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Lufthansa Cargo flying 40 million roses into Europe for Valentine’s Day

Lufthansa Cargo is currently flying in entire freighters filled with roses, mainly from Kenya & South America, ready for Valentine's Day.

Lufthansa Cargo is currently flying entire freighters filled with roses, in readiness for Valentine’s Day, this Sunday.

In a press release, the Lufthansa Group’s cargo airline said it will be transporting over 1,500 tons of the sensitive product this year –  equivalent to about 40 million roses or the capacity of 16 flights with the MD-11 freighter. “Lufthansa Cargo always adds special charter flights to its regular flight schedule in February – this year with flights from Quito, in Ecuador, and Kenyan capital Nairobi, to Frankfurt – to meet the high demand on Valentine’s Day,” it said.

The company’s special Fresh/td product was developed especially for the shipment of perishable products, such as flowers and food, and has all the very latest equipment and facilities, it said.

“The roses’ journey usually starts in Kenya and South America. These countries offer the best conditions for growing roses, with an ideal climate all year around. Sophisticated logistics ensures that the roses are quickly and carefully transported from the countries where they are cultivated to their final destinations.”

The roses are harvested at the flower farms several times a day and then immediately placed in water and cooled. After being sorted and packaged, they are sent straight to the airport and into the cooled cargo holds of the freighters.

“The roses’ stay at Frankfurt Airport is but a short one and they usually find themselves in the hands of romantics all over Europe within a few hours of landing at the city on the Main,” Lufthansa Cargo said.

Source: Lufthansa Cargo

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EU-Mexico talks underway for agreement on organic trade

European Commission and Mexico to start negotiations on a bilateral agreement on trade in organic products

The European Commission and government of Mexico have started negotiations towards a bilateral agreement on trade in organic products.

A commission press release said both sides aim to “swiftly conclude” an agreement that would foster expansion of the market for organic farmers, reduce the burden for companies and supply more organic products for consumers.

Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture José Calzada and EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan met in Mexico City on February 10 to launch negotiations, “with a view to acknowledging the equivalence of each other’s organic legislation and control systems.” Hogan is visiting Mexico from 10 to 12 February 2016, accompanied by a delegation of 35 European businesses representing a wide range of the European Union’s agri-food sector.

According to the statement, organic farming is going through a period of expansion in Mexico. In 2014, the total area planted with organic crops amounted to 24.5 thousand ha, producing 104.4 thousand tons of organic products, valued at 1,062 million pesos. Tomatoes, coffee, strawberries and raspberries stand out as the leaders in value generation among organic crops.

In the EU, the organic sector has been rapidly developing in recent years, with a total area of 10.3 million ha cultivated as organic in 2014, up from 6.4 million ha in 2005. The EU market for organic products amounts to some 40% of the world market – second only to the US (43%).
 

 source: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/newsroom/259_en.htm

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Egypt showcases its export capacity at Fruit Logistica 2016

Egypt’s agriculture catapulted to international success at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2016

More than 90 Egyptian companies supported the Egyptian Agriculture Export Council by exhibiting under its banner at Fruit Logistica 2016, covering a total exhibition area of more than 1,700 m2.

The official Partner Country for Fruit Logistica 2016, Egypt held more than 700 business meetings during the trade show as the country gears up to expand its agricultural exports beyond its current loyal partners. “We have put our trust in this show since 1999 and this year we’ve broken all participation records,” said Egyptian Agriculture Export Council chairman Ali Eissa.

Egypt boasts vast swathes of new land untouched by pollution or disease. These new areas are ideal for the cultivation of high quality produce and Egypt is now maximising this potential by expanding its agricultural area through major reclamation projects. Furthermore, its unique geographic location is conducive to high quality production, which employs more than 32% of the country’s workforce.

In 2014/2015 the country exported over two billion dollars’ worth of agricultural products, not including rice. Egypt is the world’s largest exporter of oranges, second largest producer of artichokes, fifth biggest producer of tomatoes (specialising in sun-dried and sun-blush tomatoes) and the world’s sixth largest producer of strawberries. Its product portfolio also includes pomegranates, dates, herbs and spices.

Read more about Egypt here: www.eurofresh-distribution.com/news/egypt-fruit-logistica-2016-partner-country-set-export-growth

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Agroponiente with booming market and organics

Agroponiente confirms its market expansion in the organic segment, in Poland and North America.

