Dutch fresh-cut machinery and processing line specialist Sormac has championed its new new PepperCorer, which it has described as “a true revolution in pepper processing”. read more

Eight of Italy’s most important fresh grape production areas have agreed to pool resources and work together on joint promotional activities to support sales and exports of the fruit. read more

Nearly three-quarters of consumers want to live more sustainably, according to a new report commissioned by Alibaba Group, but inconvenience and high costs were seen by shoppers as the biggest barriers. read more

DP World, the Emirati multinational logistics company, has teamed up with the Port of London Authority (PLA) to hold this year’s British Ports Association (BPA) annual conference at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge on 17-19 October. read more

South Africa’s Citrus Growers Association (CGA) has said R78.9m has already been released to black growers under the Economic Transformation of Black Citrus Growers Programme. read more

The NFU has called on the Government to act on the Efra Committee’s recommendations to bolster Britain’s food security. read more

Hort Innovation has unveiled Hort Innovation Strategy 2024-2026 a new strategic plan for the next three years shaped by priories such as high industry growth, an appetite for expanded trade and increasing sustainability. read more

Global seed breeder-marketer Rijk Zwaan is hosting a seminar event to discuss the latest trends and technologies in the leafy hydroponics sector in conjunction with this year’s Asia Fruit Logistica on 6-8 September in Hong Kong. read more

Amina J Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the UN, says that transforming our food systems must be a priority as the world struggles to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. read more

Supermarket promotions are not for the benefit of customers. They are not designed to cut the cost of food. Promos are a marketing tool to sell more of one product against others that compete. It is often the grower that funds them, not the supermarket ­– although the supermarket usually
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Clock House Farm is celebrating success at the National Cherry & Soft Fruit Show after scooping a raft of awards for its raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. read more

Support from a global foundation could be making its way to UK charities and good causes aiming to boost health and nutrition, promote inclusion, or protect the environment. read more

A fifth of UK households are struggling to get access to good quality food at reasonable prices, causing them to turn to unhealthy, high-calorie alternatives. read more

The Cold Chain Federation is warning that UK food retailers, hospitality businesses and consumers should expect significant disruption in the Christmas trading window because food-producing businesses in Europe that supply into the UK are “unaware of, and unprepared for, the post-Brexit
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A second major storm in two weeks swept through the Balkans this week, bringing high winds, heavy rain and hail as it passed through Slovenia and Croatia before reaching Serbia and Bosnia. read more

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of AgroFresh’s flagship ripening management solution SmartFresh, the original 1-MCP technology that puts the ripening process of fruit “on hold” to delay softening and over-ripening. read more

Three new races of Bremia lactucae have been added to the official list of phytopathogens responsible for lettuce downy mildew, all of which are now covered by Syngenta varieties resistant to the strains. read more

Exporters of Picota cherries – Europe’s only naturally stalkless variety grown exclusively in Spain’s Jerte Valley – welcomed key figures from the UK cherry industry, as well as Spanish chefs, social media influencers and trade press, to Barrafina Coal Drops Yard in London at the end of
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Following successful trials last year, M&S has announced an expansion of its partnership with agri-tech start-up AgriSound to an additional 18 sites across the UK. read more

Fabio Zanesco of VIP is president of SweeTango Europe, a new club or managed apple variety with big ambitions for growth in Europe in this and coming seasons. Chris White talks to him about the new variety and about some of the challenges for managed varieties in the global apple business.  read more