UK supports Zimbabwean horti exports like blueberries and peas

According to Minister for Africa Andrew Mitchell, industry players in the United Kingdom are keen to support Zimbabwean exports of horticultural products like blueberries and…

July 2023 saw drop in US fruit and berry imports

In July 2023, the amount of fruits and berries imported into the United States shrank dramatically to 915K tons, falling by -15.2% against the previous month. In general,…

Peaches no longer top Georgia's crop

Georgia might be widely known as the Peach State, but blueberries have slowly risen to become the state’s top fruit crop. The blueberry industry in Georgia now accounts for…

Far North grower forced to diversify crops due to strawberry shortage

Far North strawberry grower Kaikohe Berries is a joint venture between the two commercial arms of Te Rūnanga-ā-iwi o Ngāpuhi and the Far North District Council, with 12…

Bayer expands its fruit and vegetables business to strawberries

Bayer today announced the expansion of its leading Fruits and Vegetables business to strawberries. With the acquisition of the strawberry assets of UK-based NIAB, Bayer will expand its focus on professional protected culture growers to meet the growing consumer and retail demand for year-round,…

“Extra-large, very firm and crunchy blueberries preferred in China”

One of the reasons why Sekoya blueberries in China are so popular and often receive higher prices are due to their big size, great flavour next to a shelf life of between 45 to 60 days. This is according to Hans Liekens, value chain and retail manager of Sekoya, who had his hands full at the recent Asia…

Massachusetts cranberry growers look to tech solutions for climate concerns

Cranberry harvest is beginning in Massachusetts on a crop that looks to be average to good-sized. “As we get further along into harvest, the question is: how is it going to come together?” says Brian Wick, executive director of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association (CCCGA), adding that harvest…

"The future of the Peruvian blueberry is in Asia"

According to Luis Miguel Vegas, the general manager of the Association of Blueberry Producers of Peru (Proarándanos), this will be a very difficult year for the production and…

“Wild blueberries contain twice as many antioxidants as cultivated blueberries”

Wild blueberries are native to Quebec and the Maritime provinces in Canada, but they also grow in the state Maine in the US. “We don’t have to plant the bushes, they just appear in this unique soil type,” says Jean-Pierre Senneville, President/CEO of Quebec Wild Blueberries. In Quebec, the wild…

Raspberry grower predicts biggest season yet out of Central Mexico

It's the peak season for Naturipe Farms' proprietary raspberry varieties out of the Central Mexico growing region. This fall, the company is projected to have the strongest season on record for promotional volumes of its raspberries. The 2023-24 season will mark another year of exponential growth for the…

Peru's blueberry exports have decreased by 50% so far this season

According to information from Fresh Fruit, so far this season, Peru's blueberry exports have contracted by 50% over the same date last year, totaling 40,527 tons. "There have…

USDA analysis of US blueberry and strawberry markets emphasizes import pressures

Demand for blueberries and strawberries in the US has increased in recent years, and so has fierce competition to the domestic market. A new report from USDA’s Economic…

“Blueberry market is hot with high prices in China right now”

Blueberry prices in China are considered “hot on the market right now” due to lower and delayed volumes coming from the world leaders in the exports of this fruit, namely Peru. This is according Yanitza Curonisy, business manager of China operations for the Peruvian grower and exporter Agrovision. She…

EastFruit

Ukraine is determined to become a global leader in frozen raspberry exports

According to EastFruit analysts, Ukraine has recently taken a huge step towards becoming the world leader in exports of frozen raspberries, which is amazing as it is happening despite the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Over the past five seasons, the volume of frozen raspberry exports from Ukraine has…

India to reduce tariffs on more products from the US

India is taking further action to reduce tariffs on a variety of American goods. The action comes as a resolution to several disputes at the World Trade Organization.…

New machines allow Portuguese blueberry producer to open second revenue stream

In just five years since its start-up, Logofruits has become the largest blueberry producer in Portugal and one of the largest in Europe. As well as growing and packing fruit for well-known supermarket chains in northern Europe and Spain, Logofruits also provides packing services for wholesalers from…

