New melon line added to premium offerings

We will be back Tuesday 22nd of April

Happy Easter from the FreshPlaza team

GLOBAL MARKET OVERVIEW TOMATOES

North America is preparing for the termination of the U.S.-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement, with tariffs of 20.91% set to take effect on July 14, 2025, potentially…

Why the produce industry should give importing/exporting contracts a second look

Following the April 3 announcement by the U.S. Donald Trump presidential administration of a global baseline 10 percent tariff on all goods coming into…

New crop potatoes make their way into Easter pull

While Easter is almost three weeks later in 2025, shipments of potatoes look comparable to last year. "However, they started off slower given the…

Dulcinea Pure Perfection

New melon line added to premium offerings

Pacific Trellis Fruit, home to the Dulcinea® brand, is introducing a new line of premium melons: Dulcinea Pure Perfection™ Melons. This collection of…

Fredonia grape facility revived to support growers

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the completion of AgriAmerica Fruit Products LLC's $2.5 million revitalization of a 69,000-square-foot grape juice…

Lawsuits filed over E. coli outbreak linked to Taylor Farms

Marler Clark, Inc., PS, a law firm specializing in foodborne illness cases, has filed three federal lawsuits—two in Indiana and one in Missouri—against Taylor…

EarthFresh announces strategic appointments post-acquisition

As EarthFresh continues its rapid expansion across North America, it announced a series of strategic appointments within its ranks. These changes come…

Senator Gallego urges reversal of tomato import duty decision

U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego has called on the Department of Commerce to reconsider its decision to terminate the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement (TSA), a move…

$8.9 million in meth found in chayote shipment

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility intercepted $8,900,000 in alleged…

U.S. potato stocks down 6% from April 2024

Potatoes held in storage on April 1, 2025, totaled 131 million cwt, down 6 percent from April 1, 2024. Potatoes in storage accounted for 31 percent of the 2024…

Third-generation joins family morel mushroom business

Gourmet Mushroom Products (GMP), a family-run business in the U.S. focused on morel mushroom cultivation, has announced that Nora Malachowski, a…

South Korea reviews GMO potato imports under U.S. pressure

The South Korean government is revisiting the import approval process for a genetically modified organism (GMO) potato developed in the United States, echoing…

“Berry Bonanza” rewards loyal berry shoppers

Plant City based international grower and year-round marketer of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and pineberries Wish Farms is…

Citrus science professor Malcolm Manners retires after 44 years

Malcolm Manners, a professor at Florida Southern College (FSC), will retire after 44 years. Manners, who coordinates the citrus and horticultural science…

California growers warn of pest risks after avocado inspection halt

California avocado growers are expressing concerns about potential pest infiltration following the cessation of a Clinton-era inspection protocol. The Biden…

Chiquita named one of Newsweek’s America’s Most Loved Brands 2025

Chiquita announced that it has been recognized as one of America's Most Loved Brands 2025 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group. Newsweek and Plant-A Insights…

Mexico launches sustainability strategy for avocado industry

The Avocado Institute of Mexico has launched the "Path to Sustainability," a strategic initiative developed to strengthen environmental management across…

Industrie Montali

The impact of tariffs on the competitiveness of European companies

"When it comes to the implementation of the new tariffs imposed by Trump, we are in a waiting phase. The export turnover shares we make in the States…

Julio Leite, Campal Frutas:

"We account for 40% of Brazilian fig exports"

As Europe establishes itself as the leading market for exotic fruits, Brazilian exporters must navigate production peaks, certification pressures, and…

PSB Producción Vegetal presents the earliest Paraguayo peach on the market

Cooler than usual weather in Murcia delays the stone fruit harvest by 8 to 10 days

Although small quantities of extra-early fruit have already started to be harvested in the Spanish Region of Murcia, no significant quantities are…

"It's too early to say anything about destroyed buds and loss of apple production"

The weather has posed a risk for Polish apple growers over the past week, says Emilia Lewandowska, office manager for Fruit-Group: "We had a long…

Salah Eddine Belkadi, commercial manager of Unique Packing

"We expect Moroccan blueberry exports to increase by 20% this season"

The Moroccan blueberry season is currently in full swing with the arrival of large harvest volumes. The industry continues its growth momentum,…

Hans van Maurik, Fresh Goods Handler:

"Sous-vide cooked beets gaining traction in the fresh produce trade"

After a career spanning more than 45 years in the fresh produce trade, Hans van Maurik has embarked on a new challenge this year. Operating under the…

Kenyan avocado exports shift to European market amid serious logstic difficulties

With the end of the Mediterranean avocado season, notably Moroccan and Spanish, it's now the turn of summer origins to supply the European market.…

Jordi Calatayud y Monge (Mulder Onions):

"Onion prices skyrocket: Temporary Easter demand or sign of more to come?"

Onion prices have shot up like a comet this week. "It's moved very quickly. For next week, they're already asking 34 cents for the medium size and 40…

Concerns about water scarcity

First Apulian apricots on northern Italian markets

The first apricots of the Ninfa variety are already being harvested in Puglia. Approximately 4-5 tonnes/day enter the warehouse of the Spina Group,…

Adailton de Sousa Nunes, Grupo Ara Agrícola:

"Europe's 14% tariff on Brazilian grapes hinders their competitiveness"

Brazil's seedless table grape season is faring well, with a 40% growth over the previous year and favorable weather conditions. The lower incidence of…

World Container Index - 17 Apr

Container Index decreased 3% to $2,192 per 40ft container this week

The Drewry WCI composite index decreased 3% to $2,192 per 40ft container, 79% below the previous pandemic peak of $10,377 in September 2021. However,…

China leads global strawberry innovation with tech-driven farming

China's extensive strawberry cultivation, covering 202,343 hectares, highlights its advanced agricultural technology and global influence in fruit production.…

Severe frost in Turkey threatens 2025 apple juice supply

A recent severe frost in Turkey has caused extensive damage to fruit orchards. Market participants have described it as one of the worst frost events…

Colombian banana growers aim to boost exports to EU market

Farmers in Colombia, the fifth-largest banana producer globally, are targeting increased shipments to the European Union, driven by the financial benefits of…

Gaming Garden project kicks off in Madrid:

“Urban farming can be accessible and impactful when approached simply and inclusively”

Following an announcement last September, Gaming Garden – Gamification for Accessible Vertical Farming, has officially entered its implementation…