Questions about flower color that were raised over a century ago have been answered by recent research. A partnership between the John Innes Centre and Plant & Food Research in Palmerston, New Zealand, utilized historical records and advanced molecular analysis to provide new insights into the research conducted by Erwin Baur. read more

Ministry of Economy of Georgia has announced the export of 500 tonnes of blueberries to the European Union and the United Kingdom as part of the Lead Generation Programme. This initiative aims to establish connections between local producers and international buyers, expanding opportunities for trade. read more

Zeder Holdings, an investor with interests in agriculture, stated that their decision to sell two large top fruit farms in the Boland region is solely based on their business strategy and does not reflect any negative view on the value proposition of South African apples and pears. The sale contract was signed in June. read more

BASF|Nunhems has celebrated a new edition of its Melon & Watermelon Business Event for Experts from July 1st to 5th at its R&D center in La Palma (Cartagena, Murcia). Once again under the slogan 'What’s Next', the seed company brought together producers, marketers, and. read more

Superplum has launched its lychee season as the Indian states of West Bengal and Bihar hit peak production. The company's cleaned and destemmed packs are now available across multiple cities and internationally. India is the world's second largest producer of lychees. read more

The apple grower and exporter Fresh Fruit Company of New Zealand (Freshco) improved the efficiency and accuracy of the grading process at their packing operation by implementing TOMRA's Spectrim LUCAi® upgrade package. Founded in 1989, this fruit and vegetable exporter based in Auckland has successfully enhanced its operations. read more

Summer is the season of peaches and nectarines, among the very few products that are experiencing an increase in consumption in a context of a general decline in purchases. Peaches and nectarines, despite having had to face the same problems as other products, have seen decreases in production. read more

Agrícola Cayaltí, known for its historical focus on sugar cane in Lambayeque, has expanded its operations with the launch of Inversiones Yarabamba in February 2021. This new venture is set to lead new agro-export projects scheduled for 2024. The upcoming initiative, operating under the name Agrícola del Zaña, aims to cultivate 250 acres. read more

In June, Cameroon reported a decrease in banana exports, totaling 14,042 tons, which is an 11.6% decrease from the previous year's 15,670 tons, according to the Cameroon Banana Association (Assobacam). This decline is said to be due to reduced international market shipments by three out of Cameroon's four major banana producers. read more

The prickly pear season is about to start, with the first harvest expected around July 20th in the Catania area. However, this year producers are dealing with the consequences of adverse weather conditions, which are leading to a decrease in production. We discussed this. read more

The Red Orange of Sicily Consortium and the Ribera Orange Dop Consortium are working together on a platform to request support from institutions to safeguard the production of the two consortia, which are the flagship of the renowned high-quality Sicilian citrus farming sector. read more

The European Commission has proposed to allocate €77 million from the agricultural reserve to assist farmers in the fruit, vegetable, and wine sectors in Austria, Czechia, Poland, and Portuguese wine producers who have been affected by recent severe climatic events of unprecedented scale. read more

Another important milestone for high-quality Italian agri-food products: Italy can boast another recognition of Protected Geographical Indications. The European Commission has published in the Official Journal of the European Union the recognition of the PGI "Cavolfiore della Piana". read more

Peppers were introduced to Japan by the Dutch. Frederik Vossenaar from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature discovered this during a recent visit to Japan when a friend suggested that peppers had come to Japan through the Dutch. Frederik was able to confirm this historical fact. read more

Ukrainian producers are deeply worried about the situation in the melon market: watermelon prices are plummeting rapidly due to low demand, and the harvest is at serious risk of destruction because of abnormally hot weather, report analysts from the EastFruit project. Sellers are rushing to read more

El Pinar starts the upcoming campaign by discussing the importance of climate change and its future impact on strawberry cultivation, as well as proposing actions to help stabilize the harvest effectively. read more

Po planowanym opóźnieniu, sezon dyni w południowo-wschodniej Francji ruszył w zeszłym tygodniu dla Boyera. "Mieliśmy złą pogodę z burzami i chłodnymi północnymi wiatrami przez kilka kolejnych nocy. Chłodne noce spowolniły dojrzewanie dyni, potwierdzając zapowiedziane opóźnienie". read more

Mission Produce, Inc., a major company in the sourcing, production, and distribution of fresh Hass avocados, has shared information on the strong performance of organic avocados in the U.S. market. This announcement comes just before the Organic Produce Summit in Monterey, California, scheduled for July 10-11, 2024. read more

Scheduled to take effect on 10th September, the newest Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (Smeta) standards mandate that UK growers cover all recruitment expenses for seasonal workers, including transportation and visa fees. Key players in the industry, such as the National Farmers Union (NFU) and British Apples, are in support of these standards. read more

Greece has confirmed the first detection of the oriental fruit fly in its territory. Bactrocera dorsalis has been classified as one of the twenty priority pests that present the most serious economic, environmental, and social threat to EU countries. The fly was found in a trap on the periphery. read more