Tight blueberry supplies give strawberry demand a boost

Supplies of strawberries out of California are sufficient for this time of season. “However, the demand for berries is really good still,” says Jim Grabowski of Well Pict. He notes that strawberry supplies do look comparable to this time last year. Right now, berries are coming from Watsonville-Salinas as…

Peru's Matías blueberries reach the Indian market

The Inka's Berries company announced that it has managed to export blueberries of the Matias variety to the Indian market for the first time. "This new destination marks a…

Move aside blueberry, there’s a new competitor fruit lurking

The superfruit of blueberries has new competition – AlgaBerry and JadeBerry - which is essentially neutral-tasting algae specially grown in a tank. This together with the veggie caviar produced from these berries, are the new inventions of Dr. Fan Lu, a Chinese national living in the U.S. He is the CEO…

Advanced techniques lead to blackberries that are larger and sweeter

Current cultivation techniques ensure that British blackberries are available from April until November, enjoying a 36-week season. The UK berry industry is now worth £1.7…

There will be smaller quantities of Italian strawberries this Christmas

There are a number of farms in southern Italy that have made the drastic decision to eliminate early September potted strawberry transplants from their production program. Loris Gentile, CEO of the Gentile Group and president of Fruplant Lab Italia, talks about this and expects a very low volume of…

“The market should be flooded with blueberries right now and, instead, there is a significant shortage”

"There is a shortage of blueberries in the market. So far this season, Peru's exports are said to have fallen by almost 40% because temperatures in some parts of the country have been higher than normal, and we cannot forget that Peruvian blueberries are the ones supplying the main markets in the world.…

Broad participation of Moroccan producers and businessmen at XXVIII International Blueberry Seminar

A broad participation of Moroccan producers and businessmen and numerous international assistance, in an atmosphere of fraternity and respect, has been the characteristic of the XXVIII International Blueberry Seminar which is carried out in the premises of the Hotel Les Dunes d'Or Center De Congrès, in…

Large pack sizes contribute to blueberry shortage in US market

The domestic blueberry season is rapidly coming to a close. The Pacific Northwest is in its last shipping week and Michigan has about two more weeks left to the season. “From both regions, volumes are very, very light,” says Evan Pence with Always Fresh Farms. With the domestic season ending, the…

EW Group to acquire Spanish berry breeder Planasa

EW Group, a German-based strategic family Holding, has signed an agreement for the takeover of Planasa Group from international private equity firm Cinven and the Spanish…

How strawberries and blueberries have evolved

Fruits are vital to consumer diets and are an important part of the U.S. agricultural industry. Two berries—strawberries and blueberries—are among the most important fruits.…

The Lebanese fresh produce sector will be in the spotlight in the coming weeks

Last September, Piet Schotel of the Center for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) and Fresh Publishers manager, Pieter Boekhout, took a work trip to Moldova. They visited some 15 fruit growers in this small European country, wedged between Ukraine and Romania. You can read all about…

Ica's blueberry export campaign has officially started

With the aim of exporting more than 16,578 tons of horticultural products, producers from the region of Ica, in strategic alliance with Senasa, have officially kicked off the…

Oishii teams up with craft brewery to make strawberry beer

If you're a fan of designer berries and fancy brews, there's a buzzy collaboration on the horizon that'll whet your appetite. Oishii, the berry brand famous for its vertically-farmed, $6 strawberries, has teamed up with Grimm, an artisanal brewery in Brooklyn, New York, to make a beer that tastes of the…

Grower-shipper details year-round strawberry volumes

An autumn of strawberries is ahead for California Giant Berry Farms as the company forecasts strong volumes of its cornerstone product out of the Santa Maria growing region. The berry purveyor’s high yields come following a challenging year of suboptimal weather—but despite this, the company is on track…

Ukrainian farmer exports blueberries directly to leading supermarkets in Germany, Spain and Luxembourg

According to EastFruit, Ukrainian growers of fresh fruits and berries continue to expand to the most demanding world markets in extremely difficult conditions of the Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, Everyone in the fresh produce business understands how difficult it is to get onto the…

Cranberry Marketing Committee announces 2023 U.S. cranberry crop estimate

At its annual summer meeting August 14, 2023, the Cranberry Marketing Committee (CMC) completed its biannual exercise of estimating the next U.S. cranberry crop production…

