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Ongoing strong growth in Mexican avocado Industry

The world leader in avocado production, Michoacán accounts for 80% of Mexico’s avocado production but the state of Jalisco – Mexico’s second-largest producer with 6% of total Mexican production – is growing at a faster rate than other states.

Mexico’s Hass avocado production is forecast to come in at 1.6 million tons in marketing year (MY) 2015/16, up from the estimated 2014/15 total of 1.5 million, and 1.4 million tons in 2013/14. And exports will rise to about 750,000 tons in 2015/16 (July/June), predicts the USDA GAIN’s Mexico Avocado Annual Report.

Production

The USDA Post’s avocado production forecast for 2015/16 of 1.6 million tons is based on official estimates and reflects the fact that Michoacán has enjoyed good weather, though rainfall and hail in March “somewhat affected maturity levels of the fruit.”
“Sources indicate that the good implementation of phytosanitary pest control programs has helped boost production,” the report says.

Production growing fast in state of Jalisco

The world leader in avocado production, Michoacán accounts for 80% of Mexico’s avocado production but the state of Jalisco – Mexico’s second-largest producer with 6% of total Mexican production – is growing at a faster rate than other states.

Total area planted is forecast to rise 6.2% to 186,926 ha in 2015/16 “as growers in different states in Mexico are interested in increasing area due to good domestic and international demand for Mexican Hass avocados.”

Due to plant health concerns, Michoacán is currently the only state in Mexico authorised to export Hass avocados to the US.

Varieties

Due to its longer shelf life and demand for the variety in foreign markets, most Mexican states grow the Hass variety. Other varieties planted in Mexico at smaller scales are Fuerte, Criollo, Bacon, Pinkerton, Gwen, and Reed.

Export growth

Despite international prices being lower than expected in September/October 2015, exports were slightly higher compared to the same period in 2014/15. According to Global Trade Atlas (GTA), exports for 2014/15 are estimated at 736,421 tons; however, data from the Secretariat of Economy (SE) in Mexico estimate exports at 847,070 tons.

In general, exports have been increasing due to a good international demand and year-round market access to all 50 US states.

According to GTA, avocado exports to the US for 2014/15 were 584,252 tons (SE data indicates 693,342 tons, very close to the industry estimates), and for MY 2013/14 exports to the US were 436,578 tons (SE data indicates 516,084 tons).

The vast majority of the export business is managed directly by packers, many of whom have significant U.S. investments. Growers in Michoacán generally sell their fruit on the spot market to a packer in terms of pesos per kilo.

Industry representatives indicate that processed avocado (guacamole) exports are approximately 170,000 tons, and that these products are sold to the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, GAIN says.

Export markets

The US is the top export market for Mexico, consuming 79% of total exports. Japan and Canada are strategic market niches where Japan has about 9% of the market and Canada about 6%. About 37 packers in Michoacán are eligible to export Mexican avocados to the US. Mexico has been exporting avocados to 21 countries; other top markets besides those listed above include Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and France. As Mexico has increased trade with China over the past few years, avocado exports to that country increased from 1,825 tons in 2013/14 to 7,869 tons in 2014/15.

New avocado niche: avocado oil for cosmetics

Fresh avocado exports continue to drive producer profitability despite the fact that new market niches are developing (for example, the extraction and export of avocado oil for the cosmetic industry). The cosmetic industry has not taken full advantage of this demand segment as there is a consumer perception that avocado byproducts are expensive. A small amount of avocado oil is also sold for food use.

source: GAIN Report Number: MX5050 Mexico Avocado Annual Report

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New EU promotion policy for farm products starts today

512px-Banderas_europeas_en_la_Comisión_Europea

“Enjoy, it’s from Europe”: the new European Commission promotion policy that applies as of today will help the sector’s professionals break into or consolidate international markets and make European consumers more aware of the efforts made by European farmers, according to the commission.

It has promised to make more resources available, to increase the co-financing rate and to cut the red tape for the approval of projects. “This is part of an effort to increase progressively the available EU budget for promotion, from €61 million in 2013 (when the new rules were proposed) to €200 million in 2019,” the commission said in a press release.