Agroponiente is a company located in the Spanish Southeast, mainly in Almeria, but also with facilities along the coast of Granada, cultivating and trading fruit and vegetables such as tomato, cucumber, pepper, aubergine, beans, melons and watermelons, among others. Supply volumes for the current campaign are forecast to be similar last year’s, with slight variations per product and depending on how the market develops, as well as factors affecting it such as foreign competition, weather conditions and other eventualities.

New investments in packing and logistics

Throughout the year just closed, the firm invested over €2 million in upgrading facilities, mainly investing in logistics, reception processing and preparation services for produce in several of its centres. The aim is to continue the ongoing process of adaptation to market demands, while improving the product preparation logistics to meet each customer’s needs. Agroponiente continues its commercial philosophy based on reinforcing the strategies already up and running with its traditional customer base. For several years now the company has been working to open up new niche markets in countries such as the United States and Canada, although the bulk of its production is shipped to Europe, especially to Germany, the UK, Scandinavia, Italy and the booming Polish market, among others.

Organics, the biggest challenge this season

The latest big challenge for Agroponiente is organic production. To this end, a specific department has been created within the company, headed by Diego Oller, a professional in this segment with years of experience and knowledge. Agroponiente regards organic production as a reality with good future prospects for fruit and vegetable trading. To this end, the company has bolstered its activity in this area to meet growing demand from the markets. The company takes up this challenge with the drive, professionalism, knowledge and solvency gained through serving its customers for almost three decades. 

This article appeared on page 130 of edition 141, Jan/Feb 2016, of Eurofresh Distribution magazine. Read that issue online here. 

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Huelva diversifies and turns to sustainability

Sustainability is the watchword for Spanish farmers and traders, concerned about water foot - print and committed to deliver good qua - lity berries.

Huelva province, the biggest producer of fresh berries in Europe, is consolidating the crop diversification initiated last year and thereby ensuring the presence of Huelva berries across European markets for almost nine months a year.

The province of Huelva planted 9,658 ha of berries this season, reducing the strawberry area by 9% compared to 2014/2015, but still compensated by an increase of 25% in the rest of the berries, announced Freshuelva.

The growth in the planted area of raspberries, blue berries and blackberries is the result of Huelva’s commitment to diversifying its production, a movement that started strongly last season with farmers seeking new alternatives to meet consumer trends in Europe.

The strawberry plantation area is now estimated at 5,860 hectares (6,400 ha last season, -8.7%), while raspberries account for 1,815 hectares (1,560 ha last year, +16%), blackberries for 130 hectares (90 ha last season, +44%) and blueberries for 1953 hectares (1,470 ha last season, +33%), although a significant number of the blueberry orchards are young and will not produce at their full potential.

The ‘new’ berries are mainly being planted along the western Coast of Huelva, where surface water is available for irrigation, stressed Freshuelva.

MV

This article appeared on page 95 of edition 141, Jan/Feb 2016, of Eurofresh Distribution magazine. Read that issue online here.

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British grocery market returns to slow growth

New Year health kicks contributed to a strong performance across fresh foods & helped British grocery market return to slow growth.

Sales of fresh fruit and of vegetables have both grown 5% in the British grocery market, according to Kantar Worldpanel grocery share data for the 12 weeks to January 31.

The research firm said consumers had clearly sought a healthier start to the year and in doing so turned to fresh foods – particularly fruit and vegetables.

These New Year health kicks contributed to a strong performance across fresh foods, but the revenue growth from fruit and vegetables – which was shared across both traditional and discount retailers – was particularly significant as both categories are still experiencing like-for-like deflation. Similar growth occurred in nuts, fresh poultry and fish but the overall grocery market’s growth was slight, with a total increase of 0.2%, said head of Retail and Consumer Insight, Fraser McKevitt.