Good prices for Peruvian blueberries in China

The early lower and delayed volumes of Peruvian blueberries is not all bad news as prices in the China market are trending higher. Following last week’s Asia Fruit Logistica, Alejandro Sanhueza, Director of blueberry sales and operational planning for Agrovision Peru, could visit markets and see prices…

Profitability is a global great challenge for blueberry producers

Recent larger blueberry production volumes have caused price drops, and consumer demands are high. These are some of the factors that impact the profitability of blueberry…

Surprise in Georgian blueberry market

Analysts at EastFruit have recently summarised the 2023 season of Georgian blueberries. Usually, the season lasts only two months, June and July. However, the official trade…

Moroccan soft fruit, a season to demonstrate resilience

As the next season of Moroccan soft fruit unfolds, it turns out that the landscape of red berry production is undergoing significant shifts, influenced by both environmental and market-driven factors. With Nabil Babache, of the Larache-based exporter Rika, we dive into the current dynamics of red berry…

P.E.I. wild blueberry farmers are harvesting feverishly in face of uncertain prices

A rainy August is pushing wild blueberry farmers on Prince Edward Island into a race to harvest crops before frost bites in September. “Yields have been mediocre to poor,”…

The Peach State might become known as the Blueberry State

Although Georgia has long been referred to as the Peach State, this fruit isn’t counted among the state’s top 10 commodities anymore. However, blueberries join that list. UGA…

Shipments of kiwi berries less than two weeks away

The upcoming kiwi berry season, introduced as part of the merger between Homegrown Organic Farms and HBF International, is seeing preparations for harvest. About the size of a plump grape with edible skin, kiwi berries pack a punch of flavor. "Kiwi berries are one of the most exciting new fruits to come into…

Freshuelva calls for "real solutions" to the problems affecting the berry sector

Freshuelva, the association of strawberry producers and exporters of Huelva, has taken part in a protest by Spanish growers in Córdoba to demand a change in European…

Weather conditions in Morocco will shape the Egyptian blueberry season

Egyptian blueberry growers are cautiously increasing their acreage while keeping an eye on the situation in Morocco. If the industry hardships on the Moroccan side persist, as was the case last year, it will be a great opportunity for Egypt. Companies like Fayed Agricultural Development Company (FATA) are…

"The experience acquired in our own land allowed us to become specialists in greenhouses for berries"

Based in the province of Huelva, Spain's main strawberry production area, the company Técnicas Sanjorge has been devoted to the supply of agricultural material since the mid-1980s, managing to grow along with a sector that has positioned itself as a leader in the production of berries in Europe. The firm…

Namibia Berries to invest heavily in blueberry production

Namibia Berries, a subsidiary of the South African venture capital company Loxworth Capital, plans to invest 1.5 billion Namibian dollars (US$80.2 million) over the next seven…

Huelva already accounts for 97% of Spain's strawberry production

According to the data from the Institute of Statistics and Cartography of Andalusia, 97% of the nearly 350,000 tons of strawberries that were grown in Spain in 2023 were…

Blueberry harvest in the interior of São Paulo underway

In Reginópolis, in the center-west of São Paulo, the biloxi blueberry is successfully cultivated. Today, it is possible to find the biloxi blueberry everywhere, a variety that…

In Georgia, the state is investing in cold storage facilities for berry crops

According to the decision adopted at the meeting of the Government of Georgia, the state program “Co-financing of refrigerated warehouses for storage of berry crops for…

EastFruit

Morocco becomes top blueberry exporter to UAE

Morocco keeps expanding its presence in the global blueberry market, with the United Arab Emirates as one of the most rapidly growing directions, reports EastFruit. In the MY 2022/23 (July-June) Morocco headed the list of the blueberry suppliers to the UAE, having outstripped South Africa. It is worth mentioning…

"I expect the blueberry shortage to continue at least until mid/late October"

While the Peruvian blueberry season in recent years was dominated by successive growth, this year the cards have been dealt differently. After last spring's floods, El Nino now caused temperatures to rise by an average of 4-5 degrees and the season has slowed down extremely. "After years in a row during…

