Freshfel blasts EU Commission’s proposal to drastically cut funding for fresh produce promotions
Freshful Europe drafted a letter and lashed out at the EU Commission this week, saying its proposal to gut the policy budget for agricultural promotions was short-sighted. Not only would the EU Commission plan trim the current outlay of funding by one half – a staggering €281.7 million – but it also would eliminate budgets […]
Why Southern Africa’s focus on ‘premium’ makes it a quality partner in blueberry market
This Q&A features highlights from an interview done with Dane Castle, Blueberry Technical Sales Manager Southern Africa at Planasa, who discusses the state of the Southern Africa blueberry season. For the full interview and charts, go to FreshFruitPortal.com. Could you share insights into the expected volume and quality of the 2024 Southern African Blueberry season? Southern […]
Farmers union sees Starmer’s landslide win as potential opportunity for ‘change’
“Change begins now.” Those words, spoken by new Prime Minister Keir Starmer after his overwhelming victory Thursday propelled the Labour Party into power, promise a new path for the nation. They also may provide a silver lining for British farmers, who are collectively looking for that “reset moment.” Reacting swiftly to news of the “change” […]
Norwich company’s non-browning banana receives GMO exempt status in Philippines
UK-based company Tropic Biosciences announced that its non-browning banana has earned non-genetically modified organism exempt status by the Philippines Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry. The GMO banana can now be imported and produced within the Philippines, which is the largest banana exporter in Southeast Asia and second only to Ecuador in the world, though […]
How UK retailers are responding to rising demand for online supermarket shopping
The numbers of consumers turning to online shopping during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic was not surprising given lockdowns throughout the UK. However, once the nation fully opened up, it would have been natural for online orders to ebb. That hasn’t happened. Asda reported this week that its online grocery sales last year […]
Colombia cements its status as one of top suppliers of avocados to UK
During the first quarter of 2024, the Hass Avocado Producers and Exporters Corporation of Colombia (CorpoHass) reported significant growth in the industry’s contribution to the nation’s economy. The avocado sector’s input to Colombia’s Gross Domestic Product surged by 150%, representing 1.5% of the national GDP, according to CorpoHass data. Avobook highlights the impact of this […]
Kronen receives patent for pitting and peeling technology on avocados
Germany-based Kronen delivered its first robotic solution for avocado processing in April 2024 and it didn’t take long for the patent on their technology to follow. Showcased for the first time at Fruit Logistica, Kronen’s process enables the sensitive fruit to be processed gently in an automated procedure through its Robot Avocado Line. The company […]
Asda: All UK supermarket shoppers are seeing income gains, but one group is still struggling
Consumers have more spending power at grocery stores than last year, thanks to rising income levels decelerating inflation. In fact, Asda’s most recent Income Tracker showed that average families are earning £31.33 per week more than they did a year ago. Their take-home pay, a more than 15% boost year over year, is the best […]
