ARGENTINE lemon production for 2011/12 is expected to fall 10.7% on previous year figures to 1.25 million tonnes, according to the Argentine Citrus Federation (Federcitrus). Total lemon exports are forecast at 220 000 tonnes, compared with 223 000 tonnes in 2010/11. In an interview with portalfruticola, Jorge Amigo, manager of Federcitrus, explained that despite the […]

Strong rand is bad news for South African traders SOUTH Africa’s pears are looking healthy as the processing season approaches, but currency concerns are likely to afflict the produce’s competitiveness. A local source said that the crop outlook is good, despite some unusual rain: “We have had good weather, but also awkward weather, with some […]

Breeders Trust has been vindicated in an arbitration case against a Dutch seed potato grower who has been shown to have illegally sold undersized potatoes as propagation material to Germany. The case is of importance because this verdict is unique in the seed potato sector, says Geert Staring, general director of Breeders Trust, based in […]

A fatal salmonella outbreak that has hit the UK and Germany has been linked to the consumption of watermelon, health officials have said. Source: http://www.just-food.com/news/watermelon-link-to-fatal-salmonella-outbreak_id118148.aspx

Bonduelle has agreed a deal to buy the Russian operations of fellow French food company CECAB. Source: http://www.just-food.com/news/bonduelle-acquires-cecabs-russian-ops_id117995.aspx

A shortage of locally grown processing potatoes is threatening to make Manitoba an importer of spuds for the first time in more than two decades and will lead to production cuts in at least one local processing plant. A spokesman for local potato growers said Friday a nightmare growing season last year took a big […]

Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, is looking to gain a foothold in mainland Europe, according to The Independent on Sunday. Yesterday (29 January) the newspaper reported that Steuart Walton, the 30-year-old grandson of company founder Sam Walton, is in London as part of plans to expand into the continent. Citing a source “close to Wal-Mart”, the […]