Increased Israeli interest in berries from Tanzania

According to Michael Lotem, the new Israeli ambassador to Tanzania, berries from this country could soon appear on Israeli shelves. He urged TAHA to work together with his…

Shocking prices of raspberries in Ukraine

The Ukrainian raspberry market this week is seriously outraged by the procurement prices of raspberries for freezing, advertised at a price of 12 UAH/kg, which is equivalent…

Late summer sees lower supplies of both blueberries and blackberries

Supply is tight right now on both blueberries and blackberries. On blueberries, the industry supply as of last week is significantly below this time last year. “The volume has dropped out of the Pacific Northwest and Michigan and the volume out of Peru is very light,” says Alan Ediger, VP of Sales for…

"The Asian markets are very diverse so we have created a tailored marketing strategy that considers local cultures"

Scottish soft fruit grower Angus Soft Fruits is already present in the Asian markets as well as in the Middle East, the company will be back at Asia Fruit Logisitca this year again promoting their strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. "Strawberries are the most popular berries and we will be…

1147 tons of sub-quarantine products were exported to Kemerovo region from Kyrgyzstan

During the first seven months of 2023, the officials of the Rosselkhoznadzor in the Kemerovo region, also known as Kuzbass, inspected 8176.9 tons of berries and vegetables.…

Eurostat

Spain’s yields of summer related fruits down -6.3% in 2022

In 2022, the EU’s combined harvested production of muskmelons, watermelons, strawberries, peaches and nectarines was 8.6 million tons, representing a decrease of 6.3% on the level in 2021 (9.2 million tons). This downturn was due to the lower harvested production of muskmelons (-9.5% in 2022) and…

Blueberry grower creates youth employment in South Africa

Playing their part in alleviating the youth unemployment crisis in South Africa, United Exports is creating valuable work experience for talented youth over the next year. United Exports is a global precision agri-company specialising in the class-leading OZblu® blueberries and has a large production and…

Steep drop in Peruvian blueberry exports to China

Peru’s blueberry exports to China during the ongoing campaign have fallen significantly compared to the same period last year, Fructidor informs. The 2023/2024 export season…

"Bigger strawberries here to stay"

A decade ago, the average strawberry sold would be the size of a pound coin. Now, it is the size of a golf ball. Asked why he believed people wanted bigger ones, S&A Produce…

Fruitful AI tool comes to market after £2.8 mln backing

A new digital forecasting tool to maximize planning and profitability for soft fruit growers has secured a £2.8 mln investment. FruitCast, which has been trialed on leading…

“If Peru's blueberries can come to the 2021 numbers we will be OK”

As the current hotter than usual weather, caused by the El Niño phenomenon, is impacting and lowering Peru’s 2023/24 blueberry harvest, producers and the industry body Proarandanos have cautioned they will likely not see the record numbers this season. Photo: Luis Miguel. Blueberries being sold on a…

The successful experience of the Ukrainian farm in raspberry cultivation and export

For six consecutive seasons, the agricultural enterprise "Dibrivka Agroservice" has been cultivating organic raspberries on a 30-hectare land in the Kyiv region of Ukraine.…

Berry grower-shipper raises over $19,000 at 17th annual BBQ fundraiser

California Giant Berry Farms shared details from its successful Skirt Steak BBQ fundraising event which resulted in over $19,000.00 raised for the California Giant Foundation, the company’s 501(c)3 non-profit that distributes funds to organizations making a positive change in health and wellness for…

EastFruit

Morocco heads the list of largest exporters of fresh raspberries to UK

Moroccan exporters have recently raised their raspberry exports to the UK market sharply, reports EastFruit. The exports of fresh raspberries from Morocco to the UK have grown 40 times over just three past years and reached 15,800 tonnes in the MY 2022/23 (July-June). Those volumes have brought the…

Egyptian fresh strawberry exports to Southeast Asia reach record high

Egypt has again set a record in exports of fresh strawberries to Southeast Asian countries in the current MY 2022/23, reports EastFruit. The Egyptian exports to this region…

British Berry Growers announce the start of the UK blueberry season

British Berry Growers has announced the start of the blueberry season. Although the wettest July in more than a decade was a major concern for the growers, pollination plans…

