Next year is an election year in South Africa and the minimum wage is under its annual review. The state is proposing the consumer price index (CPI) plus 3% (effectively 9% in toto) while the business lobby would prefer a minimum wage increase equalling the CPI (5.5% in November). read more

The combination of drought, water irrigation limitations and abnormally high temperatures during flowering and fruit-setting phases have limited the EU’s citrus production potential in MY 2023/24, which is projected to stay at similar levels as the also short MY 2022/23 crop. The increase in
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"Due to the war in Ukraine and the subsequent domino effect of the energy crisis, inflation crisis, etc., there is uncertainty among the population. Consumer reluctance and a more frequent choice to buy cheaper products became particularly noticeable at the beginning of 2023." says Charlotte
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According to EastFruit analysts, Ukrainian farmers have made incredible progress in restoring vegetable production, which was previously concentrated in the southern regions of the Kherson region but is now occupied by Russian invaders. Despite the fact that the Russian occupiers almost
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Noureddine Hajjout used to work from the Barendrecht trading center in the Netherlands. However, several years ago, he moved to France for his wife. There, he has been active in the Rungis market. "Around 2012, I founded the company 'de Gezonde Box'. Originally as a company that sold fresh
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Garlic and ginger are expensive, and in the Netherlands, Bert van Gelder from Sawari Fresh does not anticipate a significant surge ahead of the festive season. "These products store quite well, so our biggest holiday rush was over the past two to three weeks. Our focus this week is on reordering
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It's currently all hands on deck in the Egyptian strawberry sector. Insufficient Dutch and Belgian supplies means the United Kingdom has turned to Southern Europe and Egypt for produce. "The days are long and the nights short, but if the strawberries don't come now, they never will," begins
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Following the good results obtained in testing during the last season, the 2023 sales campaign for the exclusive all-Italian green kiwifruit has kicked off with a focus on innovation. Dulcis™ is the new variety offered by New Plant, in collaboration with the Universities of Udine and Bologna,
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Last week Agrico held its annual central members’ meeting and, for the first time in its history, Agrico passed the €400 million mark in sales. The financial statements of 2022/2023 were explained and the members looked ahead to the new harvest year. read more

Chiquita Panama has announced the successful negotiation to acquire the fruit production of Banapiña-Fresh Del Monte in Puerto Armuelles as of 2024. According to a statement from the company, as of January, approximately 50 weekly containers from Puerto Armuelles will be exported to the main
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As of December 1, 2023, the aggregate holdings of potato storage in Canada have experienced a 7.4% surge compared to 2023, significantly surpassing the triennial average. read more

St Mamet is branching out into cold-pressed juices (High Pressure Cold-HPF) with its new range, "Le Jus Brut". read more

Already at the start of the season for Italian lettuce for the winter of 2023/2024, there were major bottlenecks. Normally, the lettuce is always ready to harvest in the last week of October, but this year the start of the season was rather difficult. "September was consistently nice and warm,
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"We are at the beginning of a campaign that will be characterized by an increased availability of small and medium sized citrus fruits. If the weather conditions are favorable, we can expect an extended commercial campaign. More than the size of the fruit, I'm concerned about the reaction of the
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Last year, high energy prices meant there was little supply from those countries' greenhouses, so supermarkets had to switch to imports from Southern Europe. How are things looking this year? We approached Jumbo Netherlands for more insight into their supplies and strategies for the upcoming
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It is with deep sorrow that the Simonetta family, share the news of the passing of their family patriarch and beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Antonio Simonetta. He peacefully departed at midday on Monday, 18 December 2023, at the age of 86. read more

In the framework of the last European Council, which took place on Thursday and Friday, the EU has agreed to open negotiations for the accession of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. In 2022, EU fresh fruit and vegetable exports to Ukraine in 2022 at 361,322 tons, and imports at 9,631 tons. EU
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During the first nine months of this year, Spain and the Netherlands have lost market share in the European pepper market in favor of Morocco and Turkey, according to a report prepared by the Spanish news service Hortoinfo based on data from Euroestacom. read more

As Christmas is nearing, the Moroccan citrus season is gradually getting underway. However, it is shaping up to be a difficult season, says Krino Röben, specialized provider and managing director of mail order company Fruchtversand24. "The first Berkane clementines arrived in the first week of
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Spain's agri-food sector is leading the country's companies' efforts to relax the new EU packaging waste regulation, which is approaching its final phase of negotiations after it passes the Council of Ministers of Environment in Brussels. read more