May 2016 (Page 6)

  Lidl customers contribute to the environment and better working conditions in the countries of origin by buying certified “Rainforest Alliance” and “Fairtrade” bananas. As early as May 2015 Lidl changed the range of pineapples to certified “Rainforest Alliance” pineapples. And now they are changing the range of bananas toContinue Reading

  One of the obstacles that the pineapple producers currently face is that they are not organized. Sebastian Calero Canda, the president of Nicaragua’s Association of Dragon Fruit Producers (Appinic), who is also a producer of pineapple, said pineapple producers needed to associate because the government wasn’t giving support toContinue Reading

  Even durians have taken a hit from the heat. Durian lovers will be disappointed to learn that the supply of the King of Fruits is expected to drop by up to 40 per cent due to the hot weather.   Bao Sheng Durian Farm owner Chang Zhi Vooi saidContinue Reading

by Katja Watson, Fresh Plaza   Jaguacy Brazil received the first containers of Hass avocados of the season 2016 today. The first boxes were received at Cool Control in Maasdijk and transported on to travel to various destinations. “We will receive around 23 containers per week in Europe from April toContinue Reading

  The Director of Agriculture in the Syrian province of Latakia, Mr Munther Kheirbek, revealed that the country’s agricultural exports to Russia amounted to 9 thousand tonnes since the beginning of the season this year as a result of the agreements reached between the two countries.   Kheirbek pointed outContinue Reading

  The Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) has tentatively welcomed the Queensland Biosecurity Capability Review, but has called for more detail on implementation.   The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries today released the official Review, flagging significant changes in capacity, culture and internal operations. The document promotes a ‘shared responsibility’ approachContinue Reading

by Fred Meintjes, Fruitnet   Despite unseasonable weather, South Africa is forecast to export around the same volumes of avocado as last season, according to industry forecasts. The export crop will reach 12.8m 4kg cartons, which is slightly more than last year’s 12.5m cartons. However, the crop could have been aroundContinue Reading

  The European Commission has announced the inspection of citrus plantations in the Guadalquivir valley, covering more than 30,000 hectares in 25 municipalities of Cordoba and Seville, in order to prevent labour abuse. The Mayor of Palma del Río, the socialist José Antonio Ruiz Almenara, met Thursday with the DirectorContinue Reading

by Carlos Nunez, Fresh Plaza   Light supplies of pineapples coming from Costa Rica have pumped up prices for the imported fruit in the United States. Prices are expected to come down in the coming months as more imports arrive, and traders are hoping the market can remain steady as thatContinue Reading

  To go with scaling-up or focusing on a niche. These are all the options in the food and agriculture sector according to Hugo Vermeulen and Nic Jooste from Cool Fresh International. They bring us the uncrowned king of pineapples.   Travel, that is the advise Nic Jooste, Marketing andContinue Reading

by Matthew Jones, Fruitnet   Zespri has confirmed small deposits of mechanical lubricant have been found on some of its kiwifruit pocket packs, prompting the single desk marketer to put a precautionary hold on some consignments.   A Zespri spokesperson told Fruitnet that all potentially affected product is still within theContinue Reading