British grocery market share

  • The Co-operative: for the first time since 2011 the Co-operative was the fastest growing non-discounter, increasing sales by 1.4%. The convenience-focused grocer grew its own-label sales by 7%, with sales up fastest in the fresh and chilled part of the store.
  • Sainsbury’s: increased its sales for the sixth period in row, growing by 0.6% with a resulting market share increase of 0.1 percentage points to 16.8%.
  • Tesco: showed signs of improvement – while revenues fell by 1.6% .These are the best numbers posted by the retailer since September of last year.
  • Waitrose: its market share remained static at 5.2%, sales increased by 0.1%. This makes it the 91st consecutive period of growth for the retailer.
  • Discount retailers: Aldi and Lidl: saw their growth accelerate – Lidl to 18.7% and Aldi to 13.7%. Their share of the market increased by 0.7 percentage points, with Lidl’s rising to 4.2% and Aldi’s to 5.6% – a dip from the 10.0% combined market share high they experienced at the end of 2015.
  • Morrisons: the sales decline lessened to 2.2%, while market share fell by 0.3 percentage points to 10.8%.
  • Asda: recent announcement of renewed price cuts has not yet had time to materially affect its latest 12 week figures, with sales falling by 3.8% and share falling back to 16.2%.

Read more at: Health kick contributes to grocery market growth from Kantar Worldpanel

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Peru a world leader in organic banana exports

Peru ranks second globally with its exports of organic bananas reaching US $73 million in the first half of last year

Peruvian banana exports totalled US $120 million in 2014, up 35% on the previous year, according to the Commission for the Promotion of Peruvian Exports and Tourism, PROMPERU. And organic bananas now account for 53% of all organic exports from Peru. The country has become the world’s second biggest exporter of organic bananas, logging trade worth US $73 million in the first half of 2015. Its main markets were the Netherlands with 42%, the US with 27% and Germany with 16%, followed by Belgium, Japan, Finland, South Korea, the UK, Canada and Chile. Shipments throughout the first half of 2015 were up 28% on the same period in 2014. Total certified organic production in Peru in 2014 covered 486,600 ha, around 7% of the total agricultural surface area. The supply mainly consists of bananas (26% growth), the most traded product, and mango (91%). The most important market for these products was the EU, which took 53% of total organic exports – shipped mainly to Holland (25%), Germany (15%), Belgium (6%) and Italy (3%) – followed by the US with a 33% share, as well as Canada, Estonia and Australia, and Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan.

Organic supply growing in value

In recent years, the global trend towards consumption of safe and healthy products has grown stronger. In keeping with this, over January– July, exports of Peruvian organic products reached US $110 million, which meant 7% growth on the same period in 2014, reports Eduardo Amorrortu, CEO of Exporters’ Association ADEX. In 2014, organic banana exports from Peru achieved turnover up 50% on 2013. Amorrortu highlighted a notable change in consumer patterns. “Today there are consumers willing to pay an additional price for these items, which is reason enough to develop and encourage special differentiation strategies.” He also added that opening up and accessing new markets is a dynamic process, driving stakeholders to continually enhance their competitive edge.

NV

Peru flag map: CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons

This article appeared on page 82 of edition 141, Jan/Feb 2016, of Eurofresh Distribution magazine. Read that issue online here.

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USDA awards $20 million in citrus greening research grants

Citrus greening has affected more than 75% of Florida citrus crops and threatens production all across the United States.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $20.1 million in grants to university researchers for research and extension projects to help citrus producers fight Huanglongbing (HLB), commonly known as citrus greening disease.

According to a USDA press release, HLB was initially detected in Florida in 2005 and has since affected more than 75% of Florida citrus crops and threatens production across the US.

It has also been detected in Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas and several residential trees in California, as well as in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and 14 states in Mexico. A total of 15 US states or territories are under full or partial quarantine due to the detected presence of the Asian citrus psyllid, a vector for HLB.

US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said on Monday February 8​: “The research and extension projects funded today bring us one step closer to providing growers real tools to fight this disease, from early detection to creating long-term solutions for the industry, producers and workers.”

Trees infected with citrus greening, but not treated with heat, have obvious disease symptoms and reduced productivity. (Photo by Marco Pitino via USDA)

Research at the University of Florida and Washington State University will focus on growing the putative pathogenic bacterium in artificial culture, which will greatly facilitate research efforts to manage HLB. Another project at the University of Florida will develop morpholino-based bactericides to reduce pathogen transmission and eliminate infections in existing trees. Research at the University of California will use virulence proteins from the pathogen to detect its presence before symptoms appear and to develop strategies for creating citrus rootstocks that are immune to HLB.

Top image of orange tree leaves with symptoms of Huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening disease, by Tim Gottwald via USDA

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Zespri, T&G together targetting SE Asia

Disease threatens Italian kiwi

About one million trays of Zespri kiwifruit will be sold in Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos in the 2016 season as the first step in a new collaboration between Zespri and T&G. That would make for a nearly 50% increase in Zespri’s Kiwifruit sales in those countries in the 2015 season.