The 2016 programme targets a selected list of non-EU countries where there is the highest potential for growth in particular to the sectors experiencing a particularly difficult market situation, like dairy and pig meat. Of the total amount, €30 million were specifically earmarked in the support package unveiled by Commissioner Hogan early September to support promotion measures in these two sectors. 

Money for promotional programmes

The British Leafy Salads Association (BLSA) is one of two UK organisations among 33 beneficiaries of new EU funding for initiatives aimed at promoting agricultural products, reports Croner-i.

The BLSA will receive €142,480 from the Commission to promote fresh fruit and vegetables. It was funded as part of the last tranche of promotional programmes to be approved under the system established by EU Regulation 3/2008. From today (December 1, 2015) the new rules introduced by Regulation 1144/2014 will see a wider range of products and organisations eligible for funding.

For more information on “Enjoy, it’s from Europe“: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/promotion/policy/index_en.htm

Image: By Amio Cajander [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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The TPP and fruit & vegetable trade

The TPP agreement grants new and enhanced market access in Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, New Zealand and Brunei, countries with which the US does not currently have a free trade agreement (FTA). It also expands market access into Canada, which already has an FTA with the US.

How the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will affect trade in various fruits and vegetables is covered in a recently updated report by the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service.

The agreement, concluded on October 5 this year, is between the United States and Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

The TPP agreement grants new and enhanced market access in Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, New Zealand and Brunei, countries with which the US does not currently have a free trade agreement (FTA). It also expands market access into Canada, which already has an FTA with the US, the report says.

Tariff reductions are a core element of the TPP, under which countries have committed to “provide substantial market access for the US by either phasing out most tariffs (many immediately), enacting meaningful tariff reductions, or allowing a specific quantity of imports at a lower duty (generally zero) where tariff elimination is not possible.”

“The benefits of the TPP agreement will occur through a combination of tariff elimination, tariff reductions, and new tariff-rate quotas (TRQs),” the report says.

The following are details most relevant to trade in fresh fruit and vegetables:

CHERRIES, APPLES, PEARS

In 2014, the US exported $915 million of fresh apples, cherries, and pears to the TPP region and $1.8 billion to the world.

Japan: the 8.5% tariff for fresh cherry imports will be cut in half upon entry into force of the agreement and eliminated in 6 years. The 17% tariff for fresh apples will fall 25% immediately upon implementation and be eliminated in 11 years and the 4.8% tariff on fresh pear imports will be eliminated immediately upon implementation.
Malaysia: the 5% tariffs on fresh apples, cherries, and pears will be eliminated immediately.
Vietnam: the 10% tariffs on apples, cherries and pears will be eliminated in 3 years.
US: tariffs on fresh apples, cherries, and pears, which are as high as 0.3 cents/kg (approximately 0.2% ad valorem equivalent), will be eliminated immediately.

CITRUS FRUIT & JUICES

In 2014, the US exported $881 million of citrus and citrus juices to the TPP region and $1.5 billion to the world.

Japan: tariffs on imported oranges will be eliminated in 6-8 years. It will expand the season when tariffs are lower from June-November to April-November. During the transition period, there will be a safeguard during the December-March high-tariff season. Japan’s current orange juice tariffs will be eliminated in six-11 years. It will also eliminate its 10% duty on grapefruit over 6 years. Japan’s tariff on lemons is already fixed at zero.
Malaysia: will keep its tariffs on oranges at 0% and immediately eliminate its current 5% tariffs on grapefruit and lemons.
Vietnam: will eliminate in 3 years the current 40% tariff on grapefruit and 20% tariff on lemons. It will also eliminate tariffs on citrus juices, currently as high as 25%, in 5-8 years and eliminate the 20% tariff on oranges in 4 years.
US: will phase out tariffs on oranges, grapefruit, lemons and citrus juices in ten years or less. These tariffs are less than 3 cents/kg for citrus fruits and range up to 7.85 cents/litre for citrus juices.