"Well-balanced red currant market"

By now, Dutch red currant growers have just about finished harvesting for storage. "Kilos were generally slightly lower than last year, but the addition of young plots could make up for that," says Marcel van Lith of The Greenery. "The older plots are losing more and more plants. Before, the Rovada variety…

Early and prolonged heatwaves this spring shortened and strengthened berry crops

This spring’s early and prolonged heatwaves have both shortened and strengthened this year’s berry crops in British Columbia. One of the many farms in B.C. that has seen their…

'Bilateral cooperation was a positive for Georgia's hazelnut and soft fruit sectors'

United States Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has completed her diplomatic term in the country and last week, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili had a farewell…

Ontario blueberries thrive in rainy season

Ontario is in the midst of a good crop of blueberries this season. “We have a really nice crop here and other growers around the province are finding the same,” says Morris Gervais of Barrie Hill Farms in Springwater, Ontario. “Really harsh winters can be hard on the crop but it was a relatively mild…

Arkansas blackberry breeder will develop new tools to unlock consumer preference

Despite leaps in Arkansas blackberry breeding over the past few decades, there is still room for advancement. As the principal investigator for a new U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, Margaret Worthington, associate professor of fruit breeding and genetics for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment…

Strong early run on South African blueberries

Less than two years elapsed between South African pears and now avocados gaining access to China, pleasantly surprising the fruit industry, accustomed to waiting many years between such announcements.“We’re incredibly pleased at the speed with which the avocado application was finalised – progress was…

Peru sees 28% drop in blueberry exports to China

Although shipments of fresh blueberries from Peru to China have been increasing, the total volume of exports is still well below the level of the same period last year. As of…

As of today, El Niño has cut blueberry exports from Peru to China in half

Peru is facing a difficult blueberry season as a result of El Niño. The climate pattern impacts production volumes and makes it difficult to project a production peak at this stage. “As of today, total blueberry volumes from Peru are approximately 40 percent down compared to the same quarter last year,”…

Chilean fruit industry claims that rain damage is once again alarming

Faced with the frontal system that is plaguing the country -heavily affecting O'Higgins and Bío Bío- the president Gabriel boric decreed a State of Catastrophe for those…

Strawberry price drops back to 'normal'

After a slight price rise in recent weeks for tomatoes, that of loose tomatoes stagnated at the VBT last week, while vine tomatoes showed a slight price drop. Over 81 euro…

Räss Wildbeeren AG

"There has been a consolidation and professionalization of the organic berry market"

About three years ago, the management of Räss Wildbeeren AG decided to comprehensively restructure the organic fruit growing operation. Both the cultivation of the three main crops strawberries, raspberries and blueberries as well as the fruit processing on the own farm were increased, without losing…

Strong Tasmanian contingent headed for Asia

There will be a strong Tasmanian contingent at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong this year. Fruit Growers Tasmania which represents the interests of pome fruit, stone fruit,…

Peru's blueberry shipments have decreased by 25% so far in the 2023-2024 campaign

According to Proarándanos, until the last week of July, Peru's blueberry exports decreased by 25% over the same date of the previous season, to 10,000 tons. According to Luis…

Postharvest handling vital for new stage of the Moroccan blueberry industry

Morocco is already positioned as the fourth largest exporter of fresh blueberries in the world. Experts are sure it is an industry that will continue to grow. Currently, it is…

Innovate UK-funded research project aiming to boost strawberry plant yield

Vertical Future was appointed as the lead organization on a DEFRA-funded research project through Innovate UK, aiming to optimize the propagation environment of strawberry plants in indoor vertical farms while maximizing yield potential to reduce the UK's reliance on imported produce. "Strawberries have…

"I started my fruit export business from Peru as a 20 year old"

A young entrepreneur, Manuel Canales (27) with his own export company Peru Mc Fruits has, for the past three years, sent blueberries, grown 300 meter above sea level from the city of Huaral (known as the "Capital of agriculture" in Peru) to world markets. China is his main market with Europe and the US…

