September 2015

by Lara Webster, ABC   A North Queensland watermelon farmer whose farm was hit hard by a devastating virus may finally be able to plant a crop on his farm next year.   In May, biosecurity Queensland confirmed the case of Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic in Jon Caleo’s 40-hectare melonContinue Reading

Costa Rican pineapple exports were significantly lower in the first half of 2015 compared with the previous year, with adverse weather conditions and unfavourable exchange rates contributing to the decline. Volumes of the tropical fruit shipped between January and June were 15% lower year-on-year, with a total of 933,800 tonnes,Continue Reading

by Mike Knowles, Fruitnet   German fresh produce importer Port International has taken delivery of Europe’s first banana shipments from Haiti for 60 years, according to a report on the Fruchthandel Magazin website.   The consignment of organically grown fruit is understood to have arrived in the Port of AntwerpContinue Reading

by Valerie Tan, Channel News Asia   It may look like overgrown vegetation to some but these plots in Nanning in southern China are gold to Edwin Hooy and his partners.   The 43-year-old Singaporean entrepreneur has invested US$2.3 million in a 200 hectare piece of land to convert itContinue Reading

by Maura Maxwell, Fruitnet   A group of dragon fruit producers from the town of Algeciras in the department of Huila in the south west of Colombia are preparing to make their first shipments to Japan and South Korea.   The announcement was made by the producer association Assopitaya afterContinue Reading

by Russell Fransham, The New Zealand Gardener   Who doesn’t love pineapple? It is the quintessential tropical flavour that all other fruits are measured by, a startling mix of intense sweetness and acidity. There’s nothing quite like it.   September is time to plant out the young pups in theContinue Reading

U.S. consumers spend significantly more money in retailers when avocados are included in their baskets, according to new research from the Hass Avocado Board.   In a new study entitled Keys to the Cart: Driving Hass Avocado Sales at Retail, the California-based association looked at how avocado purchases impacted theContinue Reading

Fruit and vegetable exports are expected to reach US$2 billion this year as more and more countries have opened their door to Vietnamese fruits and vegetables.   Earnings from fruit and vegetable exports have increased strongly in recent years, from $460 million in 2010 to $1.47 billion last year, accordingContinue Reading

by Matt Brann, ABC.net   Researchers have sequenced the genome of Australia’s most popular mango, the Kensington Pride, unlocking the path to mango traits most desired by consumers and growers.   Speaking to ABC Rural at the International Mango Symposium in Darwin this week, Dr Ian Bally from the QueenslandContinue Reading

by Deepa H. Ramakrishnan, The Hindu   Did you know a fruit has a six-month waiting period?   People, who like the taste of durian and believe that it has some medicinal qualities, call up the Government Horticultural Farm in Burliar in The Nilgiris and leave their contact numbers soContinue Reading

During a training workshop on good agricultural practices (GAP) aimed at 80 producers from La Libertad in the District Municipality of Laredo, Sierra Exportadora stated that La Libertad exports 99 percent of the avocado produced in its region.     La Libertad is also the first producer of avocado inContinue Reading