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Strong prices on garlic expected to continue

Peruvian mango supply improved over last season

H-2A visa growth slows amid rising costs and regulations, highlighting U.S. farm labor challenges

IFPA releases annual Impact Report

BCfresh appoints new chief executive officer

Organic blueberries in high supply

Trends in prices and movement of seasonal perishable commodities:

Asparagus prices rise while avocado crossings drop in volume

AI

Massive 17-pound sweet potato found

US dockworkers and employers face critical contract talks amid automation dispute

California almond growers adopt stacked regenerative practices with new research initiative

Sector | Vegetables

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Romaine is the most popular salad in Aruba
Lukas Klimesch, commenting on Austrian endive production:

"After the new building, we are planning to expand our capacity again"

Uzbekistan extends zero import duties on fruit and veg to stabilize prices through 2025

Expanded plantings of Pink Rhône lettuce come to fruition

Field cultivation almost impossible on Bonaire

U.S. sweet peppers are bred for different growing regions and markets

"Pink tomatoes in blue plastic packaging that looks like wood and smells like the sea"

Sector | Bananas

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Colombia’s banana industry ending the 2024 season on a positive note

Pricing stronger for organic bananas
Caroline Garcia, of Caribio Export Fresh Fruits:

Dominican bananas struggle for fair prices and expanding markets
Ecuador

Price of plantain box to be $7.50 starting January

Davao region secures $4.23 million in banana export investments, creating 1,000 jobs
In South Africa, banana prices triple

Mozambique's banana growers fear total anarchy

Cameroon’s banana exports drop 19.4% in November 2024

Sector | Potatoes and Onions

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“Demand for sweet potatoes increased a lot in Israel during this winter”

Kurdistan region begins potato exports to Liberia, expanding agricultural trade

Kazakhstan reports higher potato yields and growing export demand in 2024

Sweet potato virus crisis in Barbados causes yield losses and price hikes
Edouard Deprez, Deprez Frites:

“The future? Choosing the right varieties”
“Big stocks of red onions available”

“More imports of white onions will be required day by day”
Olivier Thomas, Ferme du Pont d'Achelles

"Local French sweet potatoes face stiff competition from foreign varieties"

Sector | Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables

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Nicolás Abarzúa, of Cabilfrut:

"Per capita avocado consumption is growing steadily in all markets"
Pastor Soria, from SENAVE:

Paraguay seeks to export mangoes to Chile
Milton Calle, from Promango:

"It's Peru's worst mango season ever"

Brazil's fruit exports: growth in mangoes, melons, and citrus in 2024

Iran's pomegranate production rises amid horticultural export growth

Dole Food Company opposes proposed landfill near Central Oahu pineapple fields

Peru's agricultural exports surge with 20% growth in 2024, led by avocados and blueberries

Sector | Company news

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Bridges Produce remembers one of its own

Multiple EPC Leadership Classes recognized at New York Produce Show

ClemenGold Foundation creates a launch pad for rural youths

Bako Sweet's Susan Noritake promoted to vice president of sales and marketing

Spreading holiday cheer for a third year

USDA determines individual responsibly connected to Michigan violator

Camposol appoints Ricardo Naranjo Fernández as CEO to lead next growth phase

Sector | Greenhouse

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Balancing energy innovation with agricultural production

New 1.5 million square foot greenhouse opens in Lorena, Texas

First Canadian greenhouse grower receives B Corp. certification

Growth continues in greenhouse cucumber category

Product security benefits lit cucumber cultivation

"Our mission is to have a Bold solution in every greenhouse in North America"

Lower cost retractable roof systems protect crops from heat, rain, wind and insects

Sector | Logistics

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Global liner schedule reliability reaches 54.8% in November 2024, highest this year
Historic milestone in South America

Peru starts exporting fresh fruit in ship holds
World Container Index - 02 Jan:

Drewry’s World Container Index increased 3% to $3,905 per 40ft container this week

MPV market outlook: project cargo demand drives rate increases amid tight vessel supply

