The goal is to further reduce the dependency of EU agriculture. The proposal will now need to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council, after which it would immediately come into effect. According to the Commission, the proposed tariffs mainly target specific fertilizers. read more

Throughout the month of January, the challenge that originated in the UK to educate consumers about a vegan lifestyle also took place in Italy. It's called Veganuary and involved some retailers operating in Italy who, in one way or another, have participated. read more

This week, the downward price trends in the onion market in Ukraine have deepened. Analysts from the EastFruit project have noted that despite many farmers holding back on selling onions last week in anticipation of higher wholesale prices, Ukrainian farms have now opted to begin selling. read more

Jak obchodzisz powrót swoich kosta Ricańskich ananasów do Holandii? Ten holenderski importer wybrał kreatywne podejście - ułożył słowo "ananas" z pudełek z ananasami.

How do you celebrate the return of your Costa Rican pineapples to the Netherlands? This Dutch importer chose a creative approach—spelling out the word "pineapple" using boxes of pineapples. read more

During the IPM Essen event, Rise n Shine Biotech reached a significant milestone with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Mr. Erik Bunnik from Erik Bunnik Young Plants in the Netherlands and Dr. Bhagyashree Patil, Chairperson & Managing Director of Rise n Shine Group. This collaboration is centered around a contract. read more

By November 2024, Spain had exported 29,663 tons of fresh fruits and vegetables valued at 84.3 million euros to the United States. This accounted for 0.2% of Spain's total exports, which amounted to 10.9 million tons and 15,852 million euros. The main exports from Spain to the US are garlic, cucumber, and... read more

The evolution of the market in Germany is also positive, as the 3.06 million tons exported in 2024, specifically until November, which is the last month for which official data is available, has represented an 11% growth compared to the same period of the previous year. read more

Traditionally, Romania has not been known for its significant blueberry production, but that is changing. There is a large investment being made in the country, with new varieties being planted that are expected to enter the market in large volumes by 2027. "Most growers have been cultivating the old varieties, but now they are shifting towards newer ones," said an industry expert. read more

Max van Ooijen of the Tolpoort Vegetables Cooperative, the market leader in the Netherlands, reports that the chicory market had an unusual year in 2024. He mentioned that prices were particularly good, with auction prices in Belgium even exceeding €5, which is rare. However, there was a downside: the rain. read more

According to the press service of Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia has observed an increase in the volume of fruits and vegetables imported from Kazakhstan. Cabbage imports have increased by 1.5 times, reaching about 30,000 tons. Tomato imports have increased by 1.2 times, amounting to almost 20,000 tons. Carrot imports have increased by 15%, totaling 15,000 tons. read more

The Dutch company Olympic Fruit has reported an increase in grape sales in the Netherlands over the past year, with a change in demand towards white and black varieties over red and mixed ones, as reported by Fruitnet. read more

Wild imports and climate crisis threaten the records of Made in Italy fruit and vegetable production, making it necessary to implement policies that can ensure reciprocity of rules with foreign countries, strengthen supply chains, and protect crops from disasters. read more

Holland: Ruud van Munster succeeds John van der Ent as CEO of SPAR Holding B.V. SPAR Netherlands announced that Ruud van Munster will become the CEO of SPAR Holdings B.V. starting from May 1, 2025. John van der Ent, who served as CEO of SPAR Netherlands for seven years, resigned from his position for personal reasons on May 1st. read more

The Russian discount retailer Svetofor is continuing its expansion in Greece. After entering the Greek market in 2021 under the Mere brand, which is currently managed by Torg Hellas Ike, the company has recently opened three supermarkets in Thessaloniki, Kalamata, and Amaliada. As of now, the Russian company operates seven such stores in Greece. read more

The Summer Berry Company (TSBC) has entered into a five-year licensing agreement with Advance Berry Breeding (ABB), granting it the rights to cultivate the Malaika (ABB135) and Zawadi (ABB136) raspberry varieties in Portugal and becoming a key member of ABB’s Gold Programme. read more

The Greek fresh produce exports have greatly benefited from the recent inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen Area, which took effect on January 1st. The significant delays that were previously experienced at the border crossings between Greece-Bulgaria and Bulgaria-Romania have now disappeared. read more

Just days before the ninth edition of Myplant, Italy's largest trade fair for green professionals (February 19-21, 2025, Fiera Milano-Rho), the International Green Expo reveals important data about the industry on a global scale. However, these figures do not completely meet the requirements. read more

Holland: Retail turnover up by 1.5% in December

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that retail turnover was 1.5% higher in December 2024 than it was in December 2023. Turnover in supermarkets was down by 5.7%, while turnover in specialty shops was up by 5.6%.

Source: cbs.nl read more

Avocados are becoming increasingly popular across Europe, however the growth varies from country to country. Spain is leading in household avocado consumption, buying the highest amount of avocados each year. On the other hand, Italy is an emerging market that is expanding annually. Italy offers numerous opportunities for avocado producers. read more

The Candy Berries line, the leading brand of Gentile Group, has been available on markets across Italy for over a month now. The wide production and sales catalog includes raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and currants grown in southern Italy, capable of satisfying a significant portion of the market. read more