FreshPlaza Special on South Africa
2024-04-02 00:00
This month FreshPlaza will focus on all things South African. Are you a grower, importer or exporter, or in the packaging or cooling business? If you are in anyway involved in the fresh produce business we would love to hear from you. You can send us in some info or we can give you call for an
read more
read more
Bulgaria and Romania join the Schengen area
2024-04-02 00:00
On March 31, Bulgaria and Romania become Schengen members: the Schengen rules will apply in both Member States, including on issuing Schengen visas, and controls at the internal air and sea borders will be lifted. The Commission strongly welcomes this achievement, which follows the historic
read more
read more
The Moroccan Hass avocado made its debut on the Georgian market
2024-04-02 00:00
According to EastFruit analysts, in March 2024, an noticeable event occurred in the Georgian avocado market – for the first time, the first ever direct shipment of Hass avocados from Morocco to Georgia was made. The variety and type of avocado delivered is still non-standard for the Georgian
read more
read more
Nectarine harvest kicked off a week ahead of schedule in Huelva
2024-04-02 00:00
The nectarine harvest has already started in Huelva, the earliest stone fruit producing area in Spain, and this year it has done so a week earlier than in the previous season. "We started harvesting white and yellow-fleshed nectarines on March 23, exactly a week earlier than in the previous
read more
read more
"In the Middle East, ripeners who work for supermarkets are told a day of ripening is enough"
2024-04-02 00:00
Why should banana prices actually be higher in stores? Why will it be years before other African countries will take Central and South America by storm in exports? Why is there no TR4-resistant variety yet? And why are reefer ships suddenly in demand again? Frits Popma answers all these
read more
read more
EastFruit analysts draw attention to Ukraine's success in exporting premium quality apples. In particular, in one of the most important and capacious markets in the Middle East with a high level of prices and competition, Ukraine confidently ranks second in terms of supply volumes in December
read more
read more
"Switching to local tomatoes as quality of Spanish goods diminishes"
2024-04-02 00:00
For Belgium company Rotom, the start of the busiest period of the year is gradually coming around. As larger volumes of Dutch and Belgian tomatoes from unlit cultivation increasingly find their way to the market, it also marks the peak period for the company specializing in tomato cultivation.
read more
read more
"This exhibition has become even more important than it already was"
2024-04-02 00:00
"It seems that the exhibition will be bigger again, despite all the current challenges in the market," says Dick van Raamsdonk, General Director of HPP Exhibitions, when talking about the upcoming IFTEX in Nairobi, Kenya, in June (4-6). "The fair's growth is mainly due to the increasing number of…
read more
Egyptian onion exports resume after a six-month ban
2024-04-02 00:00
The start of April marks the end of the Egyptian government's ban on onion exports. According to Mohamad Hassan, Export Sales Manager at Al Gamal, this year's production is sufficient and far exceeds the needs of the local market. "With the expiry of the onion export ban, initially set until
read more
read more
South Africa's 2024 citrus export season will begin in earnest this month. The variety focus groups of the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA) presented their predicted export volumes for the upcoming season at the Citrus Marketing Forum held last week. "Overall, an increase in
read more
read more
In Ukraine, March witnessed the identification of violations during the import of vegetables and fruits, leading to reduced prices amounting to UAH 141.2 million, as stated by Danylo Hetmantsev, Head of the parliamentary committee on finance, tax, and customs policy. Hetmantsev highlighted the…
read more
Asparagus recovers and adds 25% more production
2024-04-02 00:00
Cheap onions from Egypt are to flood Europe in the coming days?
2024-04-01 00:00
Despite the lack of official statements from the Egyptian government on the issue of the onion export ban, which was extended until March 31, 2024 inclusive, most market participants are confident that from April 1 they will be able to resume export shipments. EastFruit analysts note that there
read more
read more
In recent years, many retail chains have switched from Spanish to Greek strawberries
2024-03-31 00:00
This year’s strawberry season in Greece has gotten off to an exceptionally good start, says Christian Vogelsang, buyer and seller at ExPa-Frucht Ltd, based in Ottobrunn. “Since the beginning of the season, we have consistently received ample supply, and the demand has been quite
read more
read more
The Moroccan Hass avocado made its debut on the Georgian market, edging out the Turkish one in price!
2024-03-30 00:00
According to EastFruit analysts, in March 2024, an noticeable event occurred in the Georgian avocado market – for the first time, the first ever direct shipment of Hass avocados from Morocco to Georgia was made. The variety and type of avocado delivered is still non-standard for the Georgian
read more
read more
Jumbo removes plastic from Dutch fresh produce
2024-03-29 12:00
Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo has announced that all of the loose red peppers and cucumbers it sources from within the Netherlands will be sold without plastic packaging from now on.
read more
Southern cherry campaign concludes quite favorably
2024-03-29 00:00
The recent campaign for southern cherries has concluded successfully. The campaign's success is reflected in the high demand and attractive market prices. China remains the predominant market, receiving over 90% of the southern hemisphere's cherry exports. The fruit symbolizes happiness,
read more
read more
Lidl Portugal and Portugal Fresh exported 22,300 tonnes of fruit and vegetables to 9 European countries
2024-03-29 00:00
UK: Co-op claims convenience retailer first with SBTi net zero target validationCo-op has become the first UK convenience retailer to have its net zero targets validated by the globally recognised Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Co-op, which operates 2,400 food stores across the UK, is
read more
read more
"Finding an aisle with only biodynamic foods in Germany is as common as finding one with organic products here"
2024-03-29 00:00
Over the last decade, the number of Spanish operators with a biodynamic certification has been growing and more and more producers are becoming familiar with and expressing interest in this approach to food production, which has existed for 100 years in 2024, since Rudolf Steiner officially
read more
read more
"Europe takes over 70% of the market share for Kenyan avocados"
2024-03-29 00:00
Despite the challenges with the Red Sea, the Kenyan avocado season has kicked off with a great start, says Paul Kyalo, Managing Director of Kenyan tropical fruit exporter Konza Tropicals Limited: "We've had an excellent start of the avocado season on March 1st. In the first two weeks of the
read more
read more