Maersk warns customers of potential U.S. port strike, urges action before January 15 deadline
Mandersloot Transport turns 60

“Anyone can drive a truck to a depot; our store network is what distinguishes us”

Air New Zealand Cargo exports 5 million kgs of fresh produce, focusing on cherries

Sector | Machinery

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Top Control (Italy)

Delivery of the 10,000th automatic combination weigher
PND launches a new tool for the fresh-cut sector

New pineapple slicing machine
Bastiaan Krijger, KV Techniek:

“The robot takes mere minutes to switch and clean onion tipper’s sieves”
BFM Italy

Lawn mower with integrated mulcher and trimmer for better management of orchards

"A constant need to innovate in automation and efficiency for processing industry"
Michel Remijn, RMA Techniek, about grading potatoes using 3D cameras:

“A 3D camera gets higher yields from the same batch; we want to see how much higher”
From an Italian company in the Emilia-Romagna region

Pre-owned fresh-cut range equipment for sale

Sector | General fresh produce

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REO Veiling achieves record sales in 2024 despite lower volumes

USDA revises inspection fee structure for fresh produce, effective January 2025
Daniel Badger - VitaFresh Exports

"South Africa will be our main source country and the main destinations will be the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Russia and USA”
Pieter de Jong, Chainn

"The art of matching growers and buyers"

Vietnam's fruit exports hit $7.2 billion in 2024, driven by new markets and year-round cultivation

Minister urges consumers to compare prices as food costs vary widely during Christmas season
Nick Lee - Daemyung Farms Corporation

Popular fruits for Chinese New Year in short supply, driving up prices

Sector | Management

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William Verhoeven (Progent) on new AI module going live in 2025

"With a solid data structure as a foundation, AI can identify trends and make predictions"

South Africa retains AGOA trade benefits with the US through 2025 amid diplomatic tensions

Appeals court reinstates Jan. 1 deadline for farmers to file beneficial ownership information

USDA grants transit permit for Santa’s reindeer, ensuring safe holiday deliveries

Empower Fresh names Robert Austin as CEO to lead expansion in 2025
Víctor Catán, President of Fedefruta:

"We are focusing on the regularization of foreign labor in fruit production"

Europlant America launched to streamline potato seeds with modern varieties

Sector | Miscellaneous

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INRAE

The Samurai wasp: A new ally against the diabolical bedbug?

Nico van Vliet waves goodbye and looks back at his career
Comavit produces 2.5 million poles per year

An effective protection system relies on strong poles and precise design
Linda Van den Bulck, Belgian Saffron:

"Horribly bad spring heralded volatile Belgian saffron harvest"

More economical steaming and better cleaning in-house at grower's premises
Ethan Luth, Bayer:

"Breeders to help growers with challenges as energy, water and disease pressure"

Would you wear a potato-scented perfume?

Sector | Fruit

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Sea-freight cherries flood the market in large quantities, leading to noticeable price declines
Agrovision acquires Chile's ZurGroup to expand its cherry business

"This acquisition is increasing our capacity to offer a constant supply all year round"

What does the 15th edition of medFEL have in store?
Cornelis Ernst and Wessel van Doesburg, OTC Organics:

“Timely start to overseas organic grape season after delayed winter in South Africa”
Ifapa

Researchers develop a molecular marker to select firmer strawberry varieties

Senegalese watermelons coming soon

Peru's agro-exports surge in 2024, led by blueberries and avocados amid rising global food demand

Sector | Herbs

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Louis and Steven Lauwers (Vegobel):

"The end-of-year rush is easily managed with sustainable organic herbs"

Queensland herb farmers face surplus amid stable demand and rising costs
Euro Gijbels

"Storm impacted parsley, but hit mint and coriander hardest"
Raymond van der Burgh, Europe Retail Packing:

“This winter, imported herbs prices have sky-rocketed”
Filippo Carrara from Parma has gone from 10 to 150 hectares in 7 years

The king of basil: 28 years old and 50 hectares
Anthony De Ieso - Thorndon Park Produce

Grower increases rosmary acreage to fill shortages
Europe Retail Packaging:

