"The Sicilian citrus supply chain has always been a cornerstone of our agriculture, which is why I believe it is crucial for all participants to adhere to transparent practices and good production methods, especially in light of recent scientific findings casting doubt on the citrus varieties." read more

Morocco's agricultural sector is expanding its cultivated area, export volumes, and crop range as part of a policy framework aimed at increasing access to European markets and improving compliance with EU standards. The government's strategy focuses on increasing output, improving quality, and diversifying products. read more

The zbiór mandarynek Orri w Hiszpanii w 2026 roku ma rozpocząć się wcześniej i będzie o około 22-23% większy pod względem wolumenu w porównaniu z zbiorem z 2025 roku, który był poniżej średniej. Po raz pierwszy Komitet Orri Running będzie aktywnie promować spożycie tego owocu we Francji i we Włoszech, uruchamiając...

The 2026 Orri mandarin harvest in Spain is expected to start earlier and will be about 22-23% larger in volume compared to the 2025 harvest, which was below average. For the first time, the Orri Running Committee will actively promote the fruit's consumption in France and Italy by launching... read more

A notification issued by the Spanish authorities through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) disclosed the detection of cadmium (a heavy metal) in tomatoes from Morocco. The notification, dated December 22, 2025, with reference number 2025.10314, reports the presence of 0.068 ± 0.009. read more

The blueberry industry in Nova Scotia states that additional government support will be necessary for production to recover in 2026 after drought conditions severely impacted yields last season. The province experienced a reduction of over 50% in blueberry output due to low rainfall and drought during the previous summer. read more

South African fruit growers achieved increased export volumes in 2025 despite facing higher input costs, market uncertainty, and pesticide withdrawals. The citrus industry, in particular, reached a new record in exports during the 2025 season, packing 203.4 million 15kg-equivalent cartons for export. This marked a 19% increase compared to the previous year. read more

Earlier this year, Proefcentrum Hoogstraten started investigating the possibility of successfully cultivating passion fruit in Belgium. The first fruits have already been harvested, and the initial results look promising. "Our ultimate goal is to replicate the success we had with Charentais melons," read more

The Taiwan Banana Research Institute has developed a new banana cultivar, Tai-Chiao No. 9 (TC9), with resistance to Panama disease. The variety is intended for future deployment beyond Taiwan, pending completion of plant breeders' rights in overseas markets. Bananas are an economically important crop. read more

Europe authorities regularly conduct random checks on mango imports to ensure their safety. These inspections mainly target pests and organisms that require quarantine, such as fruit flies. If contamination is detected in just one package, the entire shipment must be destroyed. read more

Rynek jabłek stale rośnie, z pozytywnymi tendencjami zarówno pod względem wartości, jak i ilości. Ten delikatny owoc ma dedykowaną maszynę i linie produkcyjne od firmy PND, włoskiej spółki specjalizującej się w projektowaniu i dostarczaniu maszyn do przetwarzania owoców. Z ponad 7000 odmianami, jabłka są. read more

When assessing the global blueberry industry from a production perspective, Morocco is emerging as one of the highest-yielding systems based on the relationship between productive area and harvested volume. Recent planting and production data indicate that output growth is being driven mainly by Morocco. read more

With the launch of Vivo by REO, REO is venturing into the premium segment. This move comes at a challenging time. "2025 can hardly be described as a robust year," says Remie Dewitte from REO. "Prices for many vegetables were notably lower compared to previous seasons, so we are hopeful. read more

Tak jak ma to miejsce we Włoszech, spożycie owoców i warzyw w Europie również wydaje się maleć, a typowy wzrost cen związany z okresem Bożego Narodzenia - okolicznością, która zazwyczaj zachęca do większego planowania i wzrostu cen - nie występuje pomimo zbliżających się świąt. read more

Badania przeprowadzone w południowym Wietnamie wykazały, że miejscowe grzyby i aktynobakterie charakteryzują się aktywnością przeciwko więdnięciu Fusarium, chorobie, która dotyka produkcję bananów na całym świecie. Badanie zostało przeprowadzone przez zespół badawczy, w skład którego wchodzili Tran V.T., Dinh T.Q., i Le D.D., i skupiało się na Fusarium oxysporum f. read more

UK: Sainsbury's CEO among business leaders recognized in new year honours. Simon Roberts, who has been chief executive of the UK's second largest supermarket since 2020, has been awarded the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to the retail industry.
Source: theguardian.com read more

France has announced plans to suspend imports of certain fruits that have been found to contain residues of pesticides prohibited within the European Union. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that a decree will be issued to block the entry of the affected produce, with the measure aimed at protecting consumers. read more

By week 51, Peru closed the season with total blueberry exports of 326,117 tons, up 19 per cent year on year and closely aligned with the revised December projection. This outcome confirms Peru's position as the leading global blueberry supplier and consolidates a high-volume export window. read more

This month, FreshPlaza will be focusing on bananas. Are you a grower, importer, or supplier of citrus? If so, we would love to hear from you. You can send us some information, or we can call you for an interview. Just let us know. You can contact info@freshplaza.com. read more

The ruling National Conference in India has urged the central government to reconsider its decision to allow apple imports from New Zealand under a new trade agreement, citing potential risks for domestic producers in Jammu and Kashmir. Party spokesperson Imran Nabi issued a statement on Thursday regarding this matter. read more

"The European Union sometimes appears to be influenced by conflicting instincts: initially, they announced a ban on combustion engines by 2035, but then recently made a partial reversal. However, in the interim, car manufacturers have made significant advancements in certain areas. Will a similar shift occur now with the ban on plastic?" read more