Costa Rica’s banana exports rose by 19% in the first half of 2022 compared to a year-earlier, according to the latest trade data from Procomer. Meanwhile, pineapple exports were up by 13% over the same period, as improved weather conditions favoured harvests of both crops. read more

Star products such as Chencho and Pancho cucumbers and Sidi peppers have consolidated their positions in the market. The Obelix tomato has demonstrated its adaptability in multiple regions. New releases such as Martinez and Españolo cucumbers have found acceptance in Almería. Gaudi, a red
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The global tangerine/mandarin crop for 2022/23 is estimated down 900,000 tons to 36.9 million tons due to lower production in China and Morocco caused by unfavourable weather. According to the latest USDA report, the smaller crop is expected to drive down consumption. Exports are also estimated
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Kazakhstan is seeking to become a player in the banana market, opening industrial-scale cultivation for the first time, as reported by the country’s Ministry of Agriculture. The banana plantations are located in the Turkestan Region (southern Kazakhstan). read more

The warm winter in New Zealand, with some of the highest temperatures recorded in 110 years, is threatening this year’ kiwifruit crop. The New Zealand Herald reports that kiwifruit growers in the Bay of Plenty are concerned about another challenging growing season: “Bay of Plenty-based
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Peru and India have agreed to resume talks for a free trade agreement, with the South American country seeking to export its avocados, fresh grapes and blueberries to the giant Asian market. Vice Foreign Trade Minister of Peru Teresa Stella Mera Gomez said that technical teams of India and Peru
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The South African Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) has called on the country’s president Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene to persuade the EU to change its rules on fungal disease on citrus, which it terms “unfair” and “discriminatory” with relation to citrus black spot (CBS). read more

Satsuma mandarins from Peru have been welcomed to the shelves of several supermarkets in Japan, with local supermarkets promoting their arrival as a “Homecoming from the Land of the Sun!”, in reference to the origins of satsumas and their connections to Japanese ancestors who
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Fruit Attraction 2023 will shine a special light on lettuce’s versatility, smooth flavour and freshness, while also highlighting Spain’s leading position as a major producer and exporter of this leafy green. Spain has emerged as a dominant force in lettuce production, with the 2022 crop
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This year’s kiwifruit crop in New Zealand is set to be one of the smallest in 20 years, although quality is expected to be high. Zespri forecasts that the challenging weather conditions during the 2023 growing season likely to reduce Zespri’s forecasts exports of around 136m trays of Green,
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Japan’s cherry production recovered in the 2022/23 campaign and FAS/Japan forecasts a further increase in 2023/24 due to favourable weather conditions. US sweet cherry exports to Japan also bounced back in 2023/24 buoyed by tariff elimination and recovering US production. FAS/Japan expects
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Freshfel Europe’s team met with a delegation of Vietnamese officials on 30 June to discuss plant health as well as market access issues at the request of the Vietnamese authorities, who were interested in better understanding the work of EU authorities, stakeholders as well as the way in which
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The National Association of Producers and Marketers of Garlic (Anpca) has warned that the current Spanish garlic campaign has been low in yields due to drought and the 15% reduction in production area, in a year in which costs have almost doubled. read more

Valencia citrus prices at source are rising due to the decrease in supply expected in the Mediterranean Basin due to adverse weather conditions. While drought is the most determining factor in explaining the decrease in production in other Spanish communities, such as Andalusia, in the case of
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Despite the record inflation changing consumption habits, Pink Lady® Europe enjoyed a good season, with volumes up by 3% from the previous year to 180,000 tons of Pink Lady® & PinKids®, driven by more than 700 promotional operations. In Germany, sales were up 13% to 46,678 tons, in
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The Brazilian orange crop for 2022/23 is forecast at 410.6 million 40.8-kg boxes or 16.75 million tons, a drop of 1.1% from the previous season, due to the lower fruit load per tree associated with the biennial cycle. Meanwhile, orange weight at harvest is projected to increase 3.71% from the
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This latest version of Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) are based not only on nutritional value and what is good for our health but also on what is good for the environment. According to the NNR, it is 500 to 800g (or more) of a variety of berries, fruits and vegetables that is recommended
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Thanks to the strong connection with the market in which the UNITEC Group has been operating for 100 years, the Research & Development team has designed and developed a new, innovative solution to meet the requirements of the customer Sun Valley Packing, a leading American grower, packer and
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The VOG Consortium, one of Europe’s leading apple producers, is expecting to enjoy a positive start to the season. This optimism is based on the European production forecasts released by Prognosfruit, which point to a fall in volumes all over the continent. This, together with the predicted
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Chile’s Chamber of Deputies has approved the project that modifies the country’s irrigation law to support small and medium-sized agriculture, communities and irrigation organisations, helping to promote fairer rural development. The law is also intended to foster greater sustainability
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