During last week’s Fruit Logistica fair in Berlin, the companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) confirming their intention to work together to develop market opportunities together to grow export sales.

T&G Global chairman Professor Klaus Josef said both companies are big New Zealand horticultural exporters with strong global brands. Similarly, Zespri Chairman Peter McBride said both are major contributors to the New Zealand economy and offer premium branded products supported by innovative marketing. “This MOU formalises our intentions to look for opportunities to use our respective strengths to grow sales,” McBride said.

“This proactive collaborative marketing partnership will accelerate the growth in kiwifruit sales across a region with huge potential. T&G will develop sales programmes for Zespri Green, Zespri SunGold and T&G products in these four Southeast Asian countries, leveraging the strength of the Zespri brand and marketing strategy with T&G’s existing business expertise, distribution channels and strong product offering,” he said.

T&G branded products such as JAZZTM and ENVYTM apples also to be promoted

Lutz said T&G will open an office in Bangkok to represent and support the companies’ sales programmes. The new team will work together to grow sales of both Zespri and T&G branded products like JAZZTM and ENVYTM apples in the region, with a regional manager already appointed and key account managers appointments to follow.

In a joint press release, the companies aid the collaborative arrangement is the first of its kind to be approved by regulator Kiwifruit NZ (KNZ) and learnings from it will be used to inform future collaborative programmes.

McBride said the recent Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project (KISP) consultation with growers heralded a change in direction for Zespri and collaborative marketing. “This has opened the way for Zespri to partner with companies which can offer strong coverage in new or developing regions for Zespri and increase returns to our growers.”

About 1.6 million trays of Zespri Kiwifruit were sold through collaborative marketing in 2015 and about 2.8 million have been provisionally approved for 2016.

About Zespri and T&G

Based in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, Zespri is the buyer of NZ kiwifruit for export to every country with the exceptions of Australia and collaborative marketing approvals for non-Zespri varieties.

Zespri manages kiwifruit innovation and supply management, distribution management and marketing of Zespri Green, Zespri SunGold, Zespri Organic, Zespri Gold and Zespri Sweet Green Kiwifruit. Its sales revenue for 2014/15 was s of $1.57 billion.

According to the release, T&G Global Ltd is recognised as New Zealand’s leading distributor, marketer and exporter of premium fresh produce. Since 2012, BayWa AG, Munich (Germany) has been its major shareholder.

Along with partner growers, T&G grows fresh produce in over 20 countries, including pipfruit, grapes, citrus, kiwifruit, asparagus, berries, summerfruit and tomatoes. It has a network of over 253,000m2 of storage facilities in New Zealand and a global distribution network covering sales, marketing and logistics.

Photo (supplied): Zespri Chairman Peter McBride (left) and T&G Global Chairman Professor Klaus Josef (right) after signing the MOU at the 2016 Fruit Logistica in Berlin.

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Galkia – the melon that always tastes like melon

The skin of Bayer's new Galkia melon indicates the best time for harvest by changing from green to yellow.

Bayer launched its Galkia melon at Fruit Logistica 2016 with the promise of consistent melon flavour and quality, and optimum ripeness, all through summer. “The times of unpleasant surprises when buying a melon are over,” said Carin Stroeken, produce chain manager of the Europe Middle East & Africa region at Bayer’s vegetable seeds business.

Bayer says the new Galkia brand instead marks a return to the rich aroma and flavour of the time-honoured melon, and one which meets the demands of today’s markets “at every step of the value chain.”

Exclusive ripeness indicator

Harvesting Galkia melons at their ideal flavour and firmness is simple because this is when their skins turn from green to yellow. Bayer says this innovative ripeness indicator is the secret behind its guarantee that its melons will always taste like melons. It also means they reach Northern European markets at their optimum point of ripeness, throughout summer.

“One of our strengths is to work closely with each part of the food chain and the supply chain to understand and anticipate their demands,” Stroeken said. “Our customers can rely on the best quality. No surprises here!”

Galkia is being grown in different parts of Spain, such as Almeria, Murcia and La Mancha, to ensure summer-long supply – from early June to the end of September. Three Galkia varieties will be available this summer: Kirene, Kinder and Kinetic.

Bayer also has projects underway that would see Galkia varieties grown in the Southern Hemisphere, further increasing its availability.

Image courtesy of Bayer Crop Science