Less fruit loss and higher diameter of blueberries thanks to improved irrigation

A Mexican greenhouse was able to overcome its irrigation problems, resulting in less fruit loss and a higher diameter of blueberries, thanks to their newly installed Trutina greenhouse monitoring system. The 300-ha farm in Jalisco grows blueberries and strawberries. Problems with the crop and irrigationEven…

Massachusetts cranberry growers forecast solid harvest despite weather problems

Despite a frosty spring and a very wet July, cranberry growers in Massachusetts are still expecting a solid crop this fall. The Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association, which…

Despite adverse climate and rising production costs, strawberry acreage remains stable in Egypt

Egyptian strawberry growers are gearing up for the coming season with high spirits and the hope of reviving the sector after a difficult season. Elsayed Elgohary, an Egyptian strawberry grower, said: "We are continuing to resist the climatic problems and soaring production costs. Temperatures are harsh,…

"I’m getting faster, more accurate information and that is saving me time"

African Blue is one of the largest producers of blueberries in Morocco. Its majority owner is Costa Group, Australian grower and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables. African Blue is a supplier of premium blueberries for European markets, with farms in the Moulay Bousselham, Larache and Agadir regions…

"Despite challenges such as dry spells and heavy rains in the Balkans, harvest volumes are satisfactory"

With annual production volumes of up to 500,000 tons, damson production plays an important role in Serbia. Among the diverse varieties, Cacak's Early, Cacak's Beautiful (also known as Lepotica) and Stanley stand out as the most widely grown. We spoke with Anneliese Vollweiler, managing director of Anevo…

"Due to the weaker economy: not an overly successful, but reasonable business year"

The strawberry season is coming to an end with big steps, especially since food retailers are gradually taking the product out of their assortment, as Jan Hövelkamp from Polfrucht AG at the Berlin wholesale market tells us. Tunnel goods until September"We receive the strawberries from Lower Saxony, which…

"Crop coming nicely into production, didn't suffer from bad weather"

Little to no availability, resulting in high prices, recently typified the European strawberry market. The summer sun did not show much of itself, and bad weather made open-field cultivation especially difficult. Greenhouse growers are less affected, although even there, given the weather extremes,…

Wisconsin cranberry crop might reach nearly 5 million barrels this year

Wisconsin’s cranberry harvest typically begins in late September and runs until mid-October. The states’ growers are expecting a 4.97 million barrel crop in 2023, based on US…

Horticulture confirmed as big contributor to Coffs regional economy

Horticulture production in the Coffs region is worth more than $441 million at farm gate and is set to reach $522 million by 2030, according to a recently released report from…

IQB varieties showcased in Trujillo, at this year’s IQ Berries Field Day

This year’s IQ Berries Field Day, held by Osiris Plant Management in early August in Trujillo, Peru, began very early. Participants were able to visit Danper Trujillo's field…

Landgard eG

"Retailers have a strong focus on German soft fruit"

After the first weeks of the outdoor harvest for raspberries, blackberries and currants, the Landgard producer cooperative draws an overall positive interim conclusion on the 2023 soft fruit season. "The qualities and quantities of raspberries are extremely good. We are also satisfied overall with the…

Washington State is No 1 blueberry producer globally

According to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, the state is the top blueberry producer in the world. Farmers in Washington, the nation’s top blueberry-producing…

Agri trade surplus Mexico up 8% in first half of year

Mexico registered an agri-food trade surplus of US $5.3 billion in the first six months of 2023. The surplus was led by exports of avocados, tomatoes and berries. The nation…

New varieties change the profile of Brazilian strawberry production

The planting of strawberries in the south of Minas is going through significant changes this year with the introduction of new varieties of the plant. This factor, together…

Berries post-harvest masterclass to take place in September

According to Paula Del Valle, post-harvest specialist and general manager at MyBlueproject, the post-harvest handling of the fruit can’t be underestimated in terms of…

Chile’s supply of berries to Europe includes blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries

Chile is one of the modern-day world leaders in food production. Its agri-food industry represents one of the main sources of national GDP. The country exports more than 100…

Is machine harvesting the key to the success for the UK blueberry industry?

