Norwegian seaweed company Kelpinor has successfully carried out its first commercial export of a cultivated biostimulant based on Alaria esculenta from Norway. A 50-liter shipment of its kelpAGRI® Alaria product is currently being used in commercial agriculture and vineyards in Germany. read more

The reverse-charge VAT system could provide more effective stabilization for Hungary's fruit and vegetable sector than a VAT reduction, according to Sándor Nagypéter, president and CEO of the producer organization DélKerTész. He believes that measures such as fraud prevention, transparency, and margin structures have a greater structural impact. read more

Spain: Transgourmet Ibérica and Llobet Group open first SPAR supermarket
Transgourmet Ibérica, one of the wholesalers that operates the SPAR brand in Spain, has opened its first SPAR supermarket in Vilanova del Camí, Central Catalonia. This achievement comes after forming a strategic partnership with the local Llobet Group. read more

The weather conditions have caused delays in planting potatoes in early regions like Sicily, Puglia, and Campania in Italy, as well as in certain areas of Greece, Spain, and Portugal, as reported by FreshPlaza. read more

A major nationwide strike is being prepared for Saturday by the labor unions in Greece. The date has been deliberately chosen, as the 28th of February marks the third anniversary of the head-on collision of two trains in the country, which led to the death of 57 people. Last year, the strike and read more

John Kusters describes the first months after becoming chairperson of the Netherlands Fruit Growers Organization (NFO) in July as "challenging, but enjoyable." With his background as a Conference pear grower and cultivation advisor, he sees a gap between policy and practice and wants to better... read more

issued on 27 January through the EU's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). Oxamyl was detected in an imported batch of frozen strawberries from Egypt, prompting a new alert in Poland. Oxamyl is a pesticide banned in the European Union. read more

An increasing recognition of the risks associated with ultra-processed foods is driving the demand for healthy food options and creating a new opportunity for Spanish-grown organic fruits and vegetables in the UK market. However, marketing efforts should focus on promoting the health benefits and delicious taste of these products rather than emphasizing their environmental impact. read more

At a horticultural trade fair in Gorinchem, the Netherlands, Bioline Agrosciences is introducing a new predatory stink bug for biological crop protection. The species, named Podiline and short for Podisus maculiventris, targets various important pests, such as the southern green stink bug. read more

Italy sells more fruit and vegetables abroad, but the economic advantage is decreasing: this is the picture that emerges from the Istat data processed by the Agroter Fruit and Vegetable Monitor for the period January-November 2025. In terms of volume, exports grow by 8%, reaching 3.6... read more

In 2025, Spanish fresh fruit and vegetable exports slowed down in volume but continued to grow in value, as reported by Valenciafruits and various Spanish industry publications. Foreign shipments decreased by 4% compared to 2024, reaching 12 million tons, while the read more

Podravka Agri, a part of Croatia's Podravka food and pharmaceuticals group, is planning to expand its potato production area in 2026 as a result of a cooperation agreement with the domestic chips and snacks producer Kanaan, as reported by FreshPlaza. read more

Uzbekistan and Serbia have signed cooperation agreements with the goal of enhancing trade and promoting horticulture and seed production in Uzbekistan. These agreements were finalized during a business forum in Tashkent as part of a visit by a Serbian delegation. The Ministry of Agriculture in Uzbekistan was involved in the negotiations. read more

The weather conditions have delayed the planting of potatoes in regions like Sicily, Puglia, and Campania in Italy, as well as in some areas of Greece, Spain, and Portugal over the past few weeks and months. Due to this, we might experience a lower yield than usual in the early harvest. read more

Produkcja ogórków szklarniowych w Polsce nadal maleje w obliczu rosnących kosztów pracy i energii. Według Instytutu Ekonomiki Rolnictwa i Gospodarki Żywnościowej (IERiGŻ-PIB), produkcja spadła do 292 000 ton w 2025 roku, w porównaniu z 306 000 ton w 2024 roku, 317 000 ton w 2023 roku i 328 000 ton w 2022 roku. read more

More than one in five children in Italy do not eat fruits and vegetables daily. This is according to the Okkio alla Salute survey (2023), which paints a worrying picture: almost 26% of young children are far from meeting basic nutritional recommendations, while the phenomenon of excess is also prevalent. read more

Remie Dewitte, Commercial Director of the Belgian cooperative REO, stated that 2025 was a challenging year for winter vegetables. "Supply and demand were out of sync," he explained. Both in Belgium and across Europe, production quantities were high, but demand was low. A mild autumn led to decreased consumption, resulting in a challenging situation. read more

The Institute of Flowers in Ireland has announced a new multi-year educational partnership with floral designer Joseph Massie, marking a significant advancement for professional floristry in Ireland. This collaboration aims to offer sustained support, top-tier training, and creative motivation to aspiring florists. read more

Las exportaciones españolas de frutas y verduras frescas disminuyeron un 4 por ciento en volumen en comparación con el año anterior, totalizando 12 millones de toneladas.

Spanish exports of fresh fruit and vegetables decreased by 4 per cent in volume compared to the previous year, totalling 12 million tonnes. read more

Hattersheim, Germany-based Poly-clip System presented its net-pak concept and new Somi net clipper at Fruit Logistica earlier this month. read more