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Driscoll’s seeks patent protection for raspberry clamshell

Driscoll's says its clamshell pack is great for transporting raspberries – or other soft, fragile produce items – and its air-flow keeps them cool and fresh until reaching supermarkets and consumers.

California-based Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc. is seeking patent protection for a clamshell raspberry container.

The world’s biggest fresh berry company and a holder of patents in many countries for its berry plant varieties, Driscoll’s says the clamshell is designed to transport raspberries – or other soft, fragile produce items – while the air-flow in the container keeps them cool and fresh until reaching supermarkets and consumers.

In its international patent application, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization on October 29, it says while there are various patents for containers for the shipping of berries or other produce, “there is a need in the art for a new and improved container that can be used in containing, shipping, transporting and storing in a cooled environment produce items that display a notable vulnerability and fragility and a great potential of easily undergoing damage.”

“This is particularly sought by produce exporting facilities, that suffer tremendous financial loss due to poorly designed containers, consequently resulting in a damage to the produce items during transportation and storage. The present invention now satisfies this need by providing such improved containers,” Driscoll’s says.

Among the features of its container is a central divider, which besides providing extensive strength and rigidity to the container, keeps the produce items separated so they don’t “bounce” on each other during transport.

Other aspects of the design include:

  • it is suited to a range of produce items, such as berries, grapes and other fruits,
  • it is typically made of molded plastic, with the preferred plastic being polyethylene terephthalate (PET), either virgin or recycled from bottles or combinations thereof,
  • various configurations are possible but a preferred, rectangular design could contain a total net weight of raspberries of 18 oz,
  • the lid is preferably recessed to allow stacking of one closed container upon another,
  • a soaking pad may be provided in each compartment to absorb moisture from container contents,
  • various snap locks can be used to attach the lid to the tray,
  • the sidewalls of the container are curved to prevent bruising of the contents, and
  • the container generally has various air vents.

On its website, Driscoll’s says that its clamshell packages are stamped with the international recycling code, which is three chasing arrows within a triangle with a number inside to designate the level of recyclability of the package.” Currently our packaging is marked with the recycling code #1 which is the most acceptable recyclable packaging. Containers are PET, Polyethylene Terephthalate.”

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Polish exporters pack a punch at Fruit Attraction

There were 25 Polish companies presenting their fruits and vegetables at Fruit Attraction in Madrid last week – triple the number at the country’s first formal participation at the fair, in 2013.

There were 25 Polish companies presenting their fruits and vegetables at Fruit Attraction in Madrid last week – triple the number at the country’s first formal participation at the fair, in 2013.

With Poland a major exporter of fruit and vegetables and Spain one of its main markets, the country participated with its own stand, which was opened on the first day of the fair by Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Spain, Tomasz Arabski.

Visitors were later invited to a tasting of products from Poland, which is:

  • the world leader in the export of apples (record crop of over 3.2 million tons last year, with 700,000 tons exported), and of blackcurrants, currants and raspberries;
  • second top grower of strawberries, cucumbers and onions;
  • a major exporter of cherries, gooseberries, cabbage, carrots, beets, tomatoes, mushrooms and other vegetables;
  • among the top 4 EU countries for fruit and vegetable production (8.8 million tons last year), behind only Spain, Italy and France); and
  • offers the combination of impressive organic production and low prices.

What lies behind Poland’s apple export success

In a press release, the Polish Embassy in Madrid said one of the secrets to Poland’s success as an apple exporter is the unmistakable taste of its apple and its competitive prices. “This surprising export boom has been also possible thanks to modern equipment and machinery that ensure optimal classification, packaging and cooling,” it said.

The secret of Polish production

As for the “spectacular” growth in Poland’s production volumes, the embassy credited the maintenance of “the highest standards of quality, cultivating original conditions and using only natural resources in production processes,” and the big role played by “uncontaminated soil, air and high purity water.” Witold Boguta, president of Poland’s National Association of Groups of Fruits and Vegetables Producers in Poland, said that apart from a focus on customer satisfaction, Polish producers place great importance to compliance on quality and food safety. “Most of our products have the GLOBALG.A.P. label and other certificates demonstrating compliance with the standards of quality and environment,” he said.
The grower association headed by Boguta participated in Fruit Attraction, as did the Department of Trade, Investment and Promotion of the Polish Embassy in Spain.

