Authorities in the UK have successfully dismantled a drug smuggling operation that concealed £10 million worth of cocaine within banana boxes. The illicit cargo, originating from the Dominican Republic, was intercepted in two separate shipments at Portsmouth International Port on January 20 and 26. read more

As part of Enza Zaden's Leafy & Open Field Discovery Field Days, the seed company held the event 'Creating Value, Sharing Knowledge' in December. A forum where two of the most pressing issues of lettuce growers were addressed under the title 'Creating Value, Sharing Knowledge'.
read more

Sunday 18 February 2024 will see the return of the 21km La Ceiban half-marathon in the city of the same name on the Gulf of Honduras, and Dole Italia, a leader in the production and distribution of premium quality fresh fruit, confirms its valuable support for the race from the Italian territory, tightening
read more

An invasive parasite is hampering banana exports from the Dominican Republic. The banana rust mite, (Eriophyidae), which was observed for the first time in the Caribbean in 2020, causes brown stripes to appear on leaves and lesions on the skin of the fruit. read more

The situation of the lemon and orange supply in the processing industry presents unique challenges and opportunities this year due to global and local market conditions. "For oranges, we are facing a significant worldwide shortage, exacerbated by production losses in the United States and
read more

A first collective agreement has been signed at Lufa Farms in Laval, Canada. The union group that organized the workers, reported that it took three years to draw up this first collective agreement. Drafting a first agreement is often a lengthy process. read more

Since 2006, Canada-based Croptracker has been using artificial intelligence and computerization to assess the size and quality of different produce varieties. Back then, the company’s farm management software system started with spray records and new modules have been added over the years. One
read more

The Canadian Potato Summit, featuring Victoria Stamper's presentation, provided a comprehensive analysis of the potato industry in Canada for the 2023-24 crop year. Stamper's insights covered various critical aspects, offering valuable information for industry professionals. Here's a summary of
read more

Cucumbers growers all over the world are severely affected by diseases like the green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), the New Delhi virus and Fusarium, resulting in problems not only for growers, but also for retailers and consumers. “Cucumber varieties with resistances such as those offered by
read more

Water shortages are proving significantly challenging for the soft fruit sector in the Spanish province of Huelva. "If it doesn't rain substantially soon, things will get really tense," says Jan van Bergeijk, who has been active in Spanish cultivation for over 30 years and is commercially
read more

In the final paragraph of his second market update of the year, Capespan North America President Mark Greenberg reported rumours of what he saw as an unnecessary drop in market pricing come the end of January. “The market is reporting a likely price level of US$26 per box when the market is
read more

In a recent announcement on their Facebook page, LLC "AV LIHT", the foremost official importer of asparagus seedlings in Ukraine, revealed the successful completion of the registration process for three hybrid varieties of asparagus from the University of Guelph in Canada. read more

In 2023, Mexico witnessed a significant downturn in avocado exports, marking the steepest decline in 13 years, according to data from Banxico. Despite a 23.4% increase in export volume reported by the Agricultural Markets Consulting Group (GCMA), the total export value of avocados decreased by
read more

EastFruit reports that according to sources at Moldova Fruct Association, by mid-January 2024, at least 130 thousand tons of apples from last year’s harvest remained in the fruit storage facilities of Moldova. And calculations carried out by specialists from the Association of Fruit and
read more

Carlópolis, situated in the pioneer north of Paraná, stands as the largest producer of table guava in the state. Annually yielding approximately 38 thousand tons of fruit, guava production constitutes a substantial 25% of the municipality's GDP. read more

In 2023, berry exports from Mexico saw a notable growth rate of 4.8%, totaling 2,653 million in value and 295,600 tons in volume, marking a 7.2% increase over 2022. Blueberries are a significant component of Mexico's berry exports, with projections from the United States Department of
read more

The Panama Canal's transit trends have shown a significant decline overall, with a 42% year-on-year decrease in December. However, container shipping is bucking this trend, experiencing a rise in transits as other vessel types divert from the waterway. read more

In 2023, Brazilian banana exports experienced a significant decline in both volume and revenue compared to the previous year. The total volume exported was 56.2 thousand tonnes, representing a 48% decrease, while earnings amounted to US$ 56.2 million (FOB), marking a 50% decline. read more

“Valentine’s Day can’t come fast enough.” So says David Nelley of The Fresh Connection about the outlook on the strawberry market which is starting to improve. read more

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has expressed ”profound concerns” over the escalating disruptions in global trade. read more