AUSTRALIA: Sweet pickings for Central Queensland tropical fruit farmer as lychee harvest begins

It's harvest time for lychees on Queensland's Capricorn Coast. Ian Groves and his family have been growing tropical fruit on their Bungundarra property since the early 1980s, including lychees, mangoes, and avocadoes.

VIETNAM: Fruit imports from Australia to be suspended over fruit fly concerns

Vietnam has decided to suspend imports of fruits from Australia for concerns over fruit fly, according to the Department of Plant Protection under Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Wednesday.

INDONESIA: Local startup builds real-life ‘Farmville’

The basic idea of iGrow is micro-financed farming at scale. With a small investment, “sponsors,” as the platform calls it, can support a farmer to grow certain crops on a suitable plot of land.

PHILIPPINES: EU grants zero tariffs on fruit products and other strategic exports

In its plenary meeting on December 18, the European Parliament completed the process to grant the country's request for inclusion in the European Union's (EU) General System of Preferences Plus (GSP+).

AUSTRALIA: Genome sequencing of a popular Chinese fruit could help develop drought and salt tolerance in crops

A team of scientists from the University of Western Australia worked with colleagues in China to sequence the jujube fruit genome for the first time.

VIETNAM: First longan consignment to the US shipped

Vietnamese exotics supplier Anh Duong Sao made fresh produce history this month by shipping Vietnam's first consignment of fresh longan by air to the US.

AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory mango harvest wrapping up as Queensland takes the baton

About 120,000 trays are expected to be trucked out of the Katherine region this week, which will just about wrap up the NT's mango season.

VIETNAM: Farmers rush to plant exotic mini watermelons

Tiny watermelon seeds brought to Vietnam recently have been selling very well because the plant variety is a favorite in urban areas.

BANGLADESH: Vegetable cultivation inside mango orchards appears profitable

Delwar Hossain has recently been trying to cultivate different sorts of vegetables in the blank spaces in his mango orchard in a bid to making maximum use and profit from the land.

INDIA: Muthalamada mango orchards still a toxic hub

Agricultural Department officials conducted a surprise raid on a few mango orchards on Friday upon receiving evidence of excess use of pesticides.

INDIA: Gov’t says EU ban on Alphonso mangos to end soon

Premium Indian Alphonso mango, the king of fruits, is all set to re-enter the European markets. The government said the EU ban on Alphonso imports would be lifted shortly.

STUDY: New research links depression to low fruit intake

Fruit consumption has a direct impact on depression levels in human beings, according to a new Australian study.

CAMBODIA: Double Mango Harvest Draws Overseas Interest

The group of researchers, from several different states in Australia, are keen to discover how Cambodian farmers are able to produce two crops of mangoes each year—the first from March to May, and a second crop between August and February.

MADAGASCAR: Difficult economic context for Malagasy lychees

Madagascar expects to export 17,000 tons this year, compared to 18,000 tons in 2013-2014 and 17,500 tons in 2012-2013.

CAMBODIA: Australians helping local mango industry and learning plenty about pests

The team includes researchers from the New South Wales and Northern Territory Department of Primary Industries, and they've spent the last 18 months visiting Cambodia to work with the local mango industry.

USA: Battling avocado-ravaging disease

Redbay ambrosia beetles carry laurel wilt disease and they are a serious threat to avocado trees. To combat this, a research group seem to have found a biological control to eliminate the beetles.

KENYA: Avocado Farmers Get USD 220k Bonus

Avocado farming is big business in Murang'a County, a county whose population largely depends on agriculture.

CHILE: Irrigation mitigates effects of drought in avocados

This year, Chile's avocado production was already expected to be lower than last season's, but the effects of drought have made things worse, leading to a gradual reduction in the acreage.

AZERBAIJAN: Be creative and enjoy delicious feijoa!

In 2010, there are 1,062 hectares of feijoa gardens in Azerbaijan's southern regions. Feijoa is among the products that can be successfully exported abroad.

CHILE: Avocado exports could drop by half this season

Chile's avocado export volumes could take a tumble this season, as factors including attractive domestic prices and serious production issues conspire to alter market dynamics.

SAINT LUCIA: Banana industry rebounds

St Lucia exported 5,000 tonnes of bananas to the United Kingdom so far this year as the island battles to deal with the dreaded Black Sigatoka disease that had destroyed a number of farms.

COSTA RICA: Canadians’ growing taste for papaya creates optimism

A total of 37 producers in the canton of Parrita have managed to export 47 containers of papaya to Canada this year, compared to just three containers in 2013.

USA: Avocado prices to rise

With 95-percent of avocados grown in the U.S. coming from California farms, the recent drought has taken a serious toll on the industry.

SOMALIA: After barren years, signs of growth by the bunch

Banana farms in Somalia are stepping up production and eyeing overseas markets that have been dormant for years.

MYANMAR: IP protection for a better mango

Trademark protection is in the works for Myanmar's famous sein ta lone [diamond] mangos, according to Mandalay Mango Association chair Daw Than Than Swe.