Comment: The main challenge for farmers in the UK and across the world in coming decades will be to produce increasing quantities of nutritious and healthy food, while at the same time making significant environmental gains including improving soils, saving water, and reducing carbon emissions.
read more

Many of the world’s leading fruit and vegetable breeders have welcomed a landmark decision that gives variety owners extended legal protection for what are known as essentially derived varieties (EDVs). read more

The Soil Association Group used its annual trade conference last week (2 November) to share its vision for ‘Organic For All’ – an ambitious new approach for scaling organic production and consumption in the UK. read more

UK horticulture, the £5 billion industry focusing on fruit, vegetables and ornamental plants, is under-prioritised and unappreciated by policymakers, leaving holes in the nation’s food security and ability to meet net zero goals. read more

The first estimate released by the Chilean Cherry Committee indicates that Chile expects to export 95.4m (5kg) cartons of cherries during the 2023/24 season, up 15% from last campaign. The committee, whose members represent more than 85 per cent of the country’s cherry export volume, said the
read more

Spain accounts for 41% of the world’s organic lemon production area. The area of organic lemon grown in the country totalled 11,509 hectares in 2022, increasing by 574% in 10 years. As for organic grapefruit, acreage grew by 418% over the same period to 685 hectares, which represents 22% of
read more

Argentina has resumed exports of organic citrus to the EU, making its first shipment for 2 decades, following the reopening of the market in May. The 60.5-ton consignment of organic lemons, certified by plant health service Senasa, departed from the port of Buenos Aires and arrived in Europe
read more

Until 3 December, Ventura will be in communication with an engaging new integrated campaign dedicated to protein bars (click here), with the dual objective of generating awareness of the PROTEICA line and promoting the new Goodness and Well-being positioning for the Ventura brand. read more

Belgian walnuts are not yet abundantly available in supermarkets. Nonetheless, growers in Flanders should be able to reap this emerging crop's fruit in the coming years. To draw attention to local nuts, a Walnut Day will be held on November 12. It will include a tour of Hugo Vets farm. Hugo
read more

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), an infrastructure solutions provider in Africa, has sold its 35% equity stake in Atlantic Terminal Services Limited (ATSL), the concessionaire for the expansion of Ghana’s Takoradi Port, to the global port operator Yilport Holding. read more

Ecuador’s dragon fruit window is expanding. Up until last year, the country had production volume 10 out of 12 months. This year, however, dragon fruit will be available year-round for the very first time. “Although Ecuador had some production every month this year, October showed
read more

"Considering the multiple economic crises that have occurred over the past few years, some European retail chains and other operators are pushing on imports from extra-EU countries," reports Vittorio Gona from Alba Bio OP. "These dynamics are increasingly attracting countries such as Turkey,
read more

As Christmas is coming closer, demand for pomegranates is increasing, says Yigit Gokyigit, commercial coordinator for Turkish fresh produce exporter Alanar: “The Turkish pomegranate season started last month with the first crops. Demand so far has been satisfying for the whole market. We think
read more

Japanese strawberry varieties are highly appreciated internationally for their delicious taste. However, they are quite soft, which poses problems in storage and transportation. They can also affected by diseases, which vary from region to region. read more

Potato breeder Royal HZPC Group introduced its universal potato variety set on Nov. 3, 2023. This development, designed specifically for academic institutions, promises to simplify and accelerate basic research on potatoes. read more

Despite Pear cultivation seeing a growth in Poland over the last few years, when looking at the last decade the acreage and production has actually dropped significantly, FreshPlaza informs. According to Emilia Lewandowska, office manager for Polish top fruit exporter Fruit-Group, more apple
read more

Germany: Mark Hübner to lead Knuspr & Gurkerl as new CEO, aiming for Rohlik Group growth to €10bln by 2030 read more

According to EastFruit analysts, global prices for apple juice concentrate continue to rise, stimulating processors to increase procurement prices for industrial apples. This, in turn, leads to an increased shortage of apples of low and medium quality in the markets of Eastern Europe. It should
read more

Swiss textile company Bananatex has developed a biodegradable lightweight jersey fabric by extracting fibres from the stalks of Abacá banana plants. The material is the latest version of a fabric made from the banana plant that Bananatex first launched in 2018. Bananatex developed the fabric by
read more

Engaging Italian consumers with sampling in the name of energy and extraordinary taste? Yes You Kanzi®! The apple marketed in Italy by VOG and VIP kicked off the marketing campaign with two dynamic and energetic initiatives in line with the brand: the
read more