Hello from the Fruitnet newsroom. The past two weeks have been a living nightmare for many people in Valencia following late October's devastating flood. In the past two weeks, our reporting has assessed the impact on the region’s fruit business, which was summed up neatly this week by Paco Borrás in his exclusive report.
Estimated losses for growers and exporters are already in the hundreds of millions. And as wholesaler Nationwide Produce PLC observes, there is great concern about the future availability of certain key items like persimmons and mandarins. Our Spain editor, Maura Maxwell, also provides an update as the business tries to overcome such a tragic episode.
On a more positive note, Spain’s largest fruit and vegetable supplier AMFRESH Group says it is ready to spend €2bn to continue its recent expansion strategy through further acquisitions. By the end of the decade, it expects to achieve sales of €3.5bn, more than three times what they were in 2018.
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- ???? Donald Trump’s return to the White House has sent a ripple of apprehension south-east across the Atlantic to South Africa, where our colleague Fred Meintjes tells us of the fruit trade’s concern about their future trade dealings with the US. Closer to the States, the president elect’s apparent fondness for tariffs may also be a worry for the country’s big fruit and veg suppliers, especially Mexico.
- ?? Alistair Smith of Banana Link writes about major challenges ahead for the global banana industry, and explains why it must end what he calls ‘over-certification’. Meanwhile, the Netherlands’ largest retailer Albert Heijn has unveiled a new set of certification standards. And a European court has ruled that the blue-and-yellow oval beneath Chiquita’s famous banana label does not qualify for protection as an EU trademark. Only time will tell if anyone decides to mimic the company's Christmas sweater idea.
- ?? The big produce marketing story of the week is that British online retailer Ocado is to sell Disney-branded apples and mandarins supplied by Orchard World. There have been similar tie-ins for Dole too – it launched nine new products at CIIE in Shanghai, including Smurf-branded Belgian Conference pears and Kung Fu Panda fruit gift boxes. In Singapore, meanwhile, Zespri’s pillbox packs have returned to retail shelves as the company looks to reverse a fall in post-dinner fruit consumption.
- ?? It’s been another interesting week for fans of new tech. Italian apple company VIP has revealed it now uses AI to help identify the right time to harvest its fruit. And this week DP World launched?the world’s first all-electric berth at London Gateway.
- ???? Talking of ports, South African exporters say they welcome Transnet’s efforts to improve operations at the Port of Cape Town. But stonefruit exporters especially will be wary of further problems after they faced huge disruption at the port last season. Meanwhile, wrangling over new investment at Durban Container Terminal looks set to prolong the frustration for citrus suppliers. Elsewhere in the country,
Capespan
’s Charl du Bois has explained how its new 20-year table grape venture with NGC will help it grow, as northern producers anticipate a marginal increase in production, and the first major volumes of Namibian fruit leave for Europe.
- ?? Italy has become more self-sufficient when it comes to avocados. This month, organic marketer Brio (part of Gruppo Alegra) has extended the Italian season with the addition of new supply out of Catania. As a result, it says, by 2025/26 the domestic season could last from October to late March. On the other side of the world, Avocados Australia is one step closer to gaining market access to China.
- ???? Argentina has secured access for its citrus exports to Ecuador. But that won’t be enough to reverse a decline in the country’s citrus export sales, which continue to fall sharply, according to new figures shared this week by Federcitrus.
- ?? Chile’s cherry crop may turn out to be smaller than expected, Fedefruta has warned. In Peru, meanwhile, Camposol says its own cherry campaign in China will be almost two weeks earlier than last year, after its first shipment arrived at the start of this week.
- ?? Strong apple sales have helped BayWa Global Produce during the past few months, but not enough to prevent a third-quarter loss for its parent company BayWa Group. The company’s T&G Global division appointed Shane Kingston as chief operating officer of its apple business this week, less than 12 months after he joined the group as director of international sales and marketing. And in New Zealand, where T&G Global has its headquarters, fresh produce exports are set to increase by 8 per cent to NZ$4.3bn this year, according to a new report.
- ?? A few other key appointments made the headlines this week. Agrovision handed Scott Domann the newly created role of chief people officer. Hazera Seeds named former Netafim VP Ofer Peleg as its new CEO. Seafrigo’s incoming boss Bruno Plantaz described the company as “a sparkling diamond” that now “needs to be polished”. And Jeff Kammermeyer joined Apeel as VP of commercial operations.
?? How do Driscoll’s, Haygrove and Fall Creek expect Asia’s berry business to evolve in the coming years? Find out here.
?? Will blueberries be sold like this in future? Watch our exclusive video here and see what you make of Sekoya’s new dispenser.
Mike Knowles, Fruitnet Europe
PS Our fantastic Fruitnet Tropicals Congress is set to return for its second edition next year. Visit the official website for more information.
