On Thursday morning, March 19th, LAVA and a team of auction inspectors met for a working visit to the early market MABRU in Brussels. Later, the delegation went to the European Import Center for Fruit and Vegetables, where representatives of Fresh Trade Belgium also joined them. Veerle read more

Red bananas have recently become available in retail stores in Belarus, providing a new option in terms of appearance and flavor compared to traditional varieties. These bananas are currently being sold at an Evroopt store in Minsk, with imports coming from Ecuador. The retail price is 10.99 rubles per kilogram (US$3.40), which is a unique offering for consumers looking to try something different. read more

South Africa's apple and pear industry is constantly changing, with advancements in production methods, market entry, and collaboration among growers playing a key role in shaping the sector. This insight comes from Calla du Toit of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing and Hortgro Pome. Du Toit, who has been a fruit grower since 1997, currently serves as the Procurement Director. read more

W tym sezonie w prowincji Kolumbia Brytyjska (B.C.) zanotowano znacznie większą ilość gruszek we wszystkich odmianach w porównaniu z tegorocznym zbiorami w 2024 roku. "Oczekujemy kontynuowania pakowania przez kolejne pięć do ośmiu tygodni" - mówi Kevin Day z Day's Century Growers. Firma pakuje gruszki dla 10 producentów, co stanowi read more

The Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services has introduced two new prickly pear cactus varieties developed through its breeding program: 'Dual Label' and 'Gold Label'. The prickly pear cactus is a plant native to the tropical rainforests of Brazil. It grows attached to trees or. read more

While the South African stone fruit and grape marketing seasons in the Middle East are expected to wind down in the coming weeks, shipments of apples and pears have just begun. read more

Consumers buy less fruit because often the products do not taste good, leading to lack of repeat purchases. This is particularly evident with pears. read more

For the first time, VLAM will participate in the international trade fair Macfrut in Rimini with its own pavilion. With a specific emphasis on the Conference pear, the organization plans to enter the Italian market in collaboration with four Flemish exporters. "The pavilion will be exclusively dedicated to pears as an" read more

Shipments of cauliflower from Italy dominated the market, with French shipments coming in second in terms of volume. In Frankfurt and Munich, Spanish shipments also appeared. Hamburg reported some Belgian products, which, according to the German BLE, were sold at relatively low prices, thereby. read more

The conflict in the Middle East is anticipated to further increase costs for British apple and pear farmers, adding to the already substantial financial pressures from certification and labor expenses. read more

Po słabym występie Portu w Kapsztadzie podczas tegorocznych sezonów eksportu owoców pestkowych, winogron oraz jabłek i gruszek, eksporterzy zastanawiają się, czy najnowsze oświadczenia rządu dotyczące reformy kolejnictwa i logistyki zmienią cokolwiek.

After the poor performance of the Port of Cape Town during this year's stonefruit, table grape, and apple and pear export seasons, exporters are wondering if the latest statements from the government regarding its plans for rail and logistics reform will change anything. read more

The Belgian ornamental plant company FlorAmor has introduced a new brand identity for Flandresse, its premium label for azaleas and clivia. The rebranding gives the brand a sleeker, more modern appearance, mirroring the values that Flandresse aims to embody: Flemish craftsmanship, reliability, read more

British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) has released the results of its most recent grower survey conducted in late 2025, indicating that audit and compliance requirements and labor costs continue to be the primary challenges for apple and pear businesses in the UK. Farm assurance, compliance, and audits were rated as the most significant pressures. read more

Wholesale fruit prices in the UK this week showed mixed but generally stable movement, with modest increases seen in several apple varieties and pears, while asparagus prices declined notably. Among apples, most varieties saw small gains. Bramley's seedling, for example, averaged £1.21 per kg, up £0.01 (+1%). read more

Agriculture in protected environments is encountering a new and daunting challenge. The official journal of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) has confirmed the first recorded appearance of Thrips parvispinus (Karny, 1922) in Italy, an insect native to Southeast Asia. read more

Among the protagonists of integrated pest management (IPM) in pear orchards, a small insect stands out for its effectiveness and timing: the Deraeocoris brevis. This natural predator is at the forefront against two of the main enemies of orchards: the pear psylla and the red spider mite. read more

On 5 February 2026, Riaan Strydom and his team were in the orchard after a day of harvesting early Golden Delicious apples when they were suddenly hit by hail and an unprecedented wind during the harvest season, he recalls. "And it happened at the worst possible time of the year." read more

"Our company team will be in Tokyo until 13 March 2026, participating in Foodex Japan, the largest international food and beverage fair in Asia," says Salvatore Imbesi, the manager of the Agrumi-Gel brand from Sicily, which specializes in processing citrus fruits, pomegranates, and prickly pears. read more

The selling season has been over for Fruitbedrijf Morren for some time now. While the apples were sold almost immediately, the pears were marketed until the New Year. "That is quite early, but if there is demand, then of course I sell," says Bert Morren of the eponymous fruit company from. read more

"It's been ten days of nightmares, every hour something different," says an exporter who's been sending South African apples, pears, and lemons to the Middle East since the beginning of the year. "It couldn't come at a worse time," he says, referring to the Ramadan period observed by his clients. read more