Richard Scheffers has been a pot plant grower for 43 years. Since 1998, he and his company Richplant have been operating out of Naaldwijk, the Netherlands, where they cultivate twenty different types of green and flowering houseplants. It's a challenging task, but he finds the variety rewarding – both for the industry and his own personal fulfillment. read more

According to a statement from Zhanjiang Customs, companies under Zhanjiang Customs in Guangdong province, South China, have for the first time this year exported lychee to Belarus and Qatar, expanding the city's lychee export destinations. As of July, Zhanjiang Customs had supervised this process. read more

The most recent episode of Fruitnet's discussion series Fruitbox was recorded live at Prognosfruit 2025 in Angers, France. Philippe Binard and Daniel Sauvaitre from the World Apple & Pear Association presented this year's annual forecasts for European apple and pear production. read more

The most recent episode of Fruitnet's discussion series Fruitbox was recorded live at Prognosfruit 2025 in Angers, France. Daniel Sauvaitre and Philippe Binard from the World Apple & Pear Association presented this year's European apple and pear production forecasts. read more

The decline is therefore associated with the increasing age of business owners and the difficult search for successors, with this challenge varying greatly depending on the sector. In 2023, the last year for which data is available, the sector employed 43,595 people. read more

Peru was the leading exporter with a share of 31% of the total amount, followed by Chile, Spain, and Morocco each with 8%, and the USA with 7%. read more

One million tonnes of blueberries worth US$6.733bn were exported globally last year according to research from the Peruvian consultancy Fluctuante. Peru was the leading exporter with a 31 percent share of the total, followed by Chile, Spain, and Morocco, each with 8 percent, and the US with 7 percent. read more

In 2024, more than 86 million kilograms of strawberries were harvested in the Netherlands, double the volume of 2010, according to figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The increase is mainly due to higher production from greenhouses and polytunnels, while the total cultivation area for strawberries has also expanded. read more

The strawberry season in Latvia is coming to an end, and it has been a challenging one for farmers due to excessive moisture negatively impacting the harvest. Meanwhile, the market is saturated with raspberries and other berries, putting pressure on producers. A significant issue faced by farmers is the shortage of labor, as many pickers have. read more

The first full papaya season for Aztec Fruits will begin next week. The Mexican exporter group, which has a sales office in Leuven, Belgium, specializes in avocados, mangoes, limes, and papayas, and sees strong potential for the fruit in the European market. "We have planted a variety that is read more

If you mention any South African or South American grower with a sales office in the Netherlands, chances are they are supported by RAAD International from Ridderkerk. John van Wijk has been helping entrepreneurs establish business structures with a focus on the long term for over 35 years. read more

The Ukrainian potato sector is looking for updated information on production, processing, and consumption in order to guide industry development and enhance cooperation with European partners. The Ukrainian Association of Potato Producers has reached out to the Office of the Agricultural Counsellor in Ukraine. read more

A lower-than-expected production in Spain, as well as in other European countries, and a significant decline in Turkey due to frosts and hot summer weather this year have resulted in the first part of the stone fruit season in Catalonia and Aragon, as well as in France, seeing remarkably high prices for all fruits. read more

Italy has traditionally been one of the most important peach producers, with Emilia-Romagna in a leading position. However, factors such as the Russian ban, climate change, and rising costs have caused part of this production to be moved to other regions with lower labor costs and better climatic conditions. read more

The strawberry season in Latvia is coming to an end, and it has been a difficult one for growers due to excessive moisture impacting the harvest. At the same time, the market is saturated with raspberries and other berries, putting pressure on producers. One of the main challenges is the shortage of labor, as many pickers have read more

From January to May 2025, Kazakhstan exported 724 tonnes of apricots, which is 1.8 times more than in the same period last year. The entire volume was shipped to Russia. Plum exports increased by 7.5 times to 178 tonnes, also destined for Russia. Peach and nectarine exports grew almost 15-fold, reaching 104.9 tonnes. read more

Latvia's forests cover 3.435 million hectares, which is 53% of the national territory, and produce approximately 11 million cubic meters of wood annually, below the natural growth rate. Seedling production, a crucial step in forest regeneration, takes between 1.5 and 2 years to complete. A new monitoring system is being implemented to track the forest regeneration process. read more

Samskip has launched a new shortsea container route connecting Agadir and Casablanca in Morocco directly with the UK and the Netherlands. The service is targeted at the fresh produce sector, providing an alternative to conventional road transport for Moroccan fruits and vegetables. This is a long-term initiative. read more

T-Bouwsystemen, a specialist in providing commercial spaces for the horticultural sector, has recently relocated from Monster to Maasdijk in the Netherlands. The new, larger site gives the company the space it needs to support its continued growth. For years, the company has focused on delivering... read more

Northern Ireland: A retailer in Coleraine expresses gratitude to shoppers as they commemorate 30 years of their store. Wilkinson's SPAR Mountsandel recently marked three decades in operation, having served the local community since 1995. The celebration included various in-store activities for customers. Paddy Doody, Sales and Marketing Director, read more