“Fresh herb market heading into a roller coaster ride this winter, with challenges beyond expectations”

Sector | Agenda

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We'll be back on January 2nd

Happy Holidays from the FreshPlaza team!
Highlights from Moldova’s 10th Fruit Conference

Moldovan fruit growers investing in new varieties, advanced equipment, and packaging solutions
Today, December 19

Webinar on the state of the U.S. apple industry

Results of Hurricane Milton agricultural impacts assessment to be announced

Organicology 2025 set for March 2025

Photo report: Food Africa 2024 in Cairo, Egypt

SEPC announces Southern Exposure speakers

Sector | Citrus

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Alberto Torres, manager of Citruslandia:

Could organic citrus consumers be confused and held back by the proliferation of certificates?

Chongqing boosts citrus exports to Southeast Asia amid agricultural growth

"The worst is behind us for Turkish lemons"

Celebrating Lunar New Year 2025 with Year of the Snake citrus packaging

Florida's orange production plummets 92%, highlighting climate and industry challenges

Florida researchers identify HLB-tolerant citrus trees for developing resilient cultivars

Turkey's citrus production drops 36% in 2024/25 due to heat and drought

Sector | Organic

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"We're too big for the local market, yet too small to export"

Reflecting on Organic Grower Summit 2024
Gunther De Vadder, BelOrta:

"Export market for organic pears yet to take off"

California drives U.S. organic growth amid challenges in policy, pricing, and research

"We will export organic pumpkins to the Netherlands for the first time"

"India's organic fresh produce market grows at 18% annually, driven by demand and exports

Successful organic produce trials in the Moroccan Brachoua region

Sector | Health

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dreamstime

Study links higher fruit and vegetable intake to reduced depression in adults over 45

Capsaicin shows promise in enhancing mesothelioma treatment, study finds

Study shows almonds may enhance post-exercise recovery

Recent research indicates daily consumption of pistachios may benefit vision health

Manchester men shine in health survey with high fruit and veg intake

Connecting with registered dietitians to help boost produce consumption

Strawberries: a nutrient powerhouse for immune support, cognitive health, and more

Sector | IT

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Simplifying supply chains in the produce industry

Leadership transition for ZAG Technical Services

Researchers from the Basque Country developed a robot to harvest strawberries
OneThird presents avocado scanner at Tech for Retail, in partnership with Ida

"The lifespan of each product is essential in the algorithms we develop"
Lualtek

Sensors 4.0 for saving on fertigation
© Nattstudio | Dreamstime.com

"Nothing scarier than a cyber attack during your busiest season"

"Our disposable temperature and humidity data logger has received extensive inquiries at Fruit Attraction expo"

Sector | Innovations

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CRISPR technology transforms mustard greens, paving the way for innovative crops
Duwan Jackson - DFM Technologies

Soil conditions and irrigation affected by a changing climate

Varieties more resistant to climate change thanks to artificial intelligence?
Dr Vernon M. Steyn - Insect Science

Mind control over insects

Polybee introduces drone-powered pollination to boost horticulture efficiency

Post-harvest solution approved for commercial use in California

Taiwan's satellite tech fights banana fungus in Guatemala and Belize

Sector | Processed fruit and vegetables

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Roastables Ready-To-Roast Kits earn Joe Nucci Innovation Award
Mattia Giudice, export manager of Arc en Ciel

Scientific research in support of healthy organic productions

Nonprofit partners with brand that upcycles produce
Bavaria:

"Sauerkraut prices up 8 per cent on last year's level"
Agro Debeuckelaere:

“This potato wholesaler has ventured into artisanal chip production”

Pure Harvest announces launch of its own tomato sauces

"We airfreight over 25 tons of cut-fruit per day from South Africa to the UK”

Sector | Cooling

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Seacube and Greensee partner to change refrigerated transport solutions

Greenbushes cold storage facility boosts Eastern Cape agriculture and exports

North Carolina pilot reduces cabbage shipping costs with electric refrigeration

Refrigeration giant Americold closes 's-Gravenzande branch

Expansion of temperature-controlled logistics in Chile

Emergent Cold LatAm boosts colombia's cold storage capabilities with expansion
FOOD freshly -