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Canada moves to new, more profitable apple varieties

Many Canadian apple growers have adopted a new variety strategy as a way to improve profitability, as new varieties tend to sell at a premium price and have gained significant consumer appeal,

An interesting shift in consumer preferences in apples in Canada is outlined in a recent report by the USDA’s Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN).

For decades and for generations of Canadians, McIntosh was the most popular variety of apples, according to GAIN’s 2015 Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual for Canada. But in the last decade in Ontario, which accounts for nearly 40% of all Canadians, Gala apples have cornered a 33% market share of the province’s apple growing industry and the McIntosh stands at just 12%. The Ontario Apple Growers Association reports that “one in every three apples eaten in Ontario is a Gala, most likely grown in Washington state or Chile.”

Many Canadian growers have adopted a new variety strategy as a way to improve profitability, as new varieties tend to sell at a premium price and have gained significant consumer appeal, GAIN says, citing a newspaper report that “Honeycrisp apples sell at a 50% premium.”

In Ontario, Empire now makes up about 20% of production, followed by Spy at about 15%, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp and Gala at 8-10% of production and Idared and Golden Delicious at about 5% each.

In Quebec, Cortland and Spartan account for about 8-10% each of the provincial production, followed by Empire and Paula Red at about 5%.

In Nova Scotia, Cortland comes first after McIntosh, at about 20% of production, followed by Spy and Idared at under 15% each, and Honeycrisp at about 8% of production.

And in British Columbia it is Gala, with over 40% of production, which has moved way ahead of Red Delicious (8%) and McIntosh (10%) as the most popular variety. According to the Canadian Horticulture Council, the introduction of new varieties has been particularly important in British Columbia, where growers have been planting new varieties like Spartan, Gala, Fuji, Braeburn, Jonagold, Honeycrisp and Ambrosia.

New plantings of Ambrosia, which apparently commands the highest premium among all apple varieties in British Columbia, have nearly doubled every year in the past five years, and the variety has been so well received by the market that producers cannot keep up with demand.

Apple imports climb, production declines in Canada

GAIN forecasts a 20% increase in Canadian imports of fresh apples, estimated at 260,000 tons for marketing year (MY) 2015/16 up from 217,000 tons during MY 2014/15. The US remains Canada’s largest supplier of fresh apples, with a stable market share of about 80%.

Canada’s fresh apple production, meanwhile, is forecast to decline by 23% in MY 2015/16, down to 290,000 tons from 374,000 tons during MY 2014/15.

“This decline is attributable to a host of weather related developments such as: a late spring frost followed by a cool and wet summer season in Ontario, a dry and hot growing season in British Columbia, and heavy winter snow and a late spring in Nova Scotia. Production in Quebec is anticipated to exceed last year’s level, supported by a very good growing season,” GAIN says.

“Over the long term, the decline in fresh apple production in Canada is consistent with reduced planted areas which, in turn, reflected the declining profitability of apple cultivation over the past decade. Data for the recent years seem to indicate that the sector has now stabilized, as growers have learned what production level is most economical and profitable.”

“Growers that intend to remain in the industry are turning to newer, more popular varieties such as Ambrosia and Honeycrisp and new, modern intensive planting systems in an attempt to remain competitive with imports. Through talks with apple growers in Eastern Canada Post learned about a new trend among some producers to diversify into brewing hard cider as a way to increase profitability, a practice that has met success to date. To assist producers facing industry pressures and changing markets, Canada’s federal and provincial authorities offered replant programs between 2008 and 2010.”

source: GAIN report –2015 Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual for Canada

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NEPG cautiously optimistic about coming potato season

Overall, growers in the NEPG are cautiously optimistic about the coming season. Thanks to increasing exports outside the EU, and increased need for raw material due to low dry matter contents in some of the mainland countries’ crops, demand from mainland processors is expected to be firm

A total of 24.8 million tons of potatoes (excluding seed and starch) was the harvest forecast for the NEPG (NorthWestern European Potato Growers) as at October 5.

Based on the latest trial digs and harvest information, this estimate was 300,000 tons higher than that made on September 1, but would come in at 13% less than last year and 1.6% below the 5-year average, according to a recent summary by the UK’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) potato market analyst Arthur Marshall. However, he said, there are concerns in the NEPG over the quality of supplies in store in some countries.

