Automation is becoming increasingly necessary in the fresh produce sector, says Sean Schulp of STC Food Solutions. "It's not just large companies looking for ways to automate processes. More and more smaller players must also see how they can optimize speeds despite the difficulties in finding
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There is a significant shortage in the European chicory market. "We mustn't sell too fast because then you quickly run out of stock," says Dennis Blankendaal of Frysk Witlof. In recent years, the Dutch company has undergone large-scale new construction, and 12 new pulling cells were put into
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Spanish tropicals giant Trops is expanding its avocado operation in Tavira, Portugal. According to a report in Jornal de Negócios, it will invest €6m in expanding its warehouse capacity in the region. Work on the new infrastructure is due to begin this week and expected to be completed by
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In December, a new Fairtrade initiative was proposed with the aim of helping UK grocery retailers to collaborate on sustainability in supply chains. read more

Quality has always been at the centre of attention for South African pome and stone fruit producers in view of their demanding local customers. Careful cultivation of only selected varieties on the plantations in the Cape, where nectarines, peaches, plums and apricots are grown under excellent conditions, has always taken centre stage.
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UK based manufacturer of potato handling equipment, Haith, will kick start the new year by putting the spotlight on three new innovations at Potato Expo 2024. read more

‘Freshly Forward, from Foundation to Future’ – this is the theme Rijk Zwaan has chosen to encapsulate its roadmap for tackling today’s challenges, together with its partners. read more

AD Ports Group, a large global facilitator of logistics, industry, and trade, announces that Noatum Terminals, the terminals operations business of Noatum Group, has acquired 100% ownership of APM Terminals Castellón in Spain for a total purchase consideration (Enterprise Value - EV) of EUR 10
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A report launched today at the 2024 Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) firmly states that the practice of farmers subsidising consumers’ appetite for cheap food cannot continue. After years of ‘permacrisis’ fuelled by Brexit, the Ukrainian conflict, the Covid-19 pandemic and inflation running
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Currently, delays to global trade are caused by hundreds of ships diverting around Africa to avoid attacks in the Red Sea. These delays are set to inflict months of disruption and imminent price rises on supplies of household items and foodstuffs. read more

This week, a partnership between IDA, a fresh produce order optimization software that enables stores, central purchasing agencies, and wholesalers to "maximize margins and minimize losses" thanks to artificial intelligence, and Kheops, which enables them to "specialize their offer to their
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The Port of Fortaleza, also known as the Mucuripe Port, has introduced four new fruit export routes for the 2023/2024 season (from September to February). These routes include services to London, Rotterdam, Le Havre (France), and Vigo (Spain). read more

"Vegetable growers are always looking for solutions to increase their business performance," begins Benoit Janny of Janny MT. Some of them have relied on strategic post-harvest storage to increase the value of their vegetable production. To do so, they rely on a naturally controlled atmosphere.
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The Canadian Potato Summit will make its virtual return on January 18, 2024. The event promises to be a significant gathering for potato industry professionals. Organized by Potatoes in Canada magazine, the summit will be a half-day event filled with live sessions. These sessions are not just
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Aldi has announced a 57 per cent reduction in its food waste as a percentage of total food sales, achieving its 2030 target eight years ahead of schedule. read more

According to 'EastFruit', Morocco has increased its exports of fresh berries to the Middle East by an average of 64% per year over the past few campaigns. In the first four months of the 2023/24 marketing year, Morocco delivered 127 tonnes of berries to the Persian Gulf.
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The threat of Houthi rebels in the Red Sea means several shipping companies say they will opt for the route around the Cape of Good Hope. That significantly affects European exports to Asian countries, as is the case for Belgian Fruit Valley. It is currently in the midst of its export season,
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On 2 January, the Spanish company Trops began work on the extension of its warehouse in Tavira (Portugal), which will add a new production centre to its Portuguese headquarters. The investment, which amounts to more than six million euros, should be completed by "the middle of January".
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The decline in logistics costs and unusually warm weather in the autumn months have boosted the demand for Piel de Sapo melon and watermelon during the off-season in Spain and given an impulse to the growing trend towards the year-round consumption of these products. read more

An Idlib vegetable merchant claims that the al-Hal popular market is flooded with tomatoes, imported from Turkey. The quantities exceed the market’s capacity, leading to a drop in prices and financial losses for the merchants. read more