Post Archive

An Indian-German partnership that connects smallholder grape farmers with Europe has seriously gathered pace this year. As German fruit supplier Don Limón heads towards the latter stages of its grape export campaign, tonnage has significantly increased compared with the first harvests last year. "This year we have expanded our volume up to 32 containers as […]

Farmers in the Western Cape are getting a bird’s-eye view of their fields, thanks to a new industry buzzing through the province’s airways. Legislation to normalize South Africa’s drone operations went into effect in mid-2015, providing a framework for the unmanned aircraft industry to get off the ground. Cape Town’s UAV Industries serves as the […]

New Zealand kiwifruit distributor Zespri has implemented a precautionary hold on fruit potentially compromised at a Chinese packing house, the company confirmed. Senior communications adviser Rachel Lynch emphasized in an email response that none of the lots in questions have left Zespri facilities. “All potentially affected product is on hold in Zespri’s inventory,” Lynch emphasized […]

Naturipe Farms partners, Munger Brothers, LLC and Hortifrut S.A. announced a merger today that establishes a global berry network, reaching across the Pacific coast and beyond. The new subsidiary of Hortifrut S.A., Munger-Hortifrut North America, Inc., brings together operations in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Europe, Africa and Asia. Munger-Hortifrut North America, […]

Researchers extolled raspberries for their health benefits this week at the 2016 Experimental Biology Conference in San Diego, California. Six animal-based studies, all conducted in at U.S. universities, were presented at the conference, taking place April 2-6, providing a glimpse into the world of raspberry health research, said said Tom Krugman, executive director of the […]

The United States Department of Agriculture announced a new produce certification program this week, aimed at meeting the retail needs of small and mid-sized operations. Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator Elanor Starmer said the alternative program, GroupGAP, seeks to address the high costs associated with GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certification. "GroupGAP allows these farmers to demonstrate […]

A wild cucumber with a crocodile-like skin and based on an ancient Asian variety is making a comeback across Europe.

While Peru saw a slight drop in 2015 mandarin production, exports were still able to increase by a modest 2%. ProCitrus President Sergio del Castillo attributed the increase to a switch off between volume and quality. “Because there wasn’t as much weight on the trees, there was less fruit to discard during packing,” del Castillo […]

While Chilean cherry exporters have found a strong market in China, the future of the industry may depend on an even more demanding destination: the United States. China today represents an attractive market for Chilean cherries, with major holidays such as Chinese New Year falling during Chile’s peak production. As Chilean orchards expand, however, exporter […]

Watermelons out of Sonora, Mexico could support a 52-week supply program for fresh produce supplier Giumarra. The group’s Nogales, Arizona division hosted Bob Morrissey, executive director of the National Watermelon Association, Inc., in Mexico recently in an effort to demonstrate the work of Sonora-based watermelon partner, Videxport. “Videxport represents a major investment in the land […]