Last Friday, two editions of the FreshPlaza.com newsletter were not sent to all the subscribers, due to an IT issue. The issue has since been resolved, but we'd not want you to miss out on these newsletters entirely. Below you'll find the links to the North American and European newsletters of
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Avocado laborers from a Uruapan-based plant in Michoacán have lodged a labor rights complaint with the United States government against RV Fresh Foods. The National Central Confederation (Cocena), a labor group representing approximately 400 workers, has accused the company of violating
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A turbulent start to the year for Julio Iglesias: the Spanish singer had his luggage confiscated when he landed at Punta Cana airport, where he was later detained by the Dominican Republic authorities; read more

Portugal's environmental minister has officially declared a 25% water reduction for agriculture and a 15% reduction for urban usage in the Algarve region due to severe drought conditions. The agricultural sector, particularly in Silves, Lagoa, and Portimão, will be forced to implement the most
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The Belize government is looking to rejuvenate the declining citrus and banana sectors. Recent data from the Statistical Institute of Belize indicates a drop in output for both commodities. Despite this, in November 2021, banana earnings increased to $5.6 million from $4.6 million in 2022, while
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Fruit and vegetable imports from third countries are once again causing indignation in the Valencian agricultural sector due to the risk of new pests and diseases entering the region. The European Commission (EC) has announced the interception of three shipments of fruit and vegetable imports from third countries last December.
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China takes the lead as the world's largest producer of walnuts in shells, with an impressive annual output exceeding 705.8 thousand tons. The United States secures the second position, contributing over 405 thousand tons annually. Iran completes the top three, with an annual production
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Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted supplies along a crucial global trade route, prompting businesses to rethink their logistics. The situation has been exacerbated by a drought impacting Panama Canal shipping and retaliation from a US-led coalition, adding to the region's instability.
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Spar Slovenia has become the first retailer in the country to phase out single-use plastic bags completely from its fruit and vegetable departments. read more

Morocco continued to consolidate its position in the fresh blueberry market in Southeast Asia in 2023, reports EastFruit. Moroccan blueberry exporters not only broke their previous record of shipments to this region, but also expanded the number of countries that import their berries. read more

Supply of the squash calabaza is low right now. “I’d say that supplies of calabaza are less than half. It’s about the weather conditions,” says Alan Goldberg of A&B Tropical Produce, acquired by GrubMarket last month. “The conditions have gotten very dry in Costa Rica so the
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Morocco continued to consolidate its position in the fresh blueberry market in Southeast Asia in 2023, reports EastFruit. Moroccan blueberry exporters not only broke their previous record of shipments to this region, but also expanded the number of countries that import their berries. read more

Although it is not nearly as cold as in Canada or some parts of the US, the state of Florida has been impacted by cooler weather lately. “It has been cool, rainy, and overcast for at least the past month,” says Geoff Taft with Pioneer Growers. “No freeze, but highs in the low 70s and lows
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Pistachios were exported from Turkey to 96 countries in 2023. While $151 million 568 thousand of income was obtained from exports, the country with the most sales was Germany. Pistachios are grown mostly in Sanliurfa and Gaziantep. read more

IFCO, a prominent provider of Reusable Packaging Containers (RPCs), announced today the launch of Dora, a revolutionary reusable plastic pallet across Europe. read more

Pistachios were exported from Turkiye to 96 countries in 2023. While $151 million 568 thousand of income was obtained from exports, the country with the most sales was Germany. read more

The Moldova Fruct Association, citing the customs service of the Republic of Moldova, reports that in December 2023, more than 7.5 thousand tons of fresh apples were exported from the country for a total amount of about US $4.5 million. In November 2023, Moldova exported little more of these
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In December 2023, US container import volume increased by 0.4% from November 2023. The slight aggregate increase masks counter intuitive swings in volume at West, East and Gulf Coast ports. The top East and Gulf Coast ports saw increases, while the top West Coast ports saw decreases. read more

Record cold temperatures continue in British Columbia with warnings for a sizable snowfall being issued across a large part of the province. read more

IFCO has launched a reusable plastic pallet that it claims has the potential to revolutionise the fresh grocery supply chain across Europe. Dora is a strong, stable and sustainable alternative to wooden pallets, suitable for manual and fully-automated processes. read more