Italia Ortofrutta announces the return of the "Ortofrutta Experience" Open Days, an initiative that this year expands to 15 stops throughout Italy, many more than the first edition. An unmissable opportunity to deepen knowledge of the organized fruit and vegetable sector. read more

The beginning of the Dutch Asian vegetable growing season has arrived at the perfect time this year for Asian Crop, located in Velden, Limburg. The cultivation and trading company typically obtains its Asian leafy vegetables in winter from Spain, where they are cultivated near Valencia. However, this year,... read more

The apple and pear contact group, consisting of producers, marketers, sector representatives, and government officials from France, Italy, and Spain, will convene on April 2 and 3 in Avignon, France. The group will discuss the progress of the season and analyze the market in France, Italy, and Spain. read more

Tympaki and Messara, located on the southern coast of Crete, are the two oldest melon-growing regions in Greece. Typically, these regions see the first melon harvests in April. However, this year has been different. "The weather conditions were a bit colder than usual and unfavorable." read more

Holland: Retail turnover up by nearly 2% in February

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that retail turnover was 1.6% higher in February 2025 than in February 2024. Turnover in shops selling food, beverages, and tobacco was up by 1.5% in February year on year. Sales volume was 3.6% lower. read more

Rijk Zwaan has announced that Austrian consumers can now enjoy organically grown Tatayoyo snack peppers year-round. read more

Foodiverse and Taylor Farms have acquired two German ready-to-eat salad manufacturing plants from Bonduelle. In this deal, Foodiverse will be responsible for overseeing all operations of the combined businesses. read more

The Flemish Bee Institute (VBI) conducted a brief survey to provide an immediate insight into the percentage of honey bee colony losses during the past winter, broken down by region (province/municipality). There is also a more comprehensive survey conducted by the international organization. read more

Spreafico Francesco & F.lli, a leader in the fruit and vegetable sector for over 65 years, announces the launch of the Avocado Academy, an innovative training program dedicated to the avocado supply chain. The initiative aims to deepen and spread knowledge about one of the read more

The first Swiss harvest of heated asparagus took place at the end of week 12, which is approximately consistent with the timing of last year. "We currently have a slightly greater quantity available at the beginning of the season compared to last year," says Fabian Kummer from Schmitterhof in northeastern Switzerland, where approximately four hectares of asparagus are grown. read more

HAK Fresh has gained popularity in the Netherlands after acquiring vanRijsingenfreshservice's operations. The company has been involved in the freshly cut vegetables sector for the food industry and food service for a long time. They have expanded their offerings by including fresh, grilled, and roasted vegetables. read more

"Over the past three to four weeks, the pear market has completely turned around," says Christophe Van Haelst of VHM Fruit Trade. "After Berlin, stock figures were released showing that there was 1 percent less volume in the Netherlands than last year. That's a positive sign in itself, but..." read more

On Wednesday, March 26th in Warsaw, a summary of the project "Time for sustainable fruit production" took place. It was a three-year informational and educational project carried out in Poland, Germany, and Austria by the Fruit Growers' Association.

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Recent frost events have had a significant impact on Serbia's fruit sector, especially apricots, with damage reaching up to 95% in certain regions, according to Zoran Keserovic, a professor at the Novi Sad Faculty of Agriculture. The warm weather earlier in the year accelerated the development of reproductive organs. read more

Greek exporters are expressing worries about a proposed law in Bulgaria that mandates at least 50% of products in stores to be of Bulgarian origin. This law is intended to lower consumer prices by 20%, but it may contradict the European Union's principle of free movement of goods among the EU-27. read more

The agriculture network of the Netherlands Embassy in India organized a Stakeholder Consultation to validate the initial findings of their research on royalty payments and breeders' rights in the Indian floriculture sector. The consultation was held on March 21st at KF Bioplants' facility in Pune. read more

In 2025, the area dedicated to early and extra early potatoes in Spain increased by almost 4% to over 17,700 hectares, as reported by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA). The area specifically reserved for extra-early varieties saw a 4.5% increase, rising from 2,117 hectares in 2024. read more

Euroflora 2025 is an event where traditional floral displays intersect with cutting-edge technological advancements, designed specifically for the horticultural industry. This year's exhibition showcases significant innovations, such as a collaboration with Franco Malerba, Italy's first astronaut, who read more

The hazelnut industry in Ukraine is experiencing substantial growth, with the country expected to produce 14,000-15,000 tons of hazelnuts by 2030. This forecast is provided by the Ukrainian Nut Association, which conducted an analysis of current orchards to make the projection. Additionally, domestic consumption of... read more

The table top strawberry plants designed and manufactured by Combimetal Carrera are under the spotlight. The Italian company is based in Policoro, in the province of Matera, in the Basilicata region, and specializes in manufacturing greenhouse structures. Demetrio Nicodemo, the production read more