Nectarines from South Africa looking good despite tough conditions for stone fruit overall
South African growers are increasing plantings of nectarines on the back of rising demand and better financial returns at grower level, although the industry is still under financial pressure. Young nectarine orchards that were planted in the last few years are now coming into production, with new higher-yielding varieties further boosting volumes and the use […]
Fruit Logistica: New ripening innovations from Interko help save on energy
Netherlands-based Interko, which designs, manufactures and installs state-of-the-art fresh fruit ripening rooms, announced that it has cut the energy consumption of its flagship Ultimo rooms by a further 20 per cent, after launching the second generation of its revolutionary Reverso reversible fans. Ultimo’s design and technology also has been adapted to enable the room to be used […]
Four new hybrid mandarin varieties being developed in Spain for UK market
It might be hard for Brits to believe, but Europeans actually like having pips in their mandarins. And that’s resulted in a challenge for consumers looking for satsumas in the UK. There are just fewer satsumas being produced as Spain and Morocco have concentrated on other types. “Traditionally the European market preferred clementines, which are […]
Aldi and Lidl putting massive investments behind British vegetable suppliers
Discount retail chains Lidl and Aldi have each bolstered contracts aimed at helping struggling British fresh food suppliers and consumers. Lidl said it is pouring more than £70 million into a three-year deal with suppliers that handle root vegetables, including carrots, parsnips, and swedes. Meanwhile, Aldi said it will be sinking more than £1.4 billion […]
Have we finally reached a ‘crisis’ moment in the divide between British growers and retailers?
Earlier this week, the chairman of British Berry Growers Nick Marston said that “confidence in their retailer partners had been dented,” notably impaired by an outdated Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP). “It is not fit for purpose in today’s inflationary marketplace,” said Marston, whose group represents 95% of those who grow in the commercial […]
DEFRA Secretary calls new Norwich vertical farm ‘brilliant example’ of UK’s growing innovation
DEFRA Secretary of State Steve Barclay recently toured the newest vertical farm under the Fischer Farms name in Norwich and offered this positive takeaway of the future of food production in the UK. “We have some of the world’s leading agri-tech innovators here in the UK, and I’m a firm believer in the potential of […]
How retailers, agencies in the U.S. are rallying momentum for produce-based prescriptions
Food as medicine is far from a new concept. Hippocrates, the ancient Greek who lived in the fourth century B.C., made the connection by saying, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Today, this concept should be front-row center on our plates. There are three reasons why. First, poor diet contributes to […]
Fruit Logistica: Three new raspberry varieties from ABB set tone for year-round production
As part of an expansion of its raspberry portfolio, Advanced Berry Breeding (ABB), a leader in raspberry breeding based in the Netherlands, announced the commercial launch of three new varieties – the premium Malaika, as well as Zawadi and Baridi. The three varieties are set to be showcased at the upcoming Fruit Logistica event in Berlin […]
