It’s Bio, the European project funded by the EU and Italian association Aop Gruppo Vi.Va to promote organic, says recent disasters like the floods in Italy are helping to raise awareness of the issue of climate change and ultimately find solutions. read more

The UK is facing a significant shortage of British strawberries during the peak sales period of Wimbledon fortnight following unseasonably hot weather in June. read more

The House of Lords inquiry into the horticulture sector has heard evidence on soil quality, a peat-free future and trade. read more

Climatic weather patterns and this year’s challenging potato season have significantly increased the risks of alternaria, according to Syngenta. read more

AP Moller-Maersk has opened the doors to its third warehousing and distribution facility in Dubai, UAE, which is also its first cold store in the country. read more

The main Spanish and international seed companies including Seminis, Enza Zaden, Nunhems, Rijk Zwaan, Semillas Fitó and Syngenta showcased the latest innovations in melons and watermelons at trial farms across the region of Murcia this week at the Melon & Watermelon Innovation Days conference. read more

How is the summer fruit season shaping up at Clock House Farm? What effect has the wet spring and recent hot spell had on the berry crop? read more

Hongjiu Fruit has become the first Official Fresh Produce Partner to Asia Fruit Logistica, Asia’s premier fresh fruit and vegetable trade show. read more

Tomra Food has revealed the first details about its new research orchard in New Zealand set to enhance the company’s fruit science programme and improve its sorting and grading solutions.  read more

The Australian avocado industry has enlisted the help of former Australian cricketer Brett Lee to promote its fruit as part of a new marketing campaign in India.  read more

Saudi Arabia saw its agricultural gross domestic product grow by 38 per cent in 2022, on the back of a boost in investment and multiple efforts to promote sustainable development, according to a report from Arab News. read more

The former group CEO and current chairman of G’s Fresh, John Shropshire, has called for more continuity in the seasonal worker scheme to give fresh produce businesses the confidence they need to invest. read more

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has today (5 July) released data for May 2023 global air cargo markets showing weak market conditions. read more

For over a decade, British strawberries and cream have cost £2.50 for visitors to the Wimbledon annual tennis championships, which got underway this week (3 July). The number of strawberries –10 per punnet – has also remained unchanged, reports The Telegraph. read more

Dyson Farming has partnered with glasshouse engineering specialist CambridgeHOK to build the second phase of its strawberry glasshouse in Lincolnshire. read more

Sainsbury’s boss Simon Roberts says his supermarket is “absolutely focused on food first” when it comes to keeping its prices down, reports The Telegraph. read more

Chilean stonefruit exports fell 11 per cent in volume but increased 19 per cent in value to in 2022/23. Asoex said 242,000 tonnes of stonefruit worth US$409m was shipped, making it one of the best campaigns in recent memory. read more

Syngenta Vegetable Seeds has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Feltrin Sementes, a Brazilian vegetable seed company serving smallholder growers and home gardeners in over 40 countries. read more

SanLucar has introduced papayas grown in the Canary Islands to its expanding range of fresh produce. Consumers in Germany and Austria can now buy tree-ripened Sweet Sense papayas, characterised by their natural sweetness, juicy and firm orange flesh and distinctive aromatic flavour,
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A series of pumpkin, courgette and winter squash variety trials will be held this summer, the Outdoor Cucurbit Growers Group (OCGG) has confirmed.  read more