April 2015 (Page 2)

by Andy Nelson, The Packer   With California off to an early start, Mexico will get a hand in meeting U.S. demand for avocados this Cinco de Mayo.   California volumes should make up a significantly bigger piece of the Cinco de Mayo pie this year than last year, saidContinue Reading

by Washington Paspuel, El Comercio   Latin American banana producing and exporting countries are concerned about a new strain of the Panama disease. This new strain of the fungus has not yet appeared in the region, which, according to the FAO, provides 90% of the bananas consumed in the world.Continue Reading

The acreage under guava cultivation in Chhattisgarh has reached 20,292 hectares during 2014-15, officials claimed. In 2004-05 the acreage under guava cultivation was a mere 3,641 hectares, they stated. The State Government’s Horticulture Department which is implementing a promotion scheme for the fruit had led to quantum jump in theContinue Reading

by Archana Aroor, FnBNews   New export markets such as Mauritius are opening their doors to India allowing imports of mangoes for the first time. Maharashtra, which is the hub for the king of mangoes – Alphonso – is now gearing up to reach these new markets with great zeal.Continue Reading

Following outbreaks in Jordan and Mozambique just over a year ago, the Tropical Race 4 strain (TR4) of Fusarium oxysporum – the cause of Panama disease in Cavendish bananas – has now spread to Pakistan and Lebanon. TR4 was also reported in Queensland, Australia, on 15 March 2015. These eventsContinue Reading

Cancer-fighting pink pineapples, heart-healthy purple tomatoes and less fatty vegetable oils may someday be on U.S. grocery shelves alongside more traditional products.   These genetically engineered foods could receive government approval in the coming years, following the OK given recently given to apples that don’t brown and potatoes that don’tContinue Reading

by Nuradzimmah Daim, New Straights Time   Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry hopes to market the local MD2 pineapple variety to more countries.   Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in wrapping up the debate on the motion of thanks on the Royal Address by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong inContinue Reading

By Farhan Zaheer, the Express Tribune   After having research and experimented for over two months, the government and the private sector have succeeded in producing fruit fly-free guavas through Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT).   All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Importers and Merchants Association (PFVA) and Pakistan Agricultural Research CouncilContinue Reading

by Pratiksha Ramkumar, The Times of India   The phones at Kallar Garden, run by the Nilgiris Horticulture Department, have been ringing non-stop for the past two months. It is that time of the year when people rush to this garden to get their hands on one precious durian fruit.Continue Reading

The Eráti district, in Mozambique’s Nampula province, wants to increase the volume of banana exports to the Asian market and find new markets for its product.   According to Mozambican daily newspaper Notícias the local government plans to provide the Jacarandá Agrícola agricultural company with land of over 6,000 hectaresContinue Reading