Europe

Despar Italia is participating once again this year in Marca by Bolognafiere & ADM, the leading trade fair event for private label products, now in its 22nd edition. This reaffirms the increasingly central role of the distributor's brand in their development strategy. read more

In 2025, the Tomsk region exported 1,330 tons of pine nuts, with 981 tons sent to China, as reported by the Siberian Interregional Office of Rosselkhoznadzor. The first shipment from Tomsk in 2026 has already reached 23 tons. From January to October 2025, Tomsk was the leading exporter of pine nuts in Russia. read more

Tango Fruit has been awarded the "2026 Flavor of the Year" in Spain and Portugal, the most prestigious accolade in the food industry in both countries. This award is unique as products are judged objectively by end consumers, and its credibility has been established over time. read more

Giant vegetables are not just a hobby or an exhibition curiosity. In the United Kingdom, they have become a unique experiment at the intersection of agronomy, plant breeding, and human perseverance, as reported by EastFruit. The BBC has also shared the story of British vegetable grower Derek Hulme, highlighting the role of giant vegetables in this innovative endeavor. read more

France issued a national decree on 5 January 2026, following a communication from the French Ministry dated 23 December 2025, in which France requested that the European Commission lower maximum residue limits for certain substances and crops, citing potential risks to human health. As no action read more

Analysts from the EastFruit project have reported that this week, the prices for greenhouse cucumbers in Ukraine have increased. read more

Moldovan fruit exporters are experiencing challenges in shipping to the European Union as export quotas for 2026 have not been activated yet, even though the year has already begun. This delay is impacting the export of apples, plums, and grapes, especially to Romania and other EU markets. Victor read more

India's banana exports are experiencing steady annual growth, with a focus on the Middle East, Russia, and Eastern Europe, according to Vivek Karape from SunRaise Farmers, an Indian fruit exporter. The increase in exports is supported by enhanced post-harvest handling, expansion of pack-house facilities, and a growing customer base. read more

Zerbinati, a leading company in Italy in the production of fresh vegetables, salads, and ready-to-eat meals, and a top brand in Italy in the Single-portion segment, is present at the specialized trade fair Marca 2026, the major showcase where products of excellence are exhibited. read more

With 28 main brands, 1,540 exhibitors, 10 pavilions, and an expected 25,000 visitors, MARCA by BolognaFiere & ADM confirms itself as a leading European platform for a sector that surpasses 30 market share points in Fast-Moving Consumer Goods in Italy and aims for a record turnover of 31.5 billion. read more

Well-stocked warehouses: Lidl Austria is immediately reducing the prices of popular potato products. This move aims to alleviate the financial strain on local customers and also support the marketing of the abundant harvest volumes. Lidl Austria exclusively sells potatoes sourced from Austria. read more

Organic fertilizer producer SoilWorx is expanding beyond Ireland to provide farmers and growers in mainland UK with innovative solutions to enhance soil health and sustain yields. read more

DS Smith, a company owned by International Paper and a leading global provider of sustainable and fiber-based packaging solutions, has partnered with the Serele SupeR agricultural cooperative in Romania to replace 10 million plastic packages with circular, recyclable, fiber-based, and FSC-certified corrugated packaging. read more

Andalusia has become one of the main blueberry production hubs in Europe, accounting for around 32 percent of the total produced in the European Union. This positions Spain as the second largest producer in the EU, after Poland, which holds the top spot with a 33.7 percent share. read more

Ceny marchewki w Polsce zaczęły rosnąć na początku grudnia, a trend wzrostowy nadal się utrzymuje, choć od bardzo niskiego punktu wyjścia, informuje FreshPlaza. read more

Indian strawberry propagation is encountering obstacles due to patent protection issues, as breeders are concerned about the limited ability to protect their patented plant varieties in the country. This information was provided by Sankalp Bavlekar of SB Agritech, a company that imports mother strawberry plants from Italy, Spain, and Egypt to provide around 20. read more

DS Smith has partnered with the Romanian agricultural cooperative Serele Super to replace approximately ten million plastic packages used for fresh tomatoes with fiber-based, recyclable corrugated cardboard alternatives. DS Smith's design team examined several single-use plastic packages that were previously utilized. read more

Stockholmsgården is located in Österlen, an area known for onion cultivation in southern Skåne, Sweden. The company is managed by Fredrik Larsson and operates approximately 100 hectares of its own production in addition to collaboration agreements with around 20 local growers. The packing facility has an annual capacity. read more

Nordgemüse was founded almost 100 years ago and has grown into a specialist in blueberry production. As part of Gemüsering, the company supplies high-quality blueberries all year round. Over the past decade, Nordgemüse has grown into one of Germany's largest producers, partly thanks to the. read more

During our visit to Slovakia in October, we visited the Slovberry farm, where they are implementing the EZvent blocked tunnel system with automatic ventilation (Haygrove). We learned about the reasons for this investment, the effects in the first season, and practical aspects of it. read more