OTHER FRUITS

In 2014, the US exported $1.6 billion of fruit other than citrus fruits, apples, cherries, and pears to the TPP region and $2.2 billion to the world.

Japan: tariffs, as high as 17%, will be immediately eliminated for many products, including grapes, avocados, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, kiwi, watermelon, and papaya. Tariffs for the vast majority of other products in this category, currently as high as 17%, will be eliminated in 11 years or less.
Malaysia: will immediately eliminate tariffs on the majority of these fruits, which currently face tariffs as high as 30%. Tariffs on tropical fruits, such as bananas and longans, will be eliminated over a 10-year period.
Vietnam: All of Vietnam’s tariffs on these fruits, currently as high as 30%, will be eliminated in 4 years or less. Vietnam’s tariff of 10% on fresh grapes will be eliminated in 3 years.
US: will eliminate tariffs as high as 29.8% in 10 years or less.

POTATOES & POTATO PRODUCTS

In 2014, the US exported $1.0 billion of potatoes and potato products to the TPP region and $1.7 billion to the world.

Japan: tariffs on fresh potatoes, which are currently as high as 4.3%, will be immediately eliminated. Japan’s 8.5% tariff on frozen whole potatoes will be eliminated in six years. Additionally, Japan’s 20% tariff on dehydrated flakes, granules, pellets, flour, meal and powder will be eliminated in six-11 years. In 2014, Japan imported more than $200 million of frozen French fries. Japan will eliminate its current 8.5% duty on frozen French fries in four years and its nine% tariff on “other prepared/preserved frozen potatoes” in six years.
Malaysia: will immediately eliminate tariffs on all potatoes and potato products, currently ranging up to eight%.
Vietnam: will eliminate tariffs on all potatoes and potato products, currently as high as 34%, within six years. It will eliminate the tariff on frozen French fries in four years.
US: will eliminate tariffs on all potatoes and potato products, currently as high as 14%, in zero-10 years.

FRESH & PROCESSED VEGETABLES

In 2014, the US exported $3.9 billion of fresh and processed vegetables (including potato and dried pulses) to the TPP region and more than $5.9 billion to the world.

Japan: will eliminate tariffs for virtually all fresh and processed vegetables. Many of Japan’s vegetable tariffs, currently as high as 17%, will be eliminated immediately as will tariffs on vegetable juices and canned and other vegetable products. These products include fresh/chilled broccoli, fresh tomatoes, fresh celery, fresh asparagus, cabbage, lettuce, chickpeas, garlic and shallots. Tariffs on other fresh and processed vegetables, including fresh sweet corn and onions, will be eliminated in 4-11 years.
Vietnam: will eliminate tariffs, currently as high as 40%, on fresh and processed vegetables in 11 years or less. It will immediately eliminate tariffs on several vegetables including asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, ginseng, peppers, and spinach.
Malaysia: will immediately eliminate tariffs, some of which are 90% or higher, on all fresh and processed vegetables.
US: will eliminate tariffs, currently as high as 29.8%, on all fresh and processed vegetables in 10 years.

Image: “Leaders of TPP member states” by Gobierno de Chile – 14.11.2010 Gira a Asia. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Commons

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Egypt, Fruit Logistica 2016 partner country, set for export growth

the future looks bright for Egypt’s agricultural exports. In the last decade, it has increased the volume of this trade by 226% and now exports to 145 countries. New investments in the sector and its commitment to the establishment of international specifications in packaging will support further growth.

The Egyptian export sector will be out in force at Fruit Logistica 2016 with 89 exporters exhibiting, up from 76 this year.

Egypt is the partner country for the event, a leading international trade fair for fresh produce marketing, which takes place February 3-5 in Berlin. The country’s pavilion in hall 2.1 will host the official Fruit Logistica opening on February 3.

According to a Fruit Logistica press release, the future looks bright for Egypt’s agricultural exports. In the last decade, it has increased the volume of this trade by 226% and now exports to 145 countries. New investments in the sector and its commitment to the establishment of international specifications in packaging will support further growth.