In his report, published by the NEPG on October 30, Marshall said the harvest has begun to move on rapidly in many areas due to the good conditions, but less favourable weather earlier this year means the harvest will be later compared to other years. Just under half of the area across the NEPG was still to harvest at the start of October.

“The NEPG is a large area with a lot of variation in conditions. Whereas in the south of Germany it has been, at times, too dry to harvest, wet conditions have held up lifting in the north of Germany, parts of Belgium and the Netherlands, and GB (Great Britain). Due to heavy rainfall in September, there were reports of rot in parts of the NEPG and dry matter contents in some areas are low, but overall, quality is good. Despite earlier fears in some areas, secondary growth is generally under control, though there are a few cases. However, the wet conditions in many areas create some risks for the crop going into store, especially where rot has already been reported.

“The NEPG believes that the quality of supplies available in the coming season will depend greatly on the conditions of crops in store. If conditions in store are especially poor in some areas, this could make markets in some mainland NEPG countries tighter than the production figure alone suggests,” he said.

Market and crop update

Marshall said that, overall, growers in the NEPG are cautiously optimistic about the coming season. Thanks to increasing exports outside the EU, and increased need for raw material due to low dry matter contents in some of the mainland countries’ crops, demand from mainland processors is expected to be firm.

“Also, fresh potato exports from NEPG countries to elsewhere in Europe could meet good demand, with harvests in many countries likely to be lower year-on-year,” he said. As an example, he said CePa, Italy’s Potato Documentation Centre), estimates a 2015 crop of 1.1-1.2 million tons, down about 15% on last year.

Processing prices

Processing potato prices in the NEPG have generally begun to stabilise into October, following price declines earlier as harvest progressed. Generally, price quotes for France and Belgium for Bintje (the middle-early ripening potato variety) have been below quotes for other processing varieties, which Marshall said is likely to be a factor in the ongoing processing variety switch in many mainland NEPG countries from traditional Bintje to newer, higher yielding, alternatives such as Fontane, Markies and Agria.

The Netherlands: in some areas the harvest has been beset by delays and problems with rot. The rot in the field is now said to be under control but growers are monitoring rot in store carefully, Marshall said. Up to 30% of crops were still to be harvested by the final week in October, with some growers on lighter soils waiting for orders for ex-field delivery before lifting. “Processing usage so far this season has been lower than in 2014 and 2013, but this could be supply or demand driven, while Phaff Export Marketing reports that seed exporters believe there are good export opportunities,” he said.

Belgium: lifting was also behind schedule, with 10-20% still to lift in the last week of October. Bintje has sometimes had to be offered up rapidly due to quality concerns. A big fire in early October in a Clarebout factory, which is not expected to be ready again until January, was also of concern to some growers.

France: has begun importing some potatoes from the UK, in line with usual levels for the time of year. The French harvest was about 95% complete by the last week of October, with light harvest pressure still remaining on prices. Usage for processing in July-September was down 31,000 tons year-on-year, although still slightly above that for the same months in 2013. Export demand from southern Europe, such as Italy, has been good.

Germany: exports into Italy have also been reported, as well as to nearby export markets such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Denmark. Only 10-15% of crops were yet to be harvested in late October, with yields proving to be good. Indeed, output in the largest potato growing region, Lower Saxony, is up from last season at about 1.7Mt, but export opportunities are expected to play a significant role there this season.

The next NEPG 2015 crop estimate is expected in late November.

source: AHDB Potatoes business report for Northern Europe

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Why and how to try Cardoon

A close relative of artichoke, cardoon is the FAO's Traditional Crop of the Month

A close relative of artichoke, cardoon is the traditional crop of the month for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

According to FAO, cardoon is a crop of regional importance in Spain (where it is known as Cardo comestible), Italy and the south of France, where it is used in traditional dishes. The stalks can be eaten baked, boiled, fried or braised.

A perennial shrub that grows up to 2m in height, it is cultivated traditionally for its edible stalk. “It is adapted to dry Mediterranean conditions where most precipitation occurs during the winter season. While the artichoke is usually vegetatively propagated, cultivated cardoon is raised from seed and cropped as an annual plant; the older shrubs produce fibrous stalks which are not as palatable as the more succulent annual ones,” FAO said.

