Fresh Fruit Portal

21/03/2025

🚜 India's District Agriculture Office plans to expand banana cultivation

In an effort to boost banana production and exports, the District Agriculture Office in Pune is increasing banana cultivation to 3,000 hectares, aiming for 2 lakh tons of bananas annually within five years.

This growth will be supported by the use of AI and innovative technologies to increase yields per hectare from 42 tons to 65 tons. The plan includes creating clusters with necessary infrastructure, such as advanced warehouses to handle export-quality bananas. 📦🌍

India, a major banana producer, is working on improving sea shipment protocols to boost exports, sending its first shipment to the Netherlands in 2023.

https://www.freshfruitportal.com/news/2025/03/21/indias-district-agriculture-office-announced-plans-to-expand-banana-cultivation/

In an effort to increase banana exports, agriculture officials says they will be using artificial intelligence and other technologies to boost per-hectare yield from 42 tonnes to 65 tonnes and forming clusters.

21/03/2025

📢 Hapag-Lloyd posts 2024 results – With a slight rise in Group EBITDA to $5 billion and continued success in customer satisfaction, Hapag-Lloyd remains resilient in a challenging market. 🚢

💼 The company’s transport volumes increased by 4.7% in 2024, and revenues grew to $20.3 billion. Despite a decline in profit to $2.6 billion, key investments in terminal expansion, digitalization, and employee training pave the way for future growth.

💡 For 2025, Hapag-Lloyd anticipates a range of $2.5 billion - $4 billion in EBITDA, focusing on efficiency, new technologies, and environmental efforts as part of its long-term strategy.

Hapag-Lloyd has released its annual report, showing a slight increase in the operating result for 2024. Group EBITDA rose to $5 billion.

21/03/2025

📢 USDA announces $280M in emergency relief for Rio Grande Valley farmers 🌱

Under the 1944 Water Treaty, Mexico is required to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water every 5 years to the U.S. 🇺🇸💧 However, persistent noncompliance has caused severe water shortages, threatening Texas’ agricultural economy.

USDA’s $280M grant, in partnership with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), will provide direct relief to impacted producers in 2023-2024. This effort, announced by Secretary Brooke Rollins, aims to sustain Texas farmers and ranchers, ensuring their resilience amid ongoing water challenges.

https://www.freshfruitportal.com/news/2025/03/21/usda-allocates-280m-to-support-rio-grande-valley-ag-producers-amid-water-shortages/

Rio Grande Valley farmers and producers are suffering from Mexico’s ongoing failure to meet its water delivery obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty.

20/03/2025

🥭 Goldenberry Farms® launches 2025 Sugar Mango season

Goldenberry Farms kicks off its 2025 miniature mango season earlier than expected thanks to favorable weather conditions. With a growing presence in the US, Canada, and Europe, the company is focusing on traceability and product differentiation this year. Plus, they’ve introduced digital tools to help small farmers on Colombia's Caribbean coast enhance yield predictions and improve food safety. 🌍

🔗 Learn more about their innovations:

Weather conditions have helped to launch an earlier start to “miniature” (dwarf mango) from Colombia’s Caribbean Coast.

20/03/2025

🍌 Tanzania intensifies research on BBTV-resistant bananas 🌍

Researchers at IITA are working on developing a banana resistant to the destructive Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV). This project, supported by USDA-FAS, aims to address one of the most devastating banana diseases in East Africa and beyond. Early-stage research is underway with varieties being screened in the DRC.

🔗 Learn more about this groundbreaking research:

The effort is part of the organization's “Combating banana bunchy top virus in East Africa" project, created to develop a harmonized regional strategy for combating BBTV.

20/03/2025

🥝 Zespri International expands RubyRed kiwifruit production to Italy! 🇮🇹🚀

With 170 hectares added, Zespri strengthens its 12-month supply strategy and boosts its presence in Europe. Favorable early-season conditions also indicate a promising harvest, with over 205 million trays expected.

🔗 Read more about this expansion:

After continued success amongst consumers, Zespri is expanding the production of its RubyRed kiwifruit to Italy.

20/03/2025

🫐 Georgia’s blueberry industry is expanding fast!

With just seven years of commercial production, the country is investing in new technologies, modern varieties, and strategic partnerships to boost exports to Europe, the Gulf region, and now India. 🌍📈

🔗 Read more about Georgia’s growing blueberry market here:

Located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, Georgia is consolidating its blueberry industry with new plantations and technology.

19/03/2025

In the 2024 campaign, Peru surpassed 300,000 tons of citrus exports, reaching 37 countries, with the United States as the main destination. Exports increased by 20% compared to the total in 2023. The most demanded fruit was the mandarin, accounting for 74% of the total volume.

19/03/2025

🍒 Chile wraps up its cherry season with a 51% export increase 🚢📈

According to Decofrut, Chile exported 626,013 tons of cherries during the 2024-25 season, marking a 51% growth compared to last year.

📌 Key insights:
✅ 93.9% of exports went to the Far East 📦
✅ Growth in other markets: U.S. (+46%), Europe (+81%), and Middle East (+202%)
✅ Challenges: Falling prices due to supply volume and fruit quality concerns 📉

💬 How do you see the future of Chilean cherries in global markets?

https://www.freshfruitportal.com/news/2025/03/19/final-stretch-of-chilean-cherry-season-sees-51-rise-in-exports/

Chilean cherry season has officially entered the final leg of its 2024-25 campaign. According to Decofrut, 626,013 tons have been exported.

