Max van Ooijen of the Tolpoort Vegetables Cooperative, the market leader in the Netherlands, reports that the chicory market had an unusual year in 2024. He mentioned that prices were particularly good, with auction prices in Belgium even exceeding €5, which is rare. However, there was a downside: the rain. read more

Mexico is a major global producer of blueberries, ranking sixth in the world. The production forecast for the calendar year (CY) 2025 is 73,500 metric tons (MT), which is a nine percent decrease from CY 2024 due to a shortened harvest period. Mexico is expected to export 70,000 MT of blueberries in CY 2025. read more

Zimbabwe's berry export sector has experienced a 50% growth in 2024, with exports increasing from 6 million kilograms in 2023 to 8 million kilograms this year. Data from ZimStats shows a rise from 5,605,894 kg in 2023 to 8,395,217 kg in 2024, indicating the sector's expansion and global demand. read more

Peru was once the world's leading producer of organic bananas, but growth has stagnated since the 2017-2018 season due to more frequent weather phenomena. Karlhos Quinde Rodríguez, project manager at CEDEPAS Norte, says that the Piura region, the epicenter of banana production, has been read more

The avocado market is currently facing a challenging period. Demand in Europe is very low, and January saw minimal consumption. "We are coming off a tough month following the Christmas holidays. There is a shortage of fruit in Europe. The Pinkerton variety from Israel is... read more

According to the press service of Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia has observed an increase in the volume of fruits and vegetables imported from Kazakhstan. Cabbage imports have increased by 1.5 times, reaching about 30,000 tons. Tomato imports have increased by 1.2 times, amounting to almost 20,000 tons. Carrot imports have increased by 15%, totaling 15,000 tons. read more

Rolf Weber of Global Producers in Venlo reported, "The abnormally high rainfall in November, December, and early January resulted in the complete destruction of our melon crops for the first two export weeks (weeks 3 and 4), with significant damage to the crops intended for export weeks 5 and 6." read more

Po rekordowym zbiorze w Egipcie w 2024 roku, w tym roku na europejskim rynku może być o 30% mniej egipskich pomarańczy. Sezon na cytrusy w tym kraju trwa od końca grudnia do czerwca, a głównym produktem są pomarańcze. W 2022 roku Egipt wyprodukował 3,4 miliona ton pomarańczy, więcej niż Hiszpania (2,8 miliona). read more

The consumption of fresh apples in Europe has slowed down, and the Blue Whale Group aims to reverse this trend by becoming a preferred partner for retailers. Blue Whale conducts market research to understand consumer expectations before offering solutions. read more

The second part of the Spanish mandarin season is notably ahead of the 2024 campaign, both agronomically and commercially. There is a strong demand for mandarins in the fields due to their scarcity at this time of year. "So far, we have already exported more than double the amount of Tango and Nadorcott... read more

The geo-climatic conditions in Vattavada, India, are conducive to the cultivation of various horticultural crops, including a local variety of passion fruit. This fruit is known for its orange color with a greenish tint, as well as its sweet and slightly tangy flavor. There is a high demand for this fruit in the market due to these desirable qualities. read more

Holland: Ruud van Munster succeeds John van der Ent as CEO of SPAR Holding B.V. SPAR Netherlands announced that Ruud van Munster will become the CEO of SPAR Holdings B.V. starting from May 1, 2025. John van der Ent, who served as CEO of SPAR Netherlands for seven years, resigned from his position for personal reasons on May 1st. read more

Despite products such as young spinach, baby leaves, and Salanova being more popular in the summer months—Rik Vanackere's specialties—the grower from Izegem, Flanders, has noticed that demand remains strong even in winter. "Demand has been good. We work with our regular buyers, and while it read more

Voor-Groenberg Nurseries, also known as VG Nurseries, have gained significant experience over their 36 years in operation, according to Casper Brink, the operations manager. The nursery consists of four propagation sites that operate independently, with a focus on Vitis vinifera. They produce both table grapes and wine grapes in approximately equal amounts, with a split of about 50:50. read more

In 2023, global watermelon production reached a record 104,932 million kilograms, according to data compiled by Hortoinfo based on information from Faostat, the statistical agency of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which has recently updated the global data for 2023, the latest year available. read more

More than three million trays, or 10,800 tonnes, of Zespri RubyRed™ Kiwifruit will be available this season, with its berry-like taste being offered for the first time in several exciting new markets. The RubyRed harvest will begin in New Zealand in the coming weeks, with a large volume expected. read more

Julia Parry, VP of Business Development and Downstream at Harmoniz, talks about Harmoniz Select – a special selection of collaborative projects that showcase how food tastes better together. Harmoniz Select varieties, including ToBRFV-resistant tomatoes, will be showcased in Berlin. read more

Salix Fruits has appointed Andy Froggatt as its country manager for South Africa. With over 30 years of extensive experience in international fruit sales and procurement, Froggatt joins the company as it pursues its global expansion efforts. read more

The economic implications of food waste in Australia are substantial, with an estimated $36.6 billion lost annually. A significant portion of fresh produce is discarded at the farm gate due to cosmetic imperfections, including appearance, size, or ripeness. This issue has long been recognized. read more

Apples are easy to store. They can be enjoyed weeks or even months after harvest, remaining as crisp and fresh as if they were just picked from the tree. With their small carbon footprint, they are also recommended from a climate protection perspective and allow for healthy enjoyment. read more