News (Page 259)

Climate change and Ambrosia beetles might be ruining guacamole.   The beetles have caused an avocado shortage in the southeastern United States because they burrow into trees, infect them with laurel-wilt disease and kill them. The shortage has resulted in an increase in avocado prices.   Climate change has alsoContinue Reading

A research program has been launched to try and get to the bottom of a mystery disorder which has been wrecking mangoes in Australia’s north.   Known as resin canal disorder (RCD), it effects mangoes as they ripen, and although they’re still fine to eat, it causes a number ofContinue Reading

A university professor in Kabacan, North Cotabato developed a wide selection of wines from exotic fruits grown locally in Mindanao.   Dr. Luz A. Taposok, a wine master and a professor of the College of Agriculture of University Southern Mindanao (USM), set up CT South Tropics after she discovered theContinue Reading

Prices of grapes, watermelon and pomegranate have shot up in the last few days and are likely to rise further.   Unseasonal rain in early March have damaged crops across the state, resulting in a drop in supply. Coconuts too have become dearer. Three straight droughts in other areas haveContinue Reading

South African avocados are on the verge of exports to the European market with the first shipments due to arrive by the end of March, according to South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop) CEO Derek Donkin.   “The South African export crop forecast is 58,000MT. Although this will be SouthContinue Reading

Consistency and sustainable continuity are the biggest stumbling blocks for the pawpaw export trade in the country.   This was the view of Nature’s Way CEO Michael Brown.   He said a New Zealand market study had revealed a huge earning potential for Fiji exporters and, at the same time,Continue Reading

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved the import of fresh jackfruit, pineapples, and starfruit from Malaysia under the condition that all commodities are irradiated for insect pests, inspected and imported in commercial consignments, the Federal Register reported yesterday.   With the newly granted approval, the Government of Malaysia expects toContinue Reading

Mango growers are staring at a bitter harvest this year, due to crop damage after the recent bout of unseasonal weather. An erratic climate has damaged the crop, in various stages of maturity across the country, and some estimates suggest a fall of up to 40 % in yield fromContinue Reading

Australia remains free of the devastating citrus disease, called citrus greening, despite it being fairly widespread through Asia and South America.   The bacterial disease, spread by a tiny psyllid insect, causes fruit to shrivel and turn bitter, and was also found near Los Angeles in 2012.   The AustralianContinue Reading