Annual IFPA Conference: Every session aims to be a dialogue
From 1 to 3 August, leaders from every segment of the produce supply chain will convene at Cape Town’s Century City conference centre for the International Fresh Produce Association’s Southern

Dutch packer uses Production Efficiency Control System
In 2019, the Austrian software producer activeIT implemented its production control software, then called traceNET-Production, in the Dutch fresh food center, Fresh Park Venlo. After a project

The French raspberry sector has potential
All raspberry production basins in France are now active at the beginning of July. “With average temperatures in May, this year’s harvest was not early, unlike in 2022. The last high-altitude

A truck loaded with peppers was stolen at gunpoint in Granada
The Civil Guard has arrested the 39-year-old man who, on June 17, stole at gunpoint a truck loaded with peppers. The theft occurred around 19:40 hours when the driver of a truck from Morocco

"Good weather means Dutch blueberries are ripening faster than expected"
On Monday, in the Netherlands, the Berrybrothers team began picking the new season's first blueberries. "The timing surprised us a bit. With the wet, dark March and April, we thought we'd start a

Primever opens Dutch branch
On June 1, 2023, Primever Holland opened in Poeldijk, the Netherlands. It has cross-docking facilities for fruit and vegetable transport to France and its distribution from there to the

South Africa: Citrus industry analyses flood damage
Heavy rains in the Western Cape have caused flooding in some areas, affecting the citrus industry in particular. Citrusdal, located in the Olifants River Valley, was hit particularly hard after

"Belgian tomato prices under pressure, but those of eggplant and cucumber rebound"
The Belgian greenhouse vegetable season is in full swing at importer/exporter, Fresh Food. During the winter, this Belgian company focuses mainly on imports from Southern Europe and Morocco, but

South African citrus industry assesses flood damage
Heavy rainfall around South Africa’s Western Cape has caused flooding in some areas, with the citrus industry in particular affected by the extreme weather. Citrusdal, located in the Olifants

Netherlands: Will zero percent VAT on fruit and vegetables come in 2024?
On 19 September, the cabinet will announce whether VAT on fruit and vegetables will be reduced to 0% in 2024 or whether there will be alternative measures. This was in response to questions from

Continued volume growth as South Africa’s blueberry industry matures
A recent BerriesZA symposium demonstrated the levels of optimism and commitment within South Africa’s blueberry industry, remarks the organisation's new chairperson. “The new blueberry crop is

"You'll find our trailers from Japan to Siberia to the Netherlands"
What began, in 1948, as a small company in an equally small Dutch village called Noorden has grown into a global player and market leader: Van der Peet Logistics and Transport Solutions, which, in

"South African citrus started on empty market"
Spring was a long time coming in the Netherlands, but the somewhat grayer weather was good for citrus sales, says Gijsbert van Leeuwen, responsible for procurement at Olympic Fruit. "It wasn't

BayWa r.e. builds largest "Fruitvoltaic" project in Europe
In the Netherlands, BayWa r.e. and its subsidiary GroenLeven have begun construction on Europe's largest "Fruitvoltaic" project. The plant, which involves placing PV modules over raspberries, has

Building storage facilities is a profitable investment for vegetable growers in Ukraine
The high prices of vegetables in Ukraine prompted farmers to invest in building storage facilities. These facilities are crucial for the development of their business. Andriy Maruschak, the

“Sweden and Morocco are new Xenia pear sales markets”
The Dutch Xenai pear sales season ended earlier than expected, in late April. Xenia Europa's sales manager Raymond van Ojen reflects on a good sales season. "The harvest was similar to last year.

Belinda Van Schaik wins MOYA 2023
Belinda Van Schaik has won the 2023 IFPA-Produce Plus Marketer of the Year Award (MOYA), sponsored by Seeka. Australasia’s premier marketing award for the fresh fruit, vegetable and floral

Belgian organic grower expands cautiously: "There was only slightly more, but it was hard to sell”
"There's always more demand for organic cucumbers than we can supply," organic grower Koen van Hauteghem of Vitaetom stated last fall. During a visit - at the invitation of VLAM, Flanders'

"Major political unrest in Senegal making for a very uncertain start to the mango season"

"High onion prices will persist until a new harvest is available, since there are no good alternatives"
Earlier this season, Jan van der Lans announced that this would be his last onion campaign. "It has become a memorable season. I had never seen prices increasing so fast in the long run. We

Belgium’s Van Dijk Foods becomes a GLOBALG.A.P. community member
The newest GLOBALG.A.P. Community Member, Belgium-based Van Dijk Foods, is a produce importer and distributor. The company is part of the greater Achiel De Witte Group, which is also based in

Where in the world is my container?
Dirk Winkelmann, president of Vanguard Direct, gives an update on the industry and its ongoing supply chain challenges. According to Winkelmann, there has been improvement in areas such as North

"May had very ordinary melon prices"
On the European melon market, May was nothing to write home about. "That applies to not only the overseas season's tail end," says Leon van den Hombergh. "But also the Spanish season's start."

A closer look at South African citrus for 2023
Vanguard has received the full estimate for the 2023 citrus crop in South Africa. The latest estimate is 165.6 million cartons--800,000 more than last year. Two interesting commodities have