As the leaves and stalks are bitter, farmers often ‘blanch’ them for 3-4 weeks prior to harvesting. Plant breeding efforts are now resulting in more sought after varieties that are lighter coloured and less bitter, it said.

FAO also shared a recipe for making ‘Cardoon with Almond Sauce’ in which the cardoons are prepared by cutting off the rough ends and peeling away the tough fibres. They are then  cut into 2-inch pieces and boiled for 45 minutes, or until tender, in salted water with a little lemon juice. Later they are heated in the separately-made sauce.

Why to try cardoon:

 

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Asda extends ‘wonky’ fruit & veg range

After a successful trial this year, UK supermarket chain Asda is adding sweet potatoes and garlic to its ‘wonky’ fruit and veg range and selling the range in more stores.

UK supermarket chain Asda is adding sweet potatoes and garlic to its ‘wonky’ fruit and veg range and selling the range in more stores.

The grocer said in a press release that the move is part of its ongoing efforts to cut food waste across the supply chain and to help farmers.

“Labelled Beautiful on the Inside, the wonky veg range currently includes crooked carrots, knobbly pears, bumpy apples and citrus fruits, all sold at reduced rates in their own dedicated in-store fixture. There will be different sizes of wonky garlic, and it will be a bit scruffier, but the garlic inside is still the same. Our wonky sweet potatoes will be all kinds of strange shapes – and by selling these, we’ll save 10% of the crop from being wasted. We’re planning to increase the range even further in 2016, so watch this space,” Asda said.

The wonky veg trial began at the start of this year in 5 stores – Grantham, Coventry, Dagenham, Bedminster (Bristol) and Wallington (Croydon). “It proved so popular that we’ve added it to more stores and the range is now sold in 25 stores,” Asda said.

Asda’s produce technical director Ian Harrison said the range has proved a hit and has also enabled Asda to flex its specifications across a wide variety of its standard produce lines.

“For example, we’re taking 340 more tonnes of standard and organic carrots which would previously have been out of spec. We’ve also relaxed specifications on other produce like green beans, chillies and standard sweet potatoes which has put a further 300 tonnes of produce onto our shelves, which is good news for farmers.

“We have more work to do and we’re committed to working with our growers to ensure we utilise more of their crops whether that’s in Wonky or in our standard ranges,” Harrison said.

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Spanish supermarkets shift more fruit & veg

The recovery in prices and good weather have been a boon for retail sales of fruit in Spain, which in the first nine months of 2015 were up 10.2% on the same period last year.

The recovery in prices and good weather have been a boon for retail sales of fruit in Spain, which in the first nine months of 2015 were up 10.2% on the same period last year.

According to a post by Nielsen Spain’s retail services account manager Gema del Castillo, vegetables have also increased their presence in shopping baskets, rising 7% compared to Jan-Sept 2014.

Del Castillo singled out the avocado for special attention, noting sales growth of 43.9%, “possibly helped by its status as a ‘superfood’.” Also undergoing strong growth were courgettes and artichokes, which both increased their sales by more than 20%, with broccoli not far behind (+19.9%).

But it’s the classics. such as oranges and potatoes, which are still the most common in Spanish shopping baskets, she said.

Fruit and vegetables are also gaining ground in online sales, with growth of 26.3% in sales of this produce online, compared to 8.7% for sales in physical stores.

Interestingly, it’s not just the sale of heavy produce, such as oranges and potatoes, that were popular in online sales, but also ready-to-serve and seasonal produce items. Del Castillo said sales of the latter were helped by online promotions.

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Whole Foods Market now a GLOBALG.A.P. retail member

Whole Foods Market, the leading progressive grocery chain in North America, became a GLOBALG.A.P. retail member in August. Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, it currently has over 420 locations throughout the USA and Canada. It expanded into the United Kingdom in 2004 and now operates 9 stores in England and Scotland.

Whole Foods Market became a GLOBALG.A.P. retail member in August.

With over 420 locations in North America, the Texas-based grocery chain focuses on providing a wide range of natural food, health and household products to consumers and now also operates 9 stores in England and Scotland.

According to a  GLOBALG.A.P. press release, Whole Foods Market requires that all produce vendors and their suppliers operate using risk-based food safety plans created after performing a risk assessment to identify potential food safety hazards.

