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GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW BLUEBERRIES

Job Board | Newly added vacancies

more job offers

Uncertain how long supplies of North Carolina sweet potatoes will last

Plant-based post-harvest solutions make debut

Mexican tomato production picks up

Good volume but smaller sizing on California organic citrus

Canadian nursery and berry grower form partnership to support growth

Central Valley citrus harvest declines as migrant workers fear deportation

Almond industry urged to strengthen trade advocacy amid shifting U.S. policies

New marketing directors join the California Table Grape Commission

U.S. fresh produce imports supply 59% of fruit and 35% of vegetable availability

Sector | Vegetables

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Francisco Mas, Sales Director of Frutas y Hortalizas Mas Serrano:

"The supply of quality artichokes has been greatly reduced by frosts and prices have skyrocketed"

Study links yellow oyster mushrooms to improved heart health and aging benefits

Cold temperatures lighten lettuce supply from desert-growing regions
Tom Desmet (Desmet Agro):

"With Poland and France joining Spain in the leek market, prices are looking promising"
Thorsten Scherz/BEHR AG
Behr AG celebrates its 130th birthday in Berlin:

"Production is and always has been at the heart of our company"

Kaliningrad residents face winter and spring vegetable shortages

Growing the market for snack cucumbers

Sector | Bananas

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"Algeria boycotts Ecuadorian bananas over support for Morocco's Sahara claim"

Woman's "Banana Etiquette" tutorial sparks 12 mln views
Banana prices UK

Guatemala's commodity prices drop 14%, Panama down 5%, Colombia up 10%

Dole targets organic shoppers with multi-channel banana and pineapple campaign

José Antonio Hidalgo elected co-president of World Banana Forum, pushes for fair banana pricing

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

Pricing stronger for organic bananas

Sector | Potatoes and Onions

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What lies ahead for the value-added onions business

Dutch processing potato prices rise 59% in January amid tight supply and increased imports

Bangladesh faces surplus potato production as prices drop and costs rise

Agristo plans $450 million potato processing facility in North Dakota

US potato yield forecast drops amid weather challenges, reliance on Canadian imports grows

Onion portal closes down

Canada's potato harvest thrives as U.S. faces production decline and import reliance

Sector | Exotic/Tropical fruit & vegetables

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Moroccan avocado industry strengthens integration efforts
ai

Luxury $156 avocado Toast sparked debate

"2024 has been marked by high volatility in the pitaya market"

Air freight cost 'a real drag' on export potential Ghanaian passionfruit and papaya

Mexico will export 110,000 tons of avocado for Super Bowl
Asociación Española de Tropicales

Spain expects to produce more than 70,000 tons of avocado this season
U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement seasonal perishable products weekly update

Seasonal shifts drive higher blueberry demand as avocado supplies remain tight

Sector | Company news

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Nature Fresh announces minority investment by Manulife Investment Management

Hazera and BeeHero partner to improve pollination in seed production

Tom Smith joins Somerfield Farms
Source: LA Fire Department

The Wonderful Company commits $10 million to LA fire relief efforts

Oppy's CEO to receive International Humanitarian Ellis Island Medal of Honor

Social impact program expands sustainability initiative

New hires for Pete Pappas & Sons

Sector | Greenhouse

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Addressing food insecurity by donating 3 million lbs. of produce annually

Membrane packaging extends shelf-life of cucumbers and reduces weight loss

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

Sector | Logistics

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Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd cautious on Red Sea operations despite ceasefire
World Container Index - 16 Jan

Drewry’s World Container Index decreased 3% to $3,855 per 40ft container this week
World Container Index - 09 Jan

Drewry’s World Container Index increased 2% to $3,986 per 40ft container this week

Chinese New Year 2025 and new carrier alliances set to disrupt supply chains
Port strike averted

ILA and USMX announce tentative agreement on new contract
Pat Compres comments on pending U.S. port strike

“It’s better to hope for the best and plan for the worst”

Dockworkers and port owners debate automation to avert potential strike

Sector | Machinery

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Partnership helps Southwest Florida reduce water use on farm by 40 percent

New automated tomato transplanter introduced
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"

Sector | General fresh produce

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Vietnam's fruit & veg exports surge past $7.12 billion, driven by durian and market expansion

US: Times Square lit up by colors of European fruits and vegetables

Kenya and UAE to collaborate on railway expansion, trade, and agricultural investment

South Africa inquiry finds retailer mark-ups and barriers for small farmers in fresh produce market

University of Georgia researchers explore essential oils to improve organic produce safety and shelf life
Due to deforestation

Monkeys raid fruit and vegetable vendors
Telethon project supported by OP A.Bio.Med

Bringing fruit, vegetables and scientific research together for a good cause

Sector | Management

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Sun World announces Bernardo Calvo as CEO and David Marguleas as executive chair

Immigration enforcement in Kern County disrupts farm labor during peak harvest season

Phytech and Rivulis join forces to deliver real-time irrigation tech to 18,000 farms worldwide

Calavo Growers reports $661.5M in 2024 sales, adjusts focus after Fresh Cut divestiture

