TFNet Newsfeed - International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet)

ISSUE 34: NOVEMBER 2017



	Fiji hosts International Symposium on Tropical Fruits The 2017 International Symposium on Tropical Fruits (ISTF2017) was held in Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi, Fiji on 23-25 October 2017, organized by the Fijian Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet), and Fiji Institute of Agricultural Sciences (FIAS), with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).



TFNet holds 11th BOT meeting in Fiji The Eleventh Board of Trustees (BOT) Session of the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) was held in Nadi, Fiji on 26 October 2017, a day after the International Symposium on Tropical Fruits (ISTF2017).		ISTF2017 field trip showcases Fiji’s growing tropical fruit industry A one-day field trip was organized by the Fijian Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) on October 25 for the delegates of the 2017 International Symposium on Tropical Fruits (ISTF).


Fiji’s new Green Pearl guava is sweet, crisp, and nutritious On 25 September 2017, The Fijian Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with Taiwan Technical Mission introduced the Green Pearl guava variety to the local market. Read more about this delicious variety.		Indonesia launches two new mango varieties Two new mango varieties named Agri-Gardina 45 and Gedong 21 were launched during the Indonesian Mango Mass Propagation and Germplasm Exibition Cukur Gondang, Pasuruan, East Java on 3-5 November 2017.


TFNet CEO guests in the 25th Philippine National Fruit Symposium The 25th Philippine National Fruit Symposium was organized by the PhilFruits Association at the Aziza Paradise Hotel in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on 7-10 November 2017.		TFNet CEO presents keynote paper during the Food and Society International Conference 2017 Held at Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur from 18th to 19th November 2017, the Food and Society International Conference 2017 was organized by the Asia-Pacific Food Studies Network, the Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA), and the National University of Malaysia (UKM).

NEWS FROM TFNet MEMBER COUNTRIES
NEWS FROM TFNet MEMBER COUNTRIES

	CHINA: E-commerce giant Alibaba’s drones deliver passion fruit to islands		AUSTRALIA: High tech map of avocado, macadamia and mango orchards helps disaster response

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba announced Tuesday that it has used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, to deliver packages over water for the first time.		For the first time, Australia’s mango, macadamia, and avocado crops have been mapped. It’s a move that authorities say will change the way government and industry deals with natural disaster responses and disease outbreaks.

	CHINA: Local farm grows avocado		MALAYSIA: Govt to allocate RM 1M to develop Perlis harumanis mango industry

The first batch of home-grown avocados from a farm in southwest China’s Yunnan Province are to be harvested, the grower said.		Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the allocation was for drainage and planting of the trees as well as other logistics needed to increase the productivity and marketing of these mangoes.

	PHILIPPINES: PHL to raise concerns of banana exporters at WTO meet in Argentina		VIETNAM: China makes up three-fourths of fruit exports

President Duterte said the government would raise before the World Trade Organization (WTO) its concerns over the subsidies extended by Latin American governments to their banana producers, which have allowed them to export bananas at a lower cost.		Vietnam exported US$240 million of vegetables and fruits last month, taking the total to US$2.86 billion in the year to end-October, up 42.6% year-on-year.

	BANGLADESH: Banana boon for farmers		AUSTRALIA: GM banana shows promise against deadly fungus strain

The organic banana orchards of Bandarban are every farmer’s dreams. They yield well and churn good profits. Not to mention, these highly nutritious fruits are sweet, delectable and loved by children and adults alike.		A field trial in Australia has shown that genetically modified banana trees can resist the deadly fungus that causes Panama disease, which has devastated banana crops in Asia, Africa, and Australia and is a major threat for banana growers in the Americas.

	AUSTRALIA: New trial to investigate if mangosteen can improve schizophrenia symptoms		MALAYSIA: New preservation tech will help make durian cheaper in future

Geelong researchers are calling on people with schizophrenia to take part in an innovative trial investigating whether a tropical fruit extract can improve symptoms.		Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Malaysia now has the technology to preserve durian to ensure longer shelf life which in turn will contribute to cheaper prices.

	INDIA: Red Thai guava via Bengaluru floods Hyderabad		PHILIPPINES: Farmers ink deal for monthly export of 8MT of papaya to South Korean firm

Vendors say that they purchase the fruit from the wholesale market of Gaddiannaram in LB Nagar and from Mozamjahi market. Each fruit weighs around 300 to 500 grams, and is sold for between Rs 100 (USD 1.55) and Rs 150 (USD 2.32) per kg.		The Department of Agriculture (DA) said South Cotabato-based farmers have inked a trade agreement with a South Korean firm that would import at least 8 metric tons (MT) of papayas monthly starting this month.


OTHER TROPICAL FRUIT NEWS
OTHER TROPICAL FRUIT NEWS

	CAMBODIA: Push to increase longan exports		KENYA: What avocado export market wants from you

With plantations yielding nearly 20,000 tonnes of the fruit per year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has announced its intention to expand longan exports to new countries.		Brian Gesimba, the agro-marketing manager at Amiran Kenya, says that it is important for a farmer to start with clean and high quality planting materials to get higher yields.

	MOROCCO: Watermelon farming main cause of water shortage		PERU: Chile and Bolivia, main destinations for Piura’s mango

Taps are running dry in southern Morocco and resarchers have found one of the main culprits: watermelon farming.		Piura sent most of its mangoes to Chile and Bolivia in the first week of exports.

	USA: Deadly multistate salmonella papaya outbreak is over, says the CDC		MEXICO: Avocado volume to top last year’s

This large Salmonella Papaya outbreak was comprised of four separate outbreaks linked to four different farms in Mexico.		Avocado volume out of Mexico should reach nearly 2 billion pounds during the current season — July 1 to June 30 — an increase from last year, despite a slow start during the summer.

	ECUADOR: Ministry and banana producers establish a road map		GHANA: Pineapple farmers need more intensive training

The first Banana Technical Table, led by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Ruben Flores, established a twelve-point road map to benefit the sector.		Simple technologies can be learned effectively through imitation, while complex methods require professional training. If Ghanaian pineapple farmers are to achieve higher yields through more sustainable agriculture, they will need to be trained in exactly these types of complex applications.

	NEW ZEALAND: Avocados to be added to list of exported fruits to China		LAOS: Bananas topping list of agricultural export earners

New Zealand is a step closer towards supplying fresh avocados to China and opening up access to an untapped market for Kiwi growers.		Bananas are expected to be the nation’s highest revenue earner among agricultural exports this year, retaining the top spot achieved last year despite a decrease in exports by value.

LIFESTYLE
LIFESTYLE



Healthy recipes from fruit scraps		Lime-avocado cheesecake recipe

FRIDAY FRUIT FACTS
FRIDAY FRUIT FACTS



Lychee (#016)		Starfruit (#015)



Breadfruit (#014)		Guava (#013)