Nature-based shelf-life solutions to be showcased in Madrid

Sector | Food safety

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Braga Fresh issues advisory for expired Marketside broccoli florets over Listeria risk

Egypt intensifies food safety inspections, issuing over 2,000 export permits in one week

Texas A&M researchers tackle zebra chip disease with new approach to reduce pesticide use

Dominican Republic eradicates Mediterranean fruit fly with sterile insect technique

E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s onions ends with 104 cases and 1 death

Recalls issued for cucumbers, greens, and kale kits due to contamination risks

Ausveg updates on $5M national response to tomato brown rugose fruit virus in South Australia

Sector | Nuts and dried fruits

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FDA recognizes walnuts as 'healthy' under updated dietary guidelines

Hurricane Helene cuts Georgia pecan yield by 75 percent, driving up holiday prices

California walnut crop down significantly, limiting export opportunities

Brazil sees significant rise in pistachio imports ahead of local cultivation plans

Almond industry highlights demand growth, sustainability, and innovation at 2024 conference

"California almond industry rebounds as global demand grows amid shrinking acreage"

Australian macadamia crop grows 11.5% in 2024 despite challenging conditions

Sector | Packaging and Labelling

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Remarks by Rocco De Lucia from Siropack

"Let's talk about packaging and the fruit and vegetable sector"

Cartonpack acquires majority stake in Fimat to expand fiber-based food packaging in europe

Advancing sustainable fruit exports from Brazil to China with new protocol and packaging solutions

Graphic Packaging and Elaborados Naturales launch sustainable PaperSeal shape tray in Spain

Sri Lanka addresses post-harvest losses in fresh produce through improved packaging solutions

“Our packaging keeps bananas fresh for longer and is biodegradable”

A biodegradable "supramolecular plastic" that dissolves in water

Sector | Retail

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Dreamstime
Samsung Electronics announced a multi-year partnership with Instacart

Carrefour Brasil has sold 11 Nacional supermarkets
Dreamstime
Justo has shut down its operations in Brazil

Aldi has expanded its presence in Georgia
Dreamstime
Just Eat Takeaway.com brands worldwide have published local Food Trends Reports

Grocery Outlet closing 2024 calendar year with 533 stores across 16 states
Dreamstime
Specialty supermarket: $8.1mln in incentives to open pair of stores in food deserts in Atlanta

BJ’s 40th club in Florida
Dreamstime
HF Foods: Board of Directors has appointed Felix Lin as permanent CEO

Grubhub will pay $25mln to settle a dispute
Dreamstime
Metro is heading into 2025 with renewed capacity to grow its business

GoodSAM is helping trail-blaze a “direct trade” model
Dreamstime
Weis Markets announced it has entered into an agreement with Saylor's Market

Seven & i Holdings plans to open 500 new convenience stores in US and Canada through 2027

Sector | Global Market

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GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW PEARS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GRAPES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GARLIC

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW PAPAYAS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW TOMATOES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW MANGOES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW BELL PEPPERS

Sector | Climate

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Florida agricultural production losses top an estimated $190M post Hurricane Milton

Jamaica invests $182M to rehabilitate 2,819 hectares of farmland after hurricanes Beryl and Rafael
Source: USGS

Earthquake strikes in northern California

Florida agriculture rebounds after Hurricane Milton with strong winter crop outlook

How storms on Thanksgiving week may impact produce
Drought in Morocco affects nurseries

"Our sales in the fruit sector are down 80% on a normal year"

Floods and storms damage over 500 hectares of crops in Panama

Sector | Cartoons

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Why Christmas trees were once decorated with apples

Durian-themed hotel in Malaysia opened
AI

Suffolk tomato factory lights mistaken for northern lights
AI

What is vomit fruit, and is it really that bad?
AI

Osaka zookeeper accused of stealing animal food
AI

Pizza Hut introduces tomato wine
AI

Man identified by orange juice sentenced for burglary