Weak rupee raises import costs, boosts export prospects for India's greenhouse sector

Former BC Tree Fruits property near Kelowna Airport listed for $28 million after price cut
March 2025

Agri and water trade missions will take place in parallel with royal state visit to Kenya

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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Tony Derwael (Bel'Export):

"I expect everyone will need to sell their pears in a timely manner"
Gustav Claassen – Proudly Produce

New-season apples soon to supplement strong nectarine crop
Imports hit $123.7 million

U.S. overtakes China as top fruit supplier to Vietnam during Tet season

"The apple was chosen as the symbol of the Polish presidency of the EU council"
Justin Mudge – Chiltern Farms

"Many blueberry growers in the Western Cape will quit"

South African table grape exports surge 39% amid improved port efficiency

Planasa appoints Hans Liekens to drive berry sector growth

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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IFPA to honor retail, foodservice innovators

Nominations open for TIPA's first annual awards program, celebrating women in produce
April 8-10, 2025

Registration for 100th CPMA convention and trade show is now open

Organic Produce Summit 2025 opens up retailer registration
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

Sector | Citrus

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There is a decrease in supply for late varieties

Comune clementines: the past few weeks have seen sustained prices in the field and on the market

Brazil's citrus sector faces uncertainty as orange production declines
Ai

Lime-squeezing incident leads to months-long chemical burn
Stuttgart Wholesale Market:

"Strong demand for leaf clementines of the Süsse Susi brand"

Texas grapefruit movement ahead compared to 2024

Miura Partners prepares the sale of Citri&Co

Southern California wildfires and winds devastate farms, threatening crops and livelihoods

Sector | Organic

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Jessica Cornely, Biofrais

"There is a very strong demand for 'detox' vegetables"

Merger of organic produce companies strengthens support for family farms

"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"

Sector | Health

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Scientists develop electric lollipop to simulate fruit flavors

Carrots show promise in managing type 2 diabetes, Danish study finds

Pineapple identified as a natural aid for better sleep and overall health by Thai universities
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

Sector | IT

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Xavier Cárdenas, Agrosoft

Technological advances boosting agricultural exports

Microsoft and AgriPilot.ai collaborate to boost AI-driven farming solutions in India

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

Sector | Innovations

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Nitrosfera Project, coordinated by Proexport

Incorporating microorganisms to improve soil fertilization and reduce nitrates
AgriFrequencies – Jan du Plessis

A quantum of solace in the war on pests

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

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”

Acquisition in California sun-dried market

"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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Major concerns surrounding Albert Heijn blueberry recall

Oriental fruit fly discovery in Auckland prompts biosecurity measures to protect horticulture

Biosecurity New Zealand intensifies response to Oriental fruit fly detection in Auckland

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

Sector | Nuts and dried fruits

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Walnuts make up 24.55% of Egypt's imported nuts as economic challenges curb demand

Ofi's 2023 report showcases global progress in nut sustainability and community impact

Brazil's rising pistachio demand sparks domestic cultivation pilot in Ceará by 2027

End-of-year festivities boosted Medjool sales

California almond growers face export setbacks from tariffs in key markets

California pistachios thrive as drought-resistant crop and global export leader

"We will prioritize the Moroccan market this Ramadan"

Sector | Packaging and Labelling

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Recyclable paper bag introduced for frozen French fries in U.S. food service sector

“The packaging market for fresh products is currently undergoing a significant transformation"
"Successful implementation of electronic shelf labels (ESL) at De Mooij Amsterdam"

"Digital price cards enhance efficiency and save time"

Latin America's pulp and paper market driven by packaging demand and economic shifts
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

Sector | Retail

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Dreamstime
Symbotic would buy Walmart's robotics business for $200mln

Target raised its fourth-quarter sales forecast
Dreamstime
Albertsons has laid off workers in its corporate and division support workforce

Grocery Outlet: Trio of openings in Ohio
Dreamstime
Kroger: Simple guide to building the perfect bowl recipe, including extra veggies

Wegmans is heading to the Pittsburgh area for the first time
Dreamstime
Official debut of groundbreaking autonomous supermarket at NRF 2025: Retail's Big Show

Instacart: New partnerships with 2 leading point-of-sale (POS) providers
Dreamstime

Kroger pledges $1M to support families impacted by Southern California wildfires
Dreamstime

Target has organic produce in its sights
Dreamstime
UNFI will realign its commercial wholesale organization into 2 product-centered divisions

Albertsons Companies posted strong earnings in its Q3 financial report

Sector | Global Market

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GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW ORANGES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW PEARS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GRAPES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW GARLIC

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW PAPAYAS

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW TOMATOES

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW MANGOES

Sector | Climate

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Fires don’t have impact on produce supply chain

Los Angeles County braces for strong winds

Produce shipments continue to move amidst fires affecting Los Angeles County

Catastrophic wildfires in Southern California burn out of control

Logistics contending with major U.S. storm

Climate change threatens apple production in key U.S. growing regions, study finds

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

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