Additionally, it requires that vendors of high-risk produce (such as salads, melons and green onions) have a 3rd party food safety audit, preferably to GFSI-recognised schemes, including GLOBALG.A.P’s Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA-Crops-Fruit & Veg) and Produce Safety Standard (PSS).

Last year the chain introduced Responsibly Grown, an innovative, tiered rating system that assesses growing practices based upon their impact on human health, environmental sustainability, water conservation and worker welfare. It labels fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers as ‘good’, ‘better’ or ‘best’ to help shoppers make more informed choices, and prohibits some of the most hazardous neurotoxins still allowed in agriculture.

“GLOBALG.A.P. has worked with Whole Foods Market to benchmark its IFA standard to the Responsibly Grown system to identify overlapping requirements and simplify compliance for IFA-certified producers. We are currently exploring ways to further develop a streamlined audit process for growers seeking IFA certification and a verified Responsibly Grown rating,” GLOBALG.A.P. said.

Whole Foods Market’s Responsibly Grown team leader Robin Foster said Responsibly Grown was launched with the goal of addressing some of today’s most critical agricultural issues and to reward growers taking major steps to protect human health and the environment. “We’re proud to be working with partners like GLOBALG.A.P. to address these important issues, benchmark achievements and raise the bar across the industry,” Foster said.

GLOBALG.A.P. sustainability consultant Roberta Anderson said the partnership with Whole Foods Market is a great example of GLOBALG.A.P.’s commitment to developing efficient, pragmatic approaches to food safety and sustainability assurance. “The more we can do to acknowledge similarities in standards, the better we can eliminate unnecessary duplication of efforts, saving both time and money for growers,” she said.

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New project to cut food waste at Mercabarna

Food waste is in the firing line as Mercabarna commissions study on why it happens and how to reduce it within the precinct.

How to reduce food waste is the end goal of a study Mercabarna has commissioned from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and the Plataforma Aprovechamos los Alimentos (Let’s Make Use of Food Platform, PAA).

In a press release, Barcelona’s wholesale food hub said the study, expected to be completed toward the end of the year, will establish the volume and causes of food waste produced within its precinct and suggest areas of work and specific actions to reduce it to a minimum.

“This project shows our desire to keep looking for solutions that help us in the fight against food waste. The actions resulting from it will be added to those that we have been carrying out for many years, such as working with the Food Bank,” said Mercabarna managing director Josep Tejedo.

Photo courtesy of http://www.mercabarna.es/sectors-activitat/fruites-i-hortalisses/en_index/

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Chemical agent helps thin stone fruit

Chemicals are used to thin out stone fruit – rather than doing it by hand or machine – under an invention from the UK’s Fine Agrochemicals Ltd.

Chemicals are used to thin out stone fruit – rather than doing it by hand or machine – under an invention from the UK’s Fine Agrochemicals Ltd.

In a patent application document, the company says the need for fruit load control is widely recognised in the stone fruit sector. As the fruit carrying capacity of trees is limited, an increase in the number of fruit – such as in the case of apricots, nectarines, plums, cherries and peaches – is accompanied by reduction in fruit size.

And since small fruit is considered “low quality fruit” in the fresh fruit market, and attracts “very low prices”, it is common practice among fruit growers to reduce the number of fruits per tree by chemical, mechanical and/or hand thinning in order to prevent branch breakage, and to obtain large, high quality fruits, and also because abundant bearing may cause bi-annual bearing, which is disadvantageous in itself, it said.

But the hand thinning of flowers or of fruit require a lot of manpower and is “very expensive”, the company said in the documents published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). And mechanical flower thinning has downsides including the risk of tree damage.

As for the less labour intensive option of chemical thinning, the company said “very few” products are available for stone fruit and only treatment with GA3 (gibberellic acid) is relatively common.

Instead, it proposes use of gibberellin 7 (GA7) for thinning of stone fruit by applying the GA7 as foliar spray within 12 weeks after full bloom, and preferably using the GA7 mixed with GA4.

Suitable stone fruit include peach, apricot, nectarine, plum, cherry and mirabelle but the preferred species are peach and nectarine.

Tests show that with suitable application of GA7, at least a 30% reduction (between 10-70%) in fruit set is achievable, it said.
 

Images:
1: Nectarine branch by Christopher Thomas (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
2: Harrow Beauty peaches at Lyman Orchards by Sage Ross (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons