Blueberries

At the end of January 2024 in Chisinau the retail price for the highest quality “Moldova” grapes with large dense berries and green branches is close to 45-55 MDL/kg (US $2.53-3.10/kg), which is almost three times as high as wholesale price for this product, according to EastFruit. Stores
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The main reasons for the lower harvest volume were frost during the flowering period and drought in May and June. Some sea buckthorn harvests were cancelled due to pest infestation. read more

The GearStation, Dutch company Gearbox's smart workstation, already evaluates tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, grapes, and cut flowers like roses, gerberas, chrysanthemums, lilies, and tulips. Now, the 100% quality control of soft and stone fruits has been added. That includes strawberries,
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While the shortage of labor continues to pose an increasingly significant challenge, the ongoing drought, which is affecting nearly the entire country, is truly putting Huelva's berry sector on the ropes. In fact, it might be necessary to take drastic measures this very season, coinciding with
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The delay in the strawberry planting in Huelva and the impact of dry weather have resulted in lower than usual volumes in December and the first half of January, but the supply is gradually increasing as Valentine's Day approaches. read more

The executive director of Frutas de Chile's Blueberry Committee, Andrés Armstrong, presented the new export estimate for this season. The entity, in collaboration with iQonsulting, has revised the export forecast for the current season. The new forecast was communicated to the industry in their
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Water shortages are proving significantly challenging for the soft fruit sector in the Spanish province of Huelva. "If it doesn't rain substantially soon, things will get really tense," says Jan van Bergeijk, who has been active in Spanish cultivation for over 30 years and is commercially
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The Chilean Blueberry Committee and iQonsulting have revised the export forecast for 2023/24 campaign upwards in their latest release. CBC executive director Andrés Armstrong said the country is on course to export 80,000 tonnes of fresh blueberries this season, slightly down on the 82,000
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Rafael Coronado, who is responsible for the blueberry trials at Dole-Piura, told FreshFruitPortal that the outcome of this campaign will largely depend on the weather. read more

In 2023, berry exports from Mexico saw a notable growth rate of 4.8%, totaling 2,653 million in value and 295,600 tons in volume, marking a 7.2% increase over 2022. Blueberries are a significant component of Mexico's berry exports, with projections from the United States Department of
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Saad Moussa, supervisor of Egypt’s Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ), clarified that Saudi Arabia's recent ban on strawberry imports is not exclusive to Egypt. The decision, outlined in an official letter to Egypt, encompasses a temporary suspension of strawberry imports from
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The new strawberry variety, Jack, was introduced for the first time at the Strawberry and Asparagus Fair expoSE 2023 in Karlsruhe. "Jack is a competitor to the Malling Centenary, which is a very important variety for the UK. We hope to gain a significant market share there," says PD Dr. Klaus
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“Valentine’s Day can’t come fast enough.” So says David Nelley of The Fresh Connection about the outlook on the strawberry market which is starting to improve. read more

Huelvan berry association Freshuelva, has written to Spanish agriculture minister Luis Planas asking him to step in to ensure that protests by French farmers do not block exports of berries being transported by through the neighbouring country by road. read more

The more than 77 thousand hectares planted and the diversity of its production, from regions with a tropical to temperate climate, from no cold to areas with high cold hours, make it the largest blueberry producing country in the world and the one with the greatest projection. read more

Venlo-based Fruitful-Berries Netherlands has reached an agreement with Belgian group Terra Verde during the final months of 2023. Both companies will join forces and combine their strengths under a new enitity: Frescura NV read more

The more than 77,000 hectares planted and the diversity of its production, from regions with a tropical to temperate climate, from no-cold to areas with high cold hours, make China the largest blueberry producing country in the world and the one with the greatest projection. read more

Could California be picking strawberries early this year? The state has seen some mild weather recently with very few cold mornings though it’s also had a fair amount of rain. “Overall it’s been a very mild winter,” says Steve Johnston of G.W. Palmer & Co. Inc. read more

Dmytro Honcharuk, co-owner of the nursery "Fruit Garden LLC," shared his experience regarding blueberry cultivation in Ukraine. According to him, there are prospects for developing blueberry plantations in the country. read more

The high temperatures driven by El Niño are posing a major challenge for Peru’s blueberry industry this season. This circumstance, together with other factors such as water quality or excessive radiation, means that genetic innovation is a key alternative to face this new and complicated
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