In 2014/2015 the country exported over $2 billion worth of agricultural products, excluding rice.

“The farming industry and its related sectors are vital to the Egyptian economy, with cultivated areas reaching around 9 million acres. They employ 32% of the country’s workforce and account for 14.7% of GDP,” the release says.

New African free trade area

It also says that an important step for Egypt was the agreement of 26 African countries in June this year to create a free trade area. The new free trade agreement Tripartite is integrating the existing agreements COMESA, EAC and SADC. In 2017, when Tripartite is supposed to become effective, it will facilitate the movement of goods between member states.

The safety and quality of food products and water supplies are of great concern to Egypt’s health authorities. They ensure safe, high-quality fresh produce while complying with numerous global standards and international certification bodies and institutions. They carefully monitor farms and exporters to ensure the quality of exported products, it says.

Egypt’s agricultural exports

According to a report by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Egypt was the world’s largest exporter of oranges in 2014/2015, but it also exports a wide variety of other kinds of fruit, and vegetables.

Top farm exports in 2014/2015

  • oranges 1.22 million tons
  • potatoes 650,000 tons
  • onions 492,000 tons
  • dry beans 182,000 tons
  • grapes 111,000 tons
  • tomatoes 109,000 tons
  • pomegranates 55,000 tons
  • green beans 44,000 tons
  • mandarins 36,000 tons
  • strawberries 34,000 tons
  • lemons 33,000 tons
  • peanuts 26,000 tons

Egypt’s agricultural export partners

  • Exports to 145 countries
  • In 2014/2015, 727 Egyptian companies exported 743,000 tons to the EU. During the same period overall exports reached 3.53 million tons.
  • 21% of Egypt’s farming products are exported to the EU where the main markets are the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Germany, Romania, Lithuania, Spain and France.

Egypt’s main non-EU trading partners for its produce include:

  • Saudi Arabia (18% of Egypt’s overall output),
  • Russia (18%)
  • The UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and India.

Logistics and transport

  • Egypt’s unique geographic location in the Middle East combined with an expanding infrastructure base enhances the country’s position as a key global logistics hub for companies looking to do business in, or trade with, Europe, Asia and Africa.
  • About 90% of Egypt’s foreign trade is shipped through ports.
  • The expansion of the Suez Canal is expected to double its capacity to 97 ships a day.
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Fontestad France hires a new director

“My objective at Fontestad is to develop the French market and the Mademoiselle brand,” says Yann Fourcade, new CEO of Fontestad France.

Yann Fourcade, agro-engineer from ESAP Purpan (Toulouse), aged 42, is the new CEO of Fontestad France, the sales and logistics centre of the group based in Saint Charles (Perpignan).

Originally from the province of Perpignan, Yann spent 11 years of his career as a purchasing manager in the Carrefour group. In the last 6 years he worked as the commercial and logistics director of Saveol, the leading French tomato organisation.

Fontestad stand at Fruit Attraction, Madrid, October 2015

“My objective at Fontestad is to develop the French market and the Mademoiselle brand,” he said.

Fontestad is one of the leading citrus producer and export groups. Last season it marketed about 100,000 tons for turnover of €100 million.

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Brazil promoted as the world’s barn and a superb orchard

“The Brazilian fresh fruit industry became very competitive in the last years. Breeding and technical developments in the orchards allowed us to achieve a high level of quality, producing almost 365 days a year. Traceability, food security and social and environmental sustainability are also our hallmarks," Lobo said.

The Brazilian Fruit Growers-Exporters Association (ABRAFRUTAS) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) joined together to launch a new brand, Frutas do Brasil, at Fruit Attraction in Madrid in October.

“Today only 3% of Brazilian fruit is exported, but we want to go much further, showing the world the unique flavors of the Brazilian sweet, juicy and fresh apples, avocados, bananas, grapes, lemons, limes, mangoes, melons, oranges, papaya, tangerines and watermelon, among others,” Frutas do Brasil project manager Helio Lobo told Eurofresh Distribution.