18/03/2025

📈 Peru’s blueberry exports set to exceed 350,000 tons in 2025 🫐

Peru has reinforced its position as the world’s leading blueberry exporter, closing 2024 with $2.27 billion in sales. 🚀

🔹 326,000 tons exported in 2024 (a 57% YoY increase)

🔹 Growing demand for organic blueberries (11% of total exports)

🔹 Top markets: U.S. 🇺🇸 (55%), Netherlands 🇳🇱 (21%), Hong Kong 🇭🇰 (9%)

With rising global demand and year-round production, Peru is poised for another record-breaking year! 🌍

🔗 Read more:

In this installment of the ‘Agronometrics In Charts’ series, we take a look at this year's Peru’s blueberry exports.

18/03/2025

🛡️ Enhanced security at avocado and mango packinghouses in Mexico

To ensure a safe environment in the export chain, Mexico’s Auxiliary Police is guarding 77 packinghouses for mangoes and avocados. 🥭🥑

📢 Ramsés Adaid, General Director of the corporation, highlighted that this measure strengthens international confidence in Michoacán’s agricultural products.

🔍 It also protects USDA inspectors, allowing them to supervise packing operations with confidence.

🔗 Read more here:

The Auxiliary Police are guarding 77 mango and avocado packinghouses destined for export to guarantee safety for workers.

18/03/2025

🫐 Florida Expects a Standard Blueberry Harvest

After last year’s market overflow, Florida’s blueberry industry projects a 20-million-pound production for 2025. 📊

🌿 Ryan Atwood, grower and member of the Florida Blueberry Growers Association, highlights that the cooler nights have improved fruit quality, and harvest will start slightly later than usual.

💡 Florida is expected to have most of April to itself before Georgia and Mexico impact the market.

🔗 Read more here:

Ryan Atwood, a Central Florida blueberry and strawberry grower and member of the Florida Blueberry Growers Association, spoke with Freshfruitportal.com about this Florida blueberry season.

17/03/2025

🇨🇦💰 Canada Invests Over $1M in Farmer Safety 🌾🚜

Ahead of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced a $1.6M investment to support the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA). This funding will help improve farm safety, training programs, and mental health support for farmers and workers. ✅

📢 How important is safety in agriculture? Let’s discuss!

The funding will be used to improve farm safety and reduce the risk of injuries in Canadian agriculture through national leadership, training programs, awareness campaigns, and on-farm resources.

17/03/2025

🍇🌍 Argentine Table Grapes Enter the Australian Market 🇦🇷➡️🇦🇺

Serena INTA, a seedless grape variety developed by INTA, is now being cultivated in Robinvale, Victoria, with plans for expansion into Queensland. This could accelerate harvests by up to three months! 🚀

📢 How will this innovation impact the global table grape industry?

Australian growers traveled to Cuyo, in central-west Argentina, to obtain cuttings of Serena INTA, an Argentine table grape developed by the genetic improvement program.

17/03/2025

🌍📦 The New Global Landscape and Its Impact on Trade 🚢

Maritime experts analyze how geopolitical uncertainty, tariffs, and conflicts are affecting the supply chain—and what ports can do to prepare. 📈

📢 How will the proposed tax on Chinese vessels impact U.S. trade?

🔗 Learn more

As uncertainty over trade wars, tariffs, and ongoing conflicts in some of the world's most important trade routes continue to create uncertainty, port exports are trying to anticipate what will happen in upcoming years.

14/03/2025

🍓 The Global Fruit Puree Market: A $10 Billion Opportunity by 2035!
The demand for natural and healthy food options is set to drive the fruit puree market to $10B in the next decade! With an annual growth rate of 6.5%, fruit purees are becoming a staple in everything from dairy to baby food. 🌱

What’s behind this growth?
✅ Rising popularity of plant-based and vegan diets
✅ Improved product quality and shelf life through advanced processing
✅ Tropical fruits like mango and passion fruit lead the market

The future looks bright for fruit purees! Are you ready to tap into this growing market? Click below for more insights 👇

https://www.freshfruitportal.com/news/2025/03/14/global-fruit-puree-market-to-reach-10b-by-2035/

An increasing consumer preference for natural and healthy food products is driving interest in the fruit puree market, a report has stated.

14/03/2025

🥑 Kenya’s Avocado Comeback: What’s Changing in 2025?
After a six-month suspension, Kenya is back in the avocado export game! But this time, new regulations, stricter inspections, and logistical challenges are reshaping the industry.

💡 What’s happening?
✅ Hass avocado exports resume March 17
✅ Mandatory packhouse inspections for exporters
✅ New compliance rules—strict penalties for violations
✅ Red Sea crisis impacting shipments—what’s the alternative?

🔍 Will these new measures strengthen Kenya’s position in global markets? Find out more 👇

Kenya, Africa's largest avocado grower and exporter and a prominent supplier to the European market, will resume sea exports on March 17.

13/03/2025

🍊 Brazilian Orange Market Faces Challenges in 2024 🇧🇷

Brazil’s orange industry is grappling with a significant drop in quality this year, leading to lower prices for processing and a reduction in orange juice exports. The deteriorating quality is linked to multiple flowering cycles, resulting in fruit harvested at different maturity stages.

📉 Key Insights:

🔹 A 6.55% drop in the price of oranges for processing

🔹 Declining international orange juice prices

🔹 A 3.4% reduction in orange juice exports for 2024/2025

https://www.freshfruitportal.com/news/2025/03/13/quality-of-brazilian-oranges-has-dropped-this-year/

Prices of Brazilian oranges for industry fell significantly at the end of February due to the low quality of the fruit and international decreases in orange juice quotations.