The UK blueberry harvest got underway around six weeks ago and was a little late getting started, but this was mostly confined to the east coast of England where a cold spell delayed the fruit. “On the whole the crop is looking good,” said Chris Rose from Asplins Producer Organisation. “The quality and…

"Global blueberry industry faces significantly disrupted year"

The global blueberry industry, which has become accustomed to stellar growth in nearly all key measures over the years, was somewhat surprised as the average global yield fell for the first time since 2016. The industry also faces "a significantly disrupted year with markets under pressure due to…

EastFruit

Which countries increase imports of Moroccan fruits and berries the most rapidly?

Morocco has been rapidly increasing its fruit and berry exports, with some destinations showing triple-digit growth rates, EastFruit reports. For example, the Moroccan fruit and berry exports to Ireland had been minimal but started growing actively in 2020. As a result, in 2018-2022, the export revenues…

South Korea to elevate horticultural crops as globally recognized 'K-exports'

The Korean government plans to bolster locally grown horticultural crops, otherwise known as garden crops, an Agriculture Ministry-affiliated institute has stated.…

Launch of organic greenhouse grown strawberries this fall

Mastronardi Produce is bringing its award-winning flavor to the organic greenhouse berry segment. The company will be launching its new USA-grown SUNSET® WOW® Organic strawberries this fall and will premiere them at the IFPA Global Produce & Floral Show in October. “We believe consumers should not have…

"We want to extend the German gooseberry season bit by bit"

German gooseberries have experienced an interesting renaissance in recent years, he says. Instead of the 'old', green and tart varieties, it is predominantly red, somewhat sweeter gooseberries that can be found in stores these days. "Demand continues to rise from year to year, and this year we can again…

"While retailers have increased the in-store price, sadly, this is not reflected in the cut that the grower receives"

The UK soft fruit season had a late start pretty much across the country, and this was no different at Clock House Farm in Maidstone, Kent, where they started picking strawberries around 10 days later than normal. "We started picking raspberries from the heated production in April. The quality of the…

Peru wants to export avocados, fresh grapes and blueberries to India

As India and Peru have agreed to resume talks for a free trade agreement, the South American nation is looking to export avocados, fresh grapes and blueberries to India. Vice…

Watermelon and melon prices in Russia have gone up 30%

Analysts from the ATOL company in Russia conducted a study on the cost of watermelons and melons before the start of the season, as well as examined changes in prices for…

Raspberry-picking robot startup gets £1.5 mln in funding

Climate investor Elbow Beach Capital is supplying £1.5 million to raspberry-picking robot creator Fieldwork Robotics. It marks the third food-picking startup the venture capital firm has invested in after it supplied cash to Shropshire-based broccoli upcycling startup Upp and asparagus field robot maker…

Blueberry organization holds webinar for 2023 global state of the industry

The International Blueberry Organization (IBO) is excited to announce the launch of the 2023 Global State of the Blueberry Industry report. The release event will take place…

Blueberry farm Crystal Park sets up in Jacksons Flat

A great investment opportunity in the form of an established blueberry farm is about to hit the market, with the added potential of ‘medicinal cannabis’. The blueberry farm…

Can China and US tensions lead to more berry exports for Mexico?

As China, the largest berry producer in the world, and the United States, the leading importing country, are seeing a souring of relations, could this present more opportunities for Mexico to increase its berry exports? As he answers this question, Francisco Murguía CEO of Frutos Guadalajara, based in…

California strawberry production to pick up later this month

Strawberry supply out of California is seeing a slight gap in production right now. “It’s fairly light in relation to years past. This has not been your typical strawberry growing season, to say the least,” says Jim Grabowski of Well Pict. Right now, strawberries are being picked in the Watsonville-Salinas…

Lower volumes and smaller sizing on Pacific Northwest blueberries

“The timing of the Oregon blueberry season has been typical and is in line with what we expected,” says Jeff Malensky with Oregon Berry Packing. Harvest started late June and the season is expected to continue into part of September. “However, this year’s volume is not typical as numbers are well off our…

The interim results of the berry season in Ukraine

The strawberry and raspberry season of summer fruiting varieties is ending, and soon the fruiting period of remontant varieties will begin in Ukraine. This year's yield was…

