harvest House:

"Exciting Dutch bell pepper season with huge fluctuations in prices and supply"

The Dutch bell pepper season was one of high peaks and deep troughs. This is according to Marco Bergman of Harvest House. "We reached both the top and bottom of the market…

After the protests of Spanish producers, eggplant prices rise by 300%

According to data published by Hortoinfo, the average price of long eggplant in the Alhóndigas of Almería has increased by almost 300% in week 46, following the protests of…

Third study on the application of the EU Free Trade Agreements with third countries

In the framework of a meeting with representatives of the European civil society, to be held on Thursday 21 in Brussels, the European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia…

Sharp rise of cucumber prices in Poland

The domestic cucumber marketing season is coming to an end in Poland, according to EastFruit project analysts. The experts stress that local producers have managed to raise…

Greenhouse tomato prices in Poland still on rising trend

Polish greenhouse farms continue to raise tomato prices almost daily, as reported by EastFruit project analysts. Moreover, the project experts say that the positive price…

Yuma hopes to close leafy greens gap

As the leafy green season gets started in Yuma, Ariz., it may close the gap in supplies that’s been seen for the last three weeks. “Back in late September, we had remnants of Hurricane Lorena come through Yuma. It dropped a lot of rain. It was a critical time in that growing cycle, impacting plants in…

Irish Ministry for Agriculture launches Climate Action Consultation for horticulture

The Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, T.D., launched a public consultation on “Ag-Climatise”, a National Climate & Air Roadmap for the Agriculture Sector to 2030 and Beyond. The Minister stated: “The importance of addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas…

PwC, Rabobank and Temasek launch The Asia Food Challenge Report

PwC, Rabobank and Temasek today released The Asia Food Challenge Report: Harvesting the Future, which delves into Asia’s food and agricultural landscape. The report was launched in conjunction with and at this year’s Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Week in Singapore. The report estimates that…

US (WA): Seattle-area supermarket strikes deal for in-store cultivation

Visitors to Seattle-area Kroger supermarkets next week will be able to walk out with fresh parsley, cilantro and other greens grown in the store with Infarm urban farming technology, the latest example of grocers bringing the farm right to their aisles. Kroger’s deal with German startup Infarm includes…

Spanish manufacturers eye Turkish market

Fifteen Spanish manufacturers of agricultural machinery and its components will attend the next edition of Growtech, which will be held in Antalya (Turkey) from the 27th to…

A Mexican YouTuber had to go to the hospital after eating two habanero peppers

Hugo Lara, a Mexican YouTuber from the Los Hermanos Lara Oficial channel, had to be taken to the hospital after recording his latest video challenge: eating two habanero…

Spain was the world's leading eggplant exporter in 2018

Spain dominated the export of eggplants worldwide in 2018, both in terms of volume and value, according to data from the Statistics Division of the United Nations Organization…

Flooding in the Bologna province

The torrential rain of the past few days damaged various production areas. Bologna, an area producing many vegetables, potatoes and onions, was hit particularly hard. The Idice river burst its banks in Budrio di Bologna "There was over 20 cm of water in greenhouses and lettuce was ready to be harvested. 57 mm of rain fell in just…

€200 million to promote European agri-food products in and outside the EU

The European Commission will allocate €200.9 million in 2020 to fund promotion activities for EU agri-food products at home and abroad. The 2020 promotion policy work programme adopted by the Commission outlines the main priorities for support. EU policy on the promotion of agri-food products is designed…

Nigeria: Boosting tomato growing in Kano state

Tomato production has been identified as one of the lucrative sectors of Nigeria, that will create employment and boost the nation’s economy. A firm believer in this, Alhaji…

Turkish agricultural production issues discussed in a panel during Growtech

Growtech, a trade fair in Antalya for domestic and foreign growers organized a panel to discuss the current state and developments in Turkish agriculture. The panel garnered huge interest from the press and was attended by 35 agriculture journalists from 21 different countries. During the panel, the…

US: As growers turn to Mexico for labor, workers turn to courts for wages

California’s nearly $50-billion agriculture industry is recruiting record numbers of seasonal farmworkers from Mexico as it confronts a years-long labor shortage exacerbated by the Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigration. Recruitment of seasonal foreign workers under the H-2A visa…

Together with eight other buyers from different industries

Netherlands: Large greenhouse horticulture company needs to get rid of low calorific gas by 2020 at the latest

The nine largest Dutch buyers will have to stop using low calorific gas from October 2020 onwards. This was proposed in a bill to the House of Representatives a while ago.…

EU steps up monitoring of Kenya’s horticulture imports

East African fresh produce exporters are being locked out of the lucrative EU market by the strict regulations on the use of chemicals. The EU, which is the leading importer…

up to 20,000 Spanish growers protesting

"The sector is suffering from a structural crisis"

Spanish growers are not in their greenhouses today, but are out on the streets. They're raising their voices to get attention for the profitability of their enterprises and their position in the fresh produce chain. "The sector is suffering from a structural crisis. Our industry is at risk of going…

Projects fate in the hands of the European Commission

Will the curtains fall on the duckweed cultivation in greenhouses?

From a greenhouse filled with water lentils in water basins, grower Hans Roelofs of ABC Kroos has been achingly watching Brussel for the past few months. Seeing as this is where the European Commission is discussing whether or not the notable ‘duckweed project’ is actually providing ‘real food’. If this…

Chinese chef’s fruit carvings go viral

Chinese chef Li Mian strives to become the best fruit carver in the world. He now has more than 250,000 online followers.

Conference calls for Vietnam-Dutch tie-up in hi-tech agriculture

The Netherlands and Vietnam are natural partners in agriculture, especially hi-tech agriculture, since they have complementary strengths, experts told a conference in HCM City on 14 November 2019. Mirjam Boekestijn, secretary of the Netherlands Vietnam Horti Business Platform, said agriculture is an…

Support available to flood-stricken British farmers

Monetary support is now being made available for farmers who have been affected by the severe flooding that affected parts of the UK. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is offering financial grants through their Farming Recovery Scheme and NatWest bank has mobilised its…

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