The previous harvesting season witnessed comprehensive testing of the apple-picking robot at Proeftuin Randwijk. Munckhof Fruit Tech Innovators and Riwo started developing this robot in 2020. The current version includes a suction nozzle with two air chambers that can apply 6 kilograms of force to pick an apple. read more

In a milestone for Peruvian agro-exports, the first shipment of 18 containers has already been made from the recently inaugurated port of Chancay, bound for Shanghai, China. This shipment, transported on the ship Xin Shanghai 150W, includes 230 metric tons of fresh blueberries that will cross the Pacific Ocean. read more

Włoskie kalafiory dominują na rynku, obok francuskich i belgijskich kalafiorów. Ich obecność wzrosła ogólnie. Wzrosło również znaczenie dodatkowych holenderskich i hiszpańskich kalafiorów. W przeciwieństwie do tego, znaczenie krajowych produktów wydaje się maleć. read more

Deciding to outsource the handling of perishable goods at John F. Kennedy Airport to a private company has sparked concerns among Dutch vegetable exporters to North America. "JFK is currently the largest airport with the most capacity, but due to this policy change, it will become four times more." read more

The main challenges in aubergine cultivation are the three key stages of the production season, which typically take place between September and December, January and March, and April and June. These periods coincide with significant climatic changes, making them particularly challenging. read more

This winter, the lights are once again shining brightly in Belgian and Dutch cucumber greenhouses. Stable energy prices and the use of energy-efficient LED lighting have allowed growers and buyers to quickly reach agreements. Despite the high cost of illuminated cultivation, trading partners and supermarkets are able to collaborate more effectively. read more

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in Pakistan has revised the customs/export value of seasonal fruits, including Kino, for the period from December 1, 2024, to May 15, 2025. This update is being made due to a substantial backlog of refunds for exporters of seasonal fruits. read more

Bloom Fresh™ International Limited has appointed Paul Farmer as its innovation & quality director. Farmer brings a wealth of experience to the company from his decade-long tenure in the retail industry. He began his career 16 years ago as a Source Technologist for grapes at Amfresh Group. read more

Known for its strong presence in grape cultivation, Nashik district has started exporting early pre-season grapes to countries such as Russia, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates, despite facing various challenges. Within a month, 109 containers carrying a total of 1,764.53 metric tons of grapes have been exported. read more

This year, Ukraine faced a situation where it needed to increase the supply of certain vegetables. Bohdan Dukhnytskyi, a senior researcher at the Department of Economics of Agrarian Production and International Integration of the Institute of Agrarian Economics, emphasized this. read more

Ciężka burza, która nawiedziła wschodnią Hiszpanię 29 października, spowodowała ogromne straty ekonomiczne w prowincji Walencja, przy czym kampania kaki była najbardziej dotknięta tym niezwykle destrukcyjnym zjawiskiem meteorologicznym. Niestety, obszar La Ribera, który odpowiada za większość upraw kaki, został szczególnie dotknięty. read more

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food has met with representative organizations of the potato sector to review the progress of the season, which is nearing its end. According to the latest data from September 2024, potato production has reached 1,933,963 tons, which is a 0.6% increase. read more

Spice, Summer Glow, and Summer Bliss. read more

SPAR Scotland has confirmed that its 2025 tradeshow and awards will take place on 25th September in Aviemore. The annual event brings together suppliers and SPAR retailers operating in the Scottish convenience sector. read more

From the organic sector, Brad Sumner of Pacific Coast Trading Co. in Portland emphasized the stability of the organic onion market, noting consistent quality and supply. However, he mentioned that Mexican organic white onions will be introduced in 2-3 weeks, with organic red and yellow varieties to follow. read more

At Marni Fruit, the Dutch and Belgian Sinterklaas celebrations have little impact on the demand for mandarins. "Most of our mandarins are sold for export, where Sinterklaas is not a factor," says Erik-Jan Thur. He describes mandarin sales as "reasonable to good." In particular, leaf mandarins are popular. read more

In September, the Schmitz-Hübsch fruit-growing business from Bornheim-Merten (North Rhine-Westphalia) became the first fruit grower in Germany to be sustainably certified with the Fair'n Green seal. Schmitz-Hübsch is the oldest German fruit-growing business with plantation cultivation and is currently the only one in the country to have received this certification. read more

"Stressed" is how Jaap den Boer from Olympic Fruit describes the current situation in the grape market. "The problems started when European grapes disappeared from the market three weeks earlier than usual. Normally, we depend on white seedless grapes from Europe until late October, but this year the season in read more

A network involved in smuggling drugs worth up to £7bn into the UK from Europe over two and a half years has been dismantled, with key figures receiving significant prison sentences, as reported by Manchester Crown Court. The operation, identified as the largest of its kind, has been successfully disrupted. read more

Costa's berry harvest has started at its farms in the North-West, with the workforce expected to reach around 2000 people during the season. Recruitment for local employees is already in progress, with positions available in various harvest operations including picking and packing. read more