Lobo said the aim of this organisation, which unites 14 producers and exporters, is to support international partnerships, promoting the origin of Brazil worldwide.  

“Brazil, the World’s Barn is also a Superb Orchard” is the motto for the new campaign, which focuses on the quality and taste of the fruit nourished by the country’s unmatchable tropical sunlight. The brand uses joyful colours, representing the diversity of the fruit and natural warmth of the Brazilian people. The native bird the beija-flor” (hummingbird in English) acts as a symbol of sustainability.

“The Brazilian fresh fruit industry became very competitive in the last years. Breeding and technical developments in the orchards allowed us to achieve a high level of quality, producing almost 365 days a year. Traceability, food security and social and environmental  sustainability are also our hallmarks,” Lobo said.

Quality label for Brazil’s  papaya growers  

Brazil produces about 1.5 million tons of papaya (“mamão”), from 32,000 ha, yet just 33,000 tons were exported in 2014, worth $45 million. According to Brapex, the Brazilian Papaya Growers-Exporters Association, this was a 16% increase in exports on 2013, driven by new plantings in Rio Grande do Norte, where exports rose 55% in 2014. Formosa is the main export variety.

Five papaya exporters were at Fruit Attraction 2015 in the Brapex stand in order to convince Europe of the great flavour of the Brazilian papaya. The ‘Brapex’ quality brand is about to be implemented in the papaya sector, signifying farms and packing units that will have to adhere to technical specifications aimed at improved quality and undergo independent auditing. The quality brand will be used by 15 growers and 6 papaya exports, and will not replace their individual brands, Brapex executive manager Franco Fiorot told ED.

TranscomexGG 1st exporter at Jaiba project

TranscomexGG was created in 2010, being the first exporter based in the Jaiba Project, in Minas Gerais, which is the largest irrigation program in Latin America and known for the high volume and quality of its Tahiti limes, Palmer mangoes, Formosa papayas and Prata bananas.

A banana field in the Jaiba Project

The project is being developed on around 25,000 ha but is expected to reach a total area of 47,000 ha by 2020 and 73,000 ha by 2035.

The TranscomexGG stand

The region’s main agricultural product is the Prata banana, which accounts for 50% of the bananas consumed in Brazil. It is a tropical variety mainly grown in Brazil and has several features distinguishing it from the Cavendish variety, namely that it is easier to digest, has a slightly longer shelf life and does not brown as easily after being processed. Prata bananas were first presented internationally at Fruit Logistica 2015.

TranscomexGG partners with local grower associations, cooperatives and large producers in order to export their products. At present the company exports 10,000 tons of fruit, but aims to reach 40,000 tons by 2020, targeting Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East said TranscomexGG business director Cristiano Glória. The company has its own fleet of trucks, which gives it a unique control of the cold chain supply.

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Barakat Quality Plus adopts shift work to better serve hospitality sector

Part of Barakat Group, BQP produces cut vegetables and fruits, ice cream and fruit juice. It has 95 varieties of juices and 200 different ice creams flavours. It is also retailing soups and salads.

The newest development at UAE-based food and beverage company Barakat Quality Plus (BQP) is that the company has introduced shift work. This move reflects the company’s focus on hotels, which account for 75% of turnover received overnight, according to BQP managing director Michael Wunsch. Among the advantages of the change is that BQP’s fleet, which was previously only in operation for 8 hours, is now better used. Also, the long queues in receival areas and dense traffic in the city during day can be avoided at night, Wunsch said.

Growth in airlines business

BQP’s turnover is directly linked to the hospitality sector and 2015 has not been a year of growth. Summer tourism in the UAE declined about 20%, mainly because Ramadan is now in summer. Also the high value of the US dollar against the euro affected tourism from Europe.

However, BQP’s business with airlines is growing every year by about 5% and it has a new business with its own vending machines, starting with 25 machines, mainly in hospitals and government offices offering juices and salads. All the investment and operations are done by BQP itself.

Part of Barakat Group, BQP produces cut vegetables and fruits, ice cream and fruit juice. It has 95 varieties of juices and 200 different ice creams flavours. It is also retailing soups and salads.

