South Africa's diminished litchi harvest due to poor fruit setting, cold weather, and subsequent sunburn damage will leave many without their favorite holiday fruit this summer. In a related development, litchis are being sold at Checkers retailer for R99.99 (5.2 euros) per one kilogram carton. read more

The European Union (EU) has increased the frequency of inspections on Vietnamese durians from 10% to 20% of shipments at its borders. This change comes after the discovery of high levels of pesticide residues on these fruits, which violate EU safety standards. The Vietnam SPS Office is now under scrutiny as a result. read more

The Gijbels family from Belgium owns three fresh produce companies: two wholesalers in Belgium and a cultivation and trading company in Spain. In addition, they have a transport company with 45 refrigerated trucks. This makes it clear that Euro Gijbels is active throughout Europe in terms of both production and distribution. read more

The clementine mandarin, known for its slightly flat bottom, is a highly coveted variety in international markets, including those in the EU. However, the detection of prohibited pesticides in some shipments from Albania to EU nations, particularly at border crossings in Croatia, has raised concerns about the fruit's safety and compliance with regulations. read more

Mandersloot Transport recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. What started as a small family business transporting chickens and rabbits from the Netherlands to Poland has evolved into a global player in the transportation and logistics industry. The company now operates six branches in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany. read more

South African growers and exporters are "overjoyed" that Thailand has once again opened its doors to the country's apples. read more

The December 2024/January 2025 issue of Asiafruit Magazine is now accessible to subscribers through the Asiafruit app on Apple, Android, and desktop platforms. This edition provides the most recent news and insights from the dynamic fresh produce markets across Asia. read more

Portugal: Aldi opens new supermarket in Parchal
German supermarket chain Aldi has opened a new two-storey store in Parchal, Lagoa, its 22nd in the Algarve. Located on Rua Infante de Sagres, in Parchal's new bustling commercial area, the supermarket boasts a 1,100sqm sales area, offering the usual... read more

The organic produce sector in Morocco is being sustained by a few key players who are resisting the temptation of conventional agriculture, despite facing significant marketing challenges. According to Benyahia, co-founder of Biomouja, "For us, farming is primarily a passion for the land, and". read more

Amy Yip has invested in Malaysia's first durian-themed hotel in Penang, with director Jack Neo serving as the creative director. The hotel celebrates durian culture by incorporating durian-inspired architecture, lighting, and unique dining options such as durian hotpot and ice cream. Guests can immerse themselves in the cultural experience. read more

Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, and Lithuania have banned the import of Albanian citrus fruits after tests revealed excessive levels of pesticides in the produce. The mandarins were found to contain chlorpyrifos and phosmet, chemicals whose consumption poses significant side effects to human health. read more

There is a massive presence of clementines in the markets, which are overshadowing the demand for mandarins; as for oranges, the demand is shifting towards the Tarocco variety. There is also a growing commercialization of some traditional Christmas products, such as pineapples, puntarelle, and dried lentils. read more

At the Volcani Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel, a breakthrough in citrus cultivation has been achieved with the development of over 200 mandarin orange varieties. These varieties are designed to adapt to diverse global climates without disrupting local ecosystems. Researcher Livnat Goldenberg led the project. read more

"As 2024 comes to an end - a year that has brought us a lot of satisfaction here in Italy - we are preparing for the upcoming season. We will begin with deliveries of bare-root plants, followed by plants in pots starting from spring. The Italian nursery Vivai Magalotti Quarto will be... read more

The EastFruit team provides detailed analyses of the fruit and vegetable market from the previous week in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East. These analyses are based on the offers and bids on the largest regional EF trade platform, which has 26,000 participants from 50 countries worldwide. read more

In Oromia State, Ethiopia, the agricultural sector is experiencing a rise in avocado production and exportation initiatives. The Oromia State Agriculture Bureau has set a ambitious goal of exporting 1,200 tons of avocados for the 2024/25 fiscal year. Currently, efforts are being made to enter markets in the region. read more

Na rynku owoców w Uzbekistanie rozwija się poważny problem. Według EastFruit, mandarynki z Pakistanu zazwyczaj są najbardziej dostępnym owocem na uzbekistańskim stole noworocznym oraz w innych krajach Azji Środkowej. Po wejściu tych owoców na rynek w grudniu, ceny read more

"Unless it rains again, we expect to be working and selling clementines throughout January," says Gianni Martucci of Martucci Srl, an Apulian company that distributes citrus fruit in Italy and certain parts of Europe. There have been no major fluctuations in recent weeks, but compared to the read more

W okresie Bożego Narodzenia w Finlandii konsumpcja czerwonych jabłek idzie w parze z coraz bardziej egzotycznymi owocami. Według Kaisy Malmberg, dyrektora generalnego Satotukku, firmy Greenfood, wiodącego importera i hurtownika świeżych owoców i warzyw w Finlandii, "Czerwone jabłka Red Delicious sprzedają się dobrze, tylko przed" read more

The season for fresh strawberries from Egypt started with high prices, estimated to be double those of the previous season. However, just one to two weeks into the season, prices have dropped significantly. At the beginning of the season, growers were explaining the price hikes by pointing to a general increase in production. read more