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

RedStar confirms key board appointment
Marieke van Heeswijk has joined the supervisory board of international tomato specialist RedStar, effective 1 June, the company has announced. The company said it planned to “make good use” of

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

"European melon cultivation challenges make Brazilian supply a good, reliable alternative"

Slight delay, good yield prospects
For almost three weeks now, apricots have been diligently harvested at the Kiefer fruit farm in the heart of the Ortenau. "We are about ten days behind with all crops, but the yields are quite

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

"Zaltbommel and Service2Fruit joining forces to get the best prices for growers from the market"
Unburdening is key to Veiling Zaltbommel's philosophy. This Dutch cooperative considers both the buyer and the grower in several ways. For example, growers were recently offered a switching

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

"Since the weather warmed up, fruit sales are booming again"
The beautiful sunny weather is a godsend for Michel van den Berg of the Dutch wholesaler De Best AGF. "Spring stayed cold for a long time, which put our sales behind compared to last year. But

Dutch company launches shandy made from rejected mandarins

'Only advantages from centralised sales'
Customers' demands are increasing, competition is fierce, and organic and club apples demand more and more attention. These are just some of the reasons that prompted Vip Val Venosta to start a

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

The future of black grapes
As new green varietals continue to expand the grape market year over year, black grapes have become a rarer sight on retail shelves due to their decreasing demand from buyers. As breeders aim to

Tomatoes, now you can grow them without the help of the plant
Is it possible to produce fruit and berries without the aid of the plant? It sounds utopian, but it is the experiment of researcher Lucas Van Der Zee from the Dutch University of Wageningen, who,

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

"Red Conference has potential on all green Conference pear sales markets"
"Very pricey" is how the Staay Food Group - Direct Fruit Services' Alex van Ieperen describes the current pear market. "Everything has been working in favor of good pear sales. In hindsight,