June 2016 (Page 3)

  Oxfam-DE has alleged inhumane conditions exist on many Costa Rican pineapple farms and Ecuadorian banana operations, in a report that points the final blame at Germany’s leading retailers.   In the report, the NGO alleges underpayment, dangerous pesticide exposure and inhumane living conditions across a range of farms, based on 42 interviewsContinue Reading

by Tim Linden, The Produce News   Mango shipments from Mexico lagged behind normal volume in the February, March and April time period leading to a demand exceeds supply situation and high prices during the first part of the 2016 Mexican mango season.   That is no longer the case. Continue Reading

  The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) in Malaysia believes that the new market access to China for two categories of durian will prevent the dumping of the seasonal fruit this Ramadan.   Fama Director General Datuk Ahmad Ishak said the authority has opened up two new market segments thatContinue Reading

by Carl Collen, Fruitnet   During a recent visit to Mexico, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) under secretary Edward Avalos confirmed that the state of Jalisco was certified to ship avocados to the US.   Jalisco joins the neighboring state of Michoacán as authorised avocado suppliers to the US market.Continue Reading

  The U.S.-based National Mango Board (NMB) has highlighted four recent studies that show promise for the tropical fruit’s health credentials, but work has not yet reached the stage where the group can use results in its consumer marketing efforts.   Preliminary results from the studies – into constipation in humans, breast cancerContinue Reading

  When asked whether the announcement would be a turning point for the category, Mission Produce vice president of marketing Robb Bertels actually didn’t think so, although he was optimistic about the new option for both the U.S. market and the growers themselves.   “I’d have to say no, mainlyContinue Reading

by Gabrielle Easter, Fruitnet   Seeka Kiwifruit Industries has reported higher than average returns for its growers of NZ$26.86 (USD 19.25) per tray of avocados in the 2015/16, up on last season’s NZ$16.64 (USD 11.93) per export tray.   Strong demand from Australia and other exports markets helped increase returns for growers, withContinue Reading

by Tim Linden, The Produce News   After a very difficult marketing situation during the first part of the season, dwindling supplies from Mexico have quickly created very strong demand for California avocados and the market continues to gain strength.   Rob Wedin, vice president of fresh sales and marketingContinue Reading

by Gabrielle Easter, Fruitnet   Just Avocados has announced it will exit its joint venture (JV) with Southern Produce and Primor Produce and relinquish its shareholding in the New Zealand avocado marketing entity Avanza.   The announcement comes ahead of the New Zealand avocado harvest and will take effect as ofContinue Reading

by Marieke Hemmes, Fresh Plaza     Crespo Organic Mangoes enters a new partnership with Earl’s Organic Produce for exclusive regional distribution of organic mangos. The region of distribution stretches as far north as Arcata, east to Reno and as far south as Monterey County.   “The mangos from this programContinue Reading

by Kelly den Herder, Fresh Plaza     “In two to three weeks our natural flowering season starts. This means we will have more volumes again, which hopefully result in lower prices for our pineapples as well. We know that the first part of the year is always difficult, but withContinue Reading