In 2024, the horticultural sector in South Africa contributed 23% to the nation's agricultural Gross Value Added. Over the past decade, the sector has maintained an average growth rate of 11.4%, solidifying its position as a significant provider of employment and foreign exchange. Despite encountering logistical challenges, read more

On the day of FreshPlaza's visit to the Bridelia Group in Levubu, Carmen Hass avocados are harvested. Typically, they achieve good sizes on the cultivar, which is exclusively grown for Westfalia, the company that handles Bridelia's avocado exports. Pictured on the right is Wiekus van der Walt, the general manager of the Bridelia Group. read more

Season of Egyptian table grapes is quickly approaching, with early varieties expected to be available starting from the beginning of May. Louay Elkout, co-founder of the Egyptian Growers Organization, provides updates on the preparations for the upcoming campaign. The early launch of the campaign presents a commercial opportunity for Egyptian growers. read more

With Africa re-emerging in the Pinkerton avocado campaign, mangoes showing a slight increase, and limes seeking a new commercial position, the sector is undergoing a transitional period. Giorgio Donnarumma, Sales Manager of Nuovafrutta in Milan, discusses the current dynamics. read more

Last week on the EastFruit Trade Platform, there was a 10% decrease in the number of listings due to seasonal factors, but the geographic reach of participants expanded to include 13 countries. Supply from Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Egypt, and Iran decreased, while Poland and North Macedonia showed an increase. read more

The wholesale distribution logistics center "Frutsiti" has started operating in the Omsk region, Russia, with a focus on storing and selling fruits and vegetables from the Ferghana region, Uzbekistan. This announcement was made by the regional administration. The first phase of the... read more

A notable aspect of the season was that the quantity of grapes handled through the port of Cape Town significantly increased, indicating a fairly smooth logistics operation. read more

Dr. Mohammed Mansi, the director of the Egyptian Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ), recently met with Duncan Macintyre, the president of The Breeders Alliance, and representatives from the top table grape breeding companies. read more

Fruit South Africa has announced leadership changes on its board of directors, effective 1 April 2025. Anton Rabe will take over as the chairperson, replacing Anton Kruger, who has been in the position since April 2023. Derek Donkin will be the vice-chairperson, and Kruger will remain with the board. read more

The woolly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum, is a parasitic insect of apple trees that has been present in South Tyrol for over a hundred years. It is defined as a "phytophagous" insect, as it feeds on the plant's sap, damaging its tissues. Infestations can cause significant damage to the trees. read more

According to the ESWD - European Severe Weather Database, in March Italy experienced the highest number of extreme weather events last month (tornadoes, heavy rainfall, and abnormal hailstorms) among the 318 recorded in Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa: 107 (about 34%), followed by... read more

Egypt’s plant protection agency CAPQ has confirmed its dedication to safeguarding the rights of plant breeders before the 2025 table grape season. It has stated that it will withdraw export codes from any farms or exporters found to be infringing on these rights. read more

During what some exporters described as the "most pleasant" table grape season in many years, South Africa increased its export crop by 5 percent, shipping a record volume of 77.4 million cartons. read more

The two organizations believe that this will be extremely problematic in the long run, as it directly contradicts "scientific findings" and endangers the "long-term sustainability of the industry." The aim of this letter, which the German read more

Jaguar is aiming to enhance its sustainability reputation through the introduction of its new Harvest of Hope program. The company stated that its goal is to make a tangible, measurable impact directly at the source, rather than prioritizing extra certifications or formalities. read more

Due to the unpredictable overall situation caused by the tariffs imposed by the US President, the industry organization Citrus Growers' Association (CGA) has now also turned to the South African government and urged it to initiate immediate negotiations with the USA. read more

The need for diversification of South African exports, particularly in the fruit sector, is still essential despite a temporary 90-day suspension announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. This announcement came after a series of reciprocal tariffs that impacted around 75 countries, including... read more

Namoneng Farm, a citrus operation under the Lona Group in Mpumalanga, South Africa, has implemented a solar and battery energy system to tackle persistent power supply challenges. After upgrading their packhouse, the farm encountered substantial energy limitations, as the national utility, Eskom, was unable to meet the demands. read more

Flower producers and exporters in Ethiopia are urging the government to provide more support to help the country's flower sector reach its full potential and make a greater impact on the national economy. Yoseph Abebe, the International Marketing and Sales Manager of Qualirosa PLC, stated that... read more

The CEO of Global Veg Egy, Ahmed Adel, announced that the last few containers of fresh garlic have been loaded for an Egyptian garlic exporter. Adel stated, "When it comes to the garlic trade in Egypt, the month of April is a very important and busy month for us. At the beginning of April, we loaded our last." read more