New EU rules on packaging are “the poisoned fruit of an ideological, anti-plastic preconception” and a major threat to fruit and vegetable supply chains, according to Pro Food, which represents the interests of 14 Italian food packaging companies. read more

Bayer has announced the pilot of an expert GenAI system that it has said will benefit farmers and up-level agronomists in their daily work. read more

The season’s first containers of South African avocados destined for the EU and the UK will be arriving in ports next week. read more

Aldi is celebrating a significant milestone in its partnership with surplus food and household products redistributor, Company Shop Group. read more

While asparagus cultivation in Lower Saxony continues to decline, the cultivation of onions has continued to grow in importance. Compared to the previous year, the total quantity of vegetables harvested increased by 11%, while the size of the vegetable cultivation area in Lower Saxony
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Exports totalled 5.78 billion euros in the previous year, compared to just under 5.3 billion euros in 2022. However, the volume fell slightly to 3.483 million tonnes, -0.9% compared to 2022. Imports also increased, by 13.6% in volume and 15.7% in value. The trade balance fell
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Through multiple use of these areas, around 2,500 tonnes of edible mushrooms were produced on a total of 142,000 square metres in 2023. In addition to mushrooms, shiitake and oyster mushrooms were also cultivated. Cultivation was exclusively conventional on all farms. read more

US Agtech start-up ProducePay has launched a new tool to improve transparency of produce shipments from the field all the way to their final destination. read more

Lebanese grape exporter Awdi Gardens was thrilled to receive the Lebanese ambassador to Germany and former prime minister, Mustapha Adib-Abdul-Wahed, on its first time exhibiting at Fruit Logistica in Berlin. “He visited us and told us how proud he was of the work we’re doing to
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Thomas Reiner is the new CEO of the dvi. As a co-founder of the dvi, the CEO of the Berndt+Partner Group was already its Chairman of the Board from 2006 to 2018. The members elected Oliver Bruns, CEO of Gundlach Verpackung GmbH, as Deputy Chairman of the Board. New treasurer
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The country of honour, Poland, will participate with 15 companies occupying Pavilion 13, while Freskon will host a programme for guest buyers from 33 countries, which will be even more extensive than at the previous event. The international character of Freskon will also
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But how can the shelf life of ultra-fresh products be extended? What are the influencing factors in the entire marketing chain - from harvesting and transport to sales and consumption? Which fruit and vegetable products are particularly in focus?
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Farmers expect concrete improvements for their farms. According to FNSEA President Rousseau, the national association has not called for nationwide action, but each department can take action. FNSEA Vice-President Jérome Despey commented that the sector was expecting
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The situation on the iceberg lettuce market is currently tense. Scarce water resources in the Spanish growing regions are significantly limiting the supply of iceberg lettuce. There is still a long way to go before the German season can start. As Spain is currently the main supplier on the German market, the
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Now two of the events announced there have joined forces: the Grape Congress/Fresh Focus Grape planned by Fruitnet will join the LUV trade fair, the first trade fair for table grapes in Europe, which will be held from 22 to 24 October in the halls of the Nuova Fiera del Levante in the
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The February/March 2024 edition of Asiafruit Magazine is now available to subscribers on the Asiafruit app – Apple, Android and desktop – bringing you the latest news and views from across Asia’s fast-moving fresh produce markets. read more

Over 420 industry members converged on the Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort for the Australian Citrus Congress run by Citrus Australia. The three-day event (5-7 March) included a main conference programme, tradeshow-style exhibition, gala dinner and biosecurity symposium.  read more

Established by the United Nations in 1992, World Water Day is celebrated around the world every 22 March, with the aim of raising global awareness of sustainable water use and promoting concrete actions in this regard. read more

As the sun set in Ho Chi Minh City, Hortex came to an end. The last day of the successful show took an unexpected turn as last night the Dutch royal visit, scheduled for next week and with time reserved for the Agrofood and horticulture industry, got canceled upon request of the Vietnamese
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Last Saturday, Sun Valley Floral Farms partnered with the City of San Francisco to bring 80,000 tulips to Union Square in San Francisco (USA, California). "These events remind folks like you and me who have spent a long time in the industry just how lucky we are to work with flowers. Somewhere
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