Uncategorized

Posted on by

The KÖLLA fruit company opens SAS branch in Perpignan

The KÖLLA Group has opened the KÖLLA France SAS branch in Perpignan.

The KÖLLA Group has opened the KÖLLA France SAS branch in Perpignan.

In a press release, the fruit company said it is continuing on its path of internationalisation and the new branch in France will allow it to be geographically closer to the “fruit from the south”. The branch is located in Perpignan, a key trans-boarding hub for produce from Spain and northern Africa.

“Highly qualified and experienced staff handle the sourcing, logistics and active marketing for our contacts in supermarkets, chain stores and wholesale markets. We are looking forward to a successful international cooperation,” it said.

For more than 90 years, the KÖLLA Group has operated in the global fruit and vegetable trade from its own offices in Bern, Kaarst, Munich, Valencia, Bolzano and Karlsruhe. It has a broad and deep network of relationships with customers and production within the EU and overseas and is certified according to ISO’22000 / 9001 and EU Bio, in Switzerland additionally with BIO SWISS. KÖLLA’s own-brands OTELLO and Alinda among others underline the experience in cultivation, quality assurance, trade and logistics of fruit and vegetable products.

source: KÖLLA press release

Posted on by

Spinneys, the Premier Supermarket Retailer in the Middle East, Joins GLOBALG.A.P. as a Member

Spinneys, the Premier Supermarket Retailer in the Middle East, Joins GLOBALG.A.P. as a Member.

Fine Fare Food Market LLC, which operates Spinneys, the premium supermarket retailer in the Middle East, has become the first in the region to join GLOBALG.A.P. as a retail member. This is in line with the company’s strategic decision to support a sustainable sourcing policy in order to benefit their farming partners, the environment, and their customers.

The company operates hypermarkets and supermarkets in Qatar, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and, through a franchise agreement, 30 stores in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). GLOBALG.A.P. Membership confirms the company’s commitment to supporting initiatives that assure sustainable and safe products for consumers.

By December 2015, Spinneys UAE plans to import only GLOBALG.A.P. certified fruits and vegetables from South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Kenya, and Europe. In 2016, the retailer will expand its sourcing policy and work with producers from other countries, including Sri Lanka, Australia and USA, to help them achieve GLOBALG.A.P. Certification.

“We welcome Spinneys as a member in our GLOBALG.A.P. Community,” said Kristian Moeller, CEO of GLOBALG.A.P. “This move will make GLOBALG.A.P. certified produce available also to consumers in the Middle East ‎and opens up a very interesting market for certified producers.”

First established in 1924 by Arthur Spinneys in the suburbs of Alexandria Egypt, Spinneys sold high quality fresh produce, grocery, and baked goods at a fair price and in a fresh and friendly shopping environment. By 1960, it had grown into a chain and succeeded in opening additional retail outlets in Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan and supplying food for petrol exploration teams across the Gulf region.

Spinneys opened its doors in Lebanon’s old Beirut Souks in 1948, followed by additional stores in various parts of the country in the 1970s, but unfortunately the stores closed due to the civil war at that time. Thirty years later, Spinneys pioneered the concept of a hypermarket in Lebanon and re-opened its doors in 1998 through one big store and seven other standalone outlets, in addition to regional expansion in the Middle East.

Spinneys was ranked one of the world’s 50 best grocers by UK based retail magazine The Grocer in 2013.

source: GLOBALG.A.P. media release

Posted on by

Macfrut 3.2 set for its debut in Cesena, Italy, September 23-25

The extensive programme of events is now ready for the Macfrut exhibition to be held at the Rimini Expo Centre from 23 to 25 