BQP going public

Another key development is that BQP is going public. Forty percent of its capital will be listed in an IPO (initial public offering.) Also, it is investing in a new logistic centre serving both its factories, one objective of which is to facilitate its night deliveries.

MM

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South Africa’s deciduous fruit supply

South Africa is the Southern Hemisphere’s fourth biggest apple producer and ranks second for pears.

With about 79,803 ha last year, deciduous fruit is the largest sub-sector for all land dedicated to fruit plantations in South Africa.

And of the country’s total area planted with deciduous fruit, grapes (fresh and dried), apples and pears together accounted for about 78%, reports the USDA’s Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN).

In an update on South African deciduous fruit supply and demand, it says South Africa is the Southern Hemisphere’s fourth biggest apple producer and ranks second for pears.

The Western Cape is the country’s largest and traditional producer of deciduous fruits, but in the past two decades the Northern and Eastern Cape, and Limpopo provinces have become increasingly large producers of deciduous fruit, GAIN says.

Forecasts from the South African post in the report include:

Apples
South African apple production is expected to increase by 2% to 865,000 tons in the 2016 marketing year (January to December), and exports to inch up 1% to 455,000 tons, based on the available production and the weak rand exchange rate.
Africa is now the leading export market for South Africa apples, taking nearly half of total exports, followed by the EU (26%), Asia (20%) and the Middle East (7%).
The top 5 export countries in 2014 were the UK (17%), Malaysia (11%), Nigeria (11%), Angola (4%) and the UAE (4%).

Pears
South African pear production is forecast to rise 3% to 410,000 tons in 2016 based on normal growing conditions and the minimal impact of the dry weather conditions on irrigation water availability.
Exports are set to fall 7% to 190,000 tons based on the difficult global pear market, and growth in the local processing market demand and prices.
The EU takes about 57% of the total exports followed by Asia (22%), the Middle East (14%), and Africa (7%).
The Netherlands is the biggest individual market, accounting for 27% of the export market followed by the UAE at 10%.

Table grapes
Another exceptional season is expected for table grape production, with a marginal rise on last season to 294,000 tons.
Exports are also expected to rise marginally, by 1% to 266,000 tons, based on the available production and continued strong demand due to the weak exchange rate.
The EU takes at least 75% of the table grapes exports.
“South Africa benefits from a shorter shipping distance than other Southern Hemisphere competitors, strong demand for seedless varieties, and a free trade agreement with the EU,” the report says, also noting that “exports to Asia (14%), the Middle East (6%) and Africa (4%) have strong growth potential.”

Domestic consumption
Domestic consumption of apples, pears and table grapes is forecast to remain flat in 2016 based on the available production and South Africa’s slow economic growth prospects.
South Africa is a net exporter of deciduous fruits, and only imports small quantities of apples, pears and grapes to fulfill a niche market or to satisfy domestic demand when supply is limited

Source: http://www.fas.usda.gov/data/south-africa-fresh-deciduous-fruit-annual-0
South Africa flag image: Flag design by Frederick Brownell, image by Wikimedia Commons users [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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Innovation to be unveiled at Fruit Logistica

Fruit Logistica's Spotlight articles cover new and improved products, machinery and processes, systems and techniques, technologies, services, promotions and exhibitor campaigns to be presented at the fair.

An edible coating that extends the shelf life of melons (Decco), a pocket scanner providing the Brix value of a fruit sample (Sunforest), and a polytunnel with automated and permanent ventilation (Voen) are among the global debuts lined up for Fruit Logistica 2016, being held February 3-5 in Berlin.

Also slated to appear make their worldwide premieres are a new line of Pausa Pranzo salads with dressings, self-propelled harvesters for leafy vegetables (Ortomec), and two new attractive and tasty tomato varieties – Goutine (Hazera Seeds) and Belmonte F1 (Southern Seed).

These are among the innovations covered on the Fruit Logistica website in its Spotlight articles. The series provides an overview of new and improved products, machinery and processes, systems and techniques, technologies, services, promotions and exhibitor campaigns to be presented at the fair. The next deadline for submissions is November 30.

