On January 1, 2024, Chile and South Korea started using ePhyto or Electronic Phytosanitary Certification for their trade, allowing both countries to take advantage of all the benefits that the initiative entails to facilitate trade and improve the management of plant health. read more

At the Belgian organic farm VerKen Bio Deli-Vers, they started growing PiqaBoo pears last year. Kris Wouters once called it 'a new fruit species', and VerKen Bio Deli-Vers's Gerard Kenens sees plenty of potential for organic farming. read more

The price of oranges is reaching record levels in the agricultural sector, especially for the Navel variety, according to data collected by the Consulate of the Lonja de Valencia. After the Christmas season, the average price of this orange variety stood at 0.35 euro, significantly exceeding the
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Blueberries have commanded high prices for several months. "Peru has good quality, but the prices are relentlessly high, and there's minimal product available. Some importers have stopped importing from there. We're, however, in a somewhat different area, so we'll keep getting Peruvian
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What are the main motivations of growers and packers as they consider implementing grading and sorting technology? Often the goals and challenges are similar: increasing capacity and providing consistent quality while reducing the dependence and costs associated with manual labor. However, as
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Mango supply is still limited thanks to the El Niño phenomenon and the subsequent winter rains. “Aside from smaller sized mangos, the rain brings additional quality concerns on harvested fruit, so we employ a more strict quality control at the farms and packing facility,” says Ana Paula
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Apricots, a stone fruit like peaches, plums, and nectarines, are typically either processed by canning, freezing, or drying, or sold as fresh, whole apricots. Regardless of how you like apricots, their production has been decreasing since the 1990s in response to falling US consumption,
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Peru, the second-largest avocado producer in the world, shipped US$223 million worth to the United States in 2022 to meet the country’s fast-growing demand. read more

In the face of a severe labor shortage, the farming community in Israel is urging the reintegration of Palestinian workers into agricultural fields. The National Farmers Association calls for developing a strategy to attract Jewish workers and contemplates the return of demobilized soldiers to
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“The upcoming pear crop looks very promising,” says De Kock Hamman, technical manager at Ceres Fruit Growers in the eponymous Western Cape town. read more

ILIP opens 2024 confirming its participation in two important trade fairs dedicated to the vegetable and flower nursery industry. From 23 to 26 January, the Bologna-based company will be taking its Hortipack products (propagation trays, carriers with trays, cultivation and transport pot holders
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Omni Xtra®+, Berry Global’s high-performance PE cling film will be the key focus of the company’s stand at the forthcoming Marca by BolognaFiere Private Label Conference and Exhibition, to be held in Bologna, Italy on 16 and 17 January 2024. read more

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for November 2023 global air cargo markets indicating the strongest year-on-year growth in roughly two years. This is partly due to weakness in November 2022, but also reflects a fourth consecutive month of strengthening demand for
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Located in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, Sitrusrand, started as a 10-hectare mixed farm now stretches for 60 kilometers along the Sundays River. It has 1,400 hectares dedicated to citrus fruits which the business packs itself. read more

In the Netherlands and Belgium, growers were still harvesting cauliflower well into November and December due to a relatively warm fall. The current frost will put an end to that, leaving greenhouse growers to provide BelOrta with cauliflower for the coming weeks. Despite, or perhaps because of,
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At present, tomatoes, citrus fruits and pomegranates are predominantly imported from Turkey. "We switched from Satsumas to W.Murcott shortly before the turn of the year. Overall, there was a seamless transition and sufficient volumes have been consistently available. The quality of the citrus
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The first shipments of Orri Jaffa mandarins from Israel are already on the way to expected markets for the 2024 season. Yield and export volumes are the similar to the previous year according to Orna Inbar, sales and promotions specialist at Israel’s Plants Production and Marketing Board. read more

The Polish apples performed really well overseas over the course of four months, says Emilia Lewandowska, office manager for Polish fruit exporter Fruit-Group: “We had very good autumn regarding our sold quantities of apples, on both the local market as well as for export. Our overseas clients
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Melissa's, a purveyor of unique produce, has unveiled its 2024 Food Trend Report. This year, it's all about swapping complicated meat alternatives with real, whole foods, embracing “Blue Zone” ingredients, and getting familiar with sweet-tart and spicy flavors from around the world. read more

After stealing a vegetable delivery from Sandbanks Brasserie in Broughty Ferry, owned by MasterChef winner Jamie Scott and his wife Kelly, the thief apologized for his actions. The incident, captured on CCTV and shared on social media, showed the person and their car. read more