Europe

The Hass avocado harvest in the Valencian Community, Spain, is ending earlier than usual this year due to lower yields and hailstorms in some producing areas. Market supply is low, keeping prices high. The next variety to be harvested will be the Lamb. read more

The European Potato Processors' Association has released a new Facts and Figures sheet outlining the scale of the EU potato-processing sector, covering production, employment, cultivated supply, and trade flows. EUPPA represents the potato-processing industry in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy. read more

"Gale-force winds have been blowing since yesterday until today in Aetolia-Acarnania, a key citrus-growing region of Greece, paralyzing local production and causing extensive damage. Mr. Konstantinos Ifantis, owner of the citrus company Ifantis Fruits, describes the situation as follows: "First read more

At IPM Essen in Germany (Hall 2, stand 2D42), Bailey Nurseries will showcase a range of shrubs and hydrangeas that demonstrate a blend of breeding knowledge, market understanding, and hands-on growing experience. The spotlight will be on two new releases: Spring Sizzle® Hydrangea paniculata. read more

The pierwsza przesyłka świeżych owoców z RPA w 2026 roku dotarła do portu w Petersburgu. Ładunek składał się z około 1 800 ton winogron stołowych z nowego zbioru i został dostarczony na rosyjski rynek jako część regularnych importów sezonowych mających na celu zaspokojenie zapotrzebowania zimą. Była to... read more

Compared to other countries active in the international produce sector - such as Spain, France, and the Netherlands in the EU, and then further afield in countries such as South Africa, Chile, Peru, and Turkey - the UK has always been a small-scale exporter of fresh fruits and vegetables. read more

Avocado production is increasing in Lebanon, as reported by Georgette Lahoud, the area manager for the south at the Rene Moawad Foundation. The Foundation, in partnership with the Embassy of the Netherlands, is supporting the Avocado Lebanon Association, the country's promotional body for avocados. read more

From March 18th to 20th, 2026, the seventh edition of the Tulip Trade Event will take place, with nine companies opening their doors to provide visitors from the Netherlands and abroad with a comprehensive overview of developments in the tulip sector in just a few days. The event continues to be popular. read more

On the outskirts of Knezha, a cabbage field is set to remain unharvested, with large volumes expected to be ploughed under. Instead of supplying the domestic market, the producer has decided not to harvest, citing purchase prices that do not cover costs. Plamen Tafradzhiyski, a 35-year-old, is the one behind this decision. read more

Good availability and quality of Tarocco oranges, but demand is not yet strong. Towards the end of the Calabrian clementine season with the first shipments of Spanish Hernandina and Tango varieties. Weak demand for spinach, while artichokes and fennel have been affected by the rains. read more

The 2026 harvest of the protected mandarin variety Nadorcott is already underway in the Iberian Peninsula, in a campaign that has started a little earlier this year and in which the acreage is officially estimated at around 9,200 hectares, mainly in Spain. Due to the weather conditions during the... read more

Belgium: Colruyt to open half an hour earlier

Starting from Monday, February 16, all Colruyt stores and Collect&Go pick-up points in Belgium will open at 8 a.m., which is half an hour earlier than previously. Colruyt claims to be the first discount store to open its doors this early.

Source: retaildetail.eu read more

The Association of Agricultural Workers of the Canary Islands (Atratican) has expressed concerns about the purported importation of fruit from South America into the Canary Islands being falsely labelled as if it were produced in Spain. The association warns that this practice could escalate further. read more

Multicedi continues its growth and development path, confirming itself as one of the main players in the Organized Retail sector in Central and Southern Italy. The group closed 2025 with a turnover of 2.1 billion euros, an increase of +17.5% compared to 2024. read more

Exports of grapes, apples, plums, and cherries from the Republic of Moldova to the European Union can continue under the existing preferential quotas, as these have not been exhausted. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization (MDED) after a technical issue occurred. read more

Bejo is increasing its greenhouse area in the Netherlands due to growing demand for seed production. In Velden, located in the province of Limburg, the company has acquired a greenhouse complex that was previously used by a hydrangea grower. The greenhouse was purchased from Queens Flower. read more

An intense wave of extreme bad weather is hitting the South of Italy and the major islands at the moment, shaping up as a true Mediterranean cyclone, named "Harry". Torrential rains are expected, with locally exceeding 200 millimeters, accompanied by strong winds. read more

Belstat reported that Belarus harvested 3 million tons of potatoes last year, which was a lower volume than in 2024. The weaker harvest in 2024 contributed to a shortage of root vegetables in early 2025. "In 2025, farms of all categories harvested 3 million tons of potatoes," Belstat reported. read more

Bejo is expanding its greenhouse area in the Netherlands in response to increasing demand for seed production. In Velden, in the province of Limburg, the company has acquired a greenhouse complex previously operated by a hydrangea grower. The greenhouse was purchased from Queens Flower. read more

Germany's retail and wholesale sector has been experiencing a significant increase in business insolvencies, with traditional, well-established companies being particularly impacted. According to data from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, the number of corporate bankruptcies has been on the rise. read more