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Sun Pacific expands Cuties® volumes, introduces Vintage Sweet™

Expanding the Cuties® line, introducing new Vintage Sweet™ heirloom navel oranges and capturing significant kiwi market share with Mighties™ are some of the major successes of which Sun Pacific is proud.

Expanding the Cuties® line, introducing new Vintage Sweet™ heirloom navel oranges and capturing significant kiwi market share with Mighties™ are some of the major successes of which Sun Pacific is proud.

In a press release, Sun Pacific said it continues its dedication to “providing exceptional added value to retailers through branded fruit meeting consumer demand for exceptional quality produce. And the 2015-2016 produce season is no exception, with great things in store for all three brands,” it said.

More Cuties shipping nationwide this autumn and winter

To meet high consumer demand for Sun Pacific’s sweet-as-candy, seedless mandarins, retailers will see millions more cases of Cuties shipping nationwide this season. “We are dedicated to bringing our retailers the supply they want to meet consumer demand for Cuties, while also maintaining our exceptional quality standards,” said Bob DiPiazza, Sun Pacific CEO.

The increased amount of Cuties available this season is due to several factors. Many of Sun Pacific’s mandarin groves, as well as the groves of some of its supporting growers, are maturing and producing more fruit. Also, there are more grower partners in the Sun Pacific family, producing mandarins at a level that meets or exceeds Cuties high-quality standards for juicy, sweet mandarins.

“Cuties is America’s favourite fruit brand and continues to hold consumers’ perception of the highest quality mandarins among all brands,” said Victoria Nuevo-Celeste, vice president of marketing at Sun Pacific. “That’s why Cuties continues to be the fastest-selling mandarin in the US.”

New Vintage Sweets Heirloom Navel Oranges

Debuting from Sun Pacific this year are Vintage Sweets heirloom navel oranges. Harvested from Sun Pacific’s old line navel orange groves, the brix levels of these oranges are individually tested for high sugar content.

“Consumers are looking for produce that provides superior quality and flavour for an exceptional eating experience – and they are willing to pay a premium price for it. That is exactly what Vintage Sweets provide,” DiPiazza said. “Our selection process for these navel oranges combines sensory aspects like touching, feeling and smelling the fruit, with the science of testing of sugar levels to ensure just the right characteristics for that juicy, sweet perfection.”  

Vintage Sweets are available in bulk, as well as 3-pound Giro bags and 6-count shrink wrapped trays.

Mighties captures 78% of branded kiwi market and drives category growth

Since Mighties Kiwi were introduced to retailers in autumn 2014, they have significantly helped increase kiwi’s overall category growth. Last year the brand comprised 40% of all US kiwi sales and contributed to the 13.4 per cent growth of overall kiwi sales in the US.

Sun Pacific’s proprietary ripening process ensures that the fruit arrives at grocery stores “ripe and ready” and takes the guesswork out of gauging when the fruit is ready to eat. Helping consumers understand how to eat the fruit and providing it at the perfect ripeness is part of Sun Pacific’s commitment to educating consumers so that even more people will enjoy this super nutritious fruit.

“Mighties provide a superior and consistent experience,” Nuevo-Celeste said. “When a consumer buys Mighties, they know they are getting fruit that is ready to simply cut, scoop out with a spoon, and eat. It’s simple, it tastes great and it’s packed with nutrients – making Mighties mighty appealing to consumers.” Mighties are available in 1 lb, 2 lb, 3 lb and 4 lb clamshell packs, and are verified non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project, an increasingly sought-after trait for consumers.

About Sun Pacific

Founded in 1969, Sun Pacific® is a leading grower, packer, and shipper of fruit with more than 70 million boxes of fresh fruit sold each year. Headquartered in Pasadena, CA, it is the largest kiwifruit and navel orange grower/shipper in North America, the second largest producer of tomatoes in California, and renowned for exceptional quality Air Chief label table grapes.

source: Sun Pacific