Until now, Peruvian blueberry exports reached 9.816 tons in 2023/2024 campaign

Despite the fact that fresh blueberry shipments continue to increase, they are still below the previous year. Last week, exports of the product totaled 2.160 tons, which was…

Strawberries: 2023 harvest down 4% year-on-year

According to Agreste, "As of July 1, 2023, the 2023 strawberry crop is estimated at 74,500 tonnes, down 4% compared with the 2022 harvest, but 2% higher than the 2018-2022 average. In May and June 2023, when the production season peaks, the seasonal drop in prices was less pronounced than in 2022; prices…

UC Davis releases 5 strawberry varieties resistant to deadly fungal disease

The University of California, Davis, has released five new strawberry varieties that are resistant to the soilborne disease Fusarium wilt, have high yields, and improve fruit quality. The breeding research was supported by a $6.2 million Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant from USDA’s National…

Italian Candy strawberries bring in over €160,000 per hectare

"This year, the quality aspect has had an important role in the sales of our Candy® strawberries. In the approximately six months of sales, the economic results have been excellent for the main players in the supply chain, namely the producers," says Loris Gentile, commercial director of the Gentile…

"We are faced with the task of adjusting production in a very different political environment"

For the entire Frutania Group, one of the leading marketers of soft fruits in Germany, 2023 has been an exciting year so far: the weather extremes and high production costs presented some major challenges to the affiliated growers. Meanwhile, marketing-wise - despite inflation and lower purchasing power…

Polish blueberry consumption per capita reached 1.83 kg in 2022

In 2022, blueberry consumption per capita reached 1.83 kg in Poland. Thus, the Polish consumption of blueberries is on the similar level as the consumption of this fruit in…

Carrefour Taiwan stocks first Peruvian Sekoya blueberries

The first Peruvian Sekoya blueberries of the 2023/2024 season arrived at Carrefour Taiwan in August, just in time for the traditional Ghost Month festival. During this month, people in Taiwan purchase large amounts of food and fruit as offerings to worship and show respect to the spirits of their…

"We were able to market over 20,000 tonnes of blueberries in 2022"

Herbert Widmann GmbH was able to sell more than 20,000 tonnes of blueberries in 2022. The company, which has been in existence for more than 100 years, has been focusing on the marketing of berry fruits since the mid-1990s, which account for the largest share of its total turnover, authorised signatory…

Blueberry export company requests its judicial reorganization

South Export Services SpA (SES) requested the initiation of a procedure of judicial reorganization in order to reach an agreement with its creditors. This, through the…

Scientists are working to create a new blueberry that will thrive even in the Scottish climate

Scientists are creating a new variety of blueberry which will grow in Scotland. According to some, it will also be three times bigger than usual. Currently, more than 40…

Scotland’s unique climate offers the opportunity to capture the premium end of the blueberry market

Scottish soft fruit growers might be able to corner a key market section of sales of the UK’s second most popular soft fruit, blueberries. A leading researcher and plant…

British strawberry growers struggle with low prices, while retail price increase 11%

Supermarket strawberry prices rose by an average of 11 percent during the 2022 British season, but growers received zero increase in prices during the same time. New data…

Blackberries and raspberries are now grown in Saudi Arabia

Blackberries and raspberries are in high demand in the Saudi Arabian market, prompting certain growers to take up the challenge of producing berries locally. Dr. Muhammad Zohaib Anjum, production manager at AlFahhad Farms, is overseeing one of the first berry production ventures in the country. Anjum said,…

March’s winter freeze leaves Alabama with crop shortages this summer

A sudden freeze last spring has left many Alabama farmers’ crops diminished or completely destroyed. That means that right now, farmers markets, grocery stores and farm stands…

"Perfect match between quality and buyer"

The internationally active Dutch soft fruit supplier, BerryWorld, first made contact with the Swiss Agrinorm, still a startup then, in early 2020. They have now been using Agrinorm's QM software for over a year. A good time for Arno Renne (chief controller) and Alejandro Solis Martinez (procurement…

"Political circumstances slow down regional asparagus and strawberry production"

According to the preliminary survey of harvest volumes of asparagus and strawberries in Germany by the Federal Statistical Office, the asparagus harvest will fall by 4 percent…