Tour of vertically integrated organic vegetable farm along California’s Central Coast

From an early age, Dick Peixoto spent every free minute learning how to farm. At the age of 17, he started farming conventional crops along…

Industry reacts to another delay in U.S. tariff implementation

July 9 has come and gone, a day U.S. President Donald Trump had planned to implement reciprocal tariffs on a number of countries. While several letters…

Great quality California stone fruit so far this season

A kinder climate has led to particularly good eating-quality stone fruit out of California. "Stone fruit is looking great so far, especially compared…

Growcer acquires Freight Farms’ assets, pledges to support growers worldwide

Canadian vertical farming company Growcer has announced that it has won the bid to acquire the assets of Freight Farms, the U.S.-based container…

New reports highlight growing economic impact of U.S. and imported blueberries

Blueberry growers and importers deliver a crop that contributes nearly $9.1 billion in annual economic impact to the U.S. economy, or nearly $25…

Big Game drove record avocado retail sales

The 2025 Big Game delivered another strong performance for Hass Avocados, as consumers across the U.S. stocked up in preparation for the year's most…

Kings River Packing names new sales manager

Kings River Packing, LP has promoted Prescott Leyba to sales manager, reflecting the company's continued investment in its people, partners, and…

IFPA receives accreditation status for United Nations Environment Programme

As the International Fresh Produce Association continues to address packaging regulations and proposals that will adversely impact its members and the…

2025 Michigan sweet corn season kicks off

Todd Greiner Farms Packing, LLC. (TGF) announced the beginning of its 2025 sweet corn season, with shipping set to begin the week of July 20th and peak…

Fresh Del Monte appoints Mark Gagnon VP Sales South

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. has appointed Mark Gagnon as Vice President of Sales for the South Region, effective June 2, 2025. In his new role, Gagnon…

Michigan grape scouting update: Growth and risks

The latest Michigan Grape Scouting Report offers a comprehensive update on vineyard conditions across the state, including weather patterns, vine growth…

Seasonal perishable products weekly update:

Tomato prices surge, blueberry and avocado markets mixed

This week's produce report highlights shifting volumes and price trends across key commodities in North American markets, with continued seasonal transitions…

Michigan tests wasps to fight cherry fruit fly

Researchers continue to address the challenges posed by a fruit fly, spotted wing drosophila (SWD), which affects Michigan cherry farms, responsible for 70% of…

UF develops AI tool for crop damage detection

University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is spearheading a project under AI scientist Nikolaos Tziolas to enhance agricultural…

Oregon cherry growers face labor, price pressures

In Oregon, the harvest season for cherries presents complex challenges to growers. An orchard in The Dalles sees farmworkers, many of them conversing in…

Maricopa melons left in fields to enrich soil

An inquiry from a reader brought attention to unharvested melons rotting around Maricopa, inMaricopa reported. Speculation on social media attributed this to…

Industry invited to priority setting kick-off event in Niagara Falls this fall

Ontario’s agri-food sector sets sights on future with Agri-Food 2050 initiative

Ontario's agri-food sector will come together this fall for the first-ever Agri‑Food 2050, a one-day industry event dedicated to envisioning the future of food…

U.S. imposes 36% tariff on Thai exports, talks underway

Thailand's export sector is dealing with a new challenge as the United States has enforced a 36% tariff on Thai goods under the Reciprocal Tariff programme, a…

Miguel Fossa, of Limones Piuranos

Peruvian Tahiti lime exports grow by 30% despite logistical and weather-related issues

"The Peruvian Tahiti lime export season shows signs of growth, with an estimated 25-30% increase in terms of volume compared to last season. The…

Giuseppe Ingrillì of Eurofood:

"Blood orange derivatives are taking the lead in the global beverages and aromatics market"

Eurofood's 2024/25 citrus fruit campaign was impacted by unusual rainfall and high temperatures during the first half of 2025, which reduced the production of juice and essential oi…

Álvaro Figueroa, Tropicales del Valle:

International demand for pineapple juice grows

Demand for pineapple juice and the growth of markets such as Israel and Dubai are boosting Costa Rican exports, despite production limitations due to…

Digital freight forwarder Shypple expands to Germany:

"Digitalization, automation, and reliable data are essential nowadays"

Following the official launch of a digital platform for freight and logistics management at Fruit Logistica, Shypple began its expansion into the…

“Spanish and Australian oranges could fill our seasonal gaps”

India's orange import market has rebounded in 2025 after war-related tensions along the Suez Canal delayed Egyptian shipments in 2024. Diverse sourcing…

Mark Vernooij, Urfruit:

"A satisfactory pear season, but boosting consumption remains the sector's key challenge"

"The 2024–2025 pear season started off challenging. Hail showers and lower production in large parts of Europe, especially in Belgium, created…

Justo Redondo, manager of Nogal Fruits:

"Next week will be key for the Spanish plum season"

Nectarine, peach, and flat peach volumes are decreasing in the Spanish region of Extremadura, but the plum season is now entering its full production…

Sergio Grau, AG Group product manager:

"Anti-frost towers are the preferred choice of stone fruit growers"

Climate change and a lack of professional laborers are having an impact on work in the fields. Untimely frosts kill stone fruit, and the lack of…

Egyptian pomegranates coming soon

Egyptian pomegranates arrive on the market in late July/early August, with an expected increase in volumes, according to Amr Kadah, export manager at…

“Krystalli pear exports are still a month away, and yet packers are already offering growers a 30% higher price”

The new pear season has already been underway for a week in Greece. The pears harvested so far are of the Kontoula variety, which are intended for the…

Braeburn apples brought to Indian market, e-commerce ensured quick sales to consumers

Indian fresh produce importer and distributor, and packer Anusaya Fresh has added another apple variety to its portfolio, as it has brought in the…

“Higher import duties on Iranian apples will hurt our margins”

India's apple import market is in full swing, driven by steady supply from diverse origins like Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, South Africa, Poland, New…

Louis de Kock – Nile

Nile’s holistic approach and broad catalogue gain global ground

Recent funding has strengthened Nile, a South African online trading platform, in its expansion drive. Now active in over fifty countries, including…

Can the Egyptian sweet potato industry maintain its value amid surging volumes?

The 2025/26 season for Egyptian sweet potatoes starts in a few days. The industry has seen a steady increase in volumes in recent years, raising…

Strawberry processing adapts to year-round demand

Strawberry production has expanded significantly in recent years, particularly within the fourth-range (ready-to-eat) segment. Once confined to spring…

Hort Innovation plans unified grower survey

A new initiative by Hort Innovation is examining the potential for a more coordinated approach to collecting grower feedback across the vegetable…

BayWa secures €3b refinancing for growth

BayWa r.e. has attained a €3 billion refinancing package with support from shareholders and financial partners, extending funds until mid-2029. The arrangement…

Global avocado market tops $20 billion

According to a RaboResearch report, the global avocado market's valuation now exceeds USD 20 billion. Enhanced production and diverse exporting countries drive…

Northern Thailand expands durian cultivation

Durian cultivation in Thailand's lower northern region is thriving in 2025, with six provinces—Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phrae, Phitsanulok, Tak, and Nan,…

MSC adds 365,000 TEU, widens lead over Maersk

In an unprecedented expansion, MSC has augmented its fleet by 365,173 teu this year, reinforcing its status as the world's preeminent container shipping…

Henk Verwoert, Hanos, about the summer fruit season:

"We're using early fruit to highlight seasonal products"

The arrival of the first crates of red currants and blackberries heralds the start of the summer season at HANOS. "Seasonal products deserve more…

AVF Summit 2025 will address scale and sustainability in global food systems

“A pineapple grown in Brazil, packed in Indonesia, and shipped to Europe or the U.S. can travel over 10,000 km”

The vertical farming sector is entering a critical phase. Once considered a high-tech niche with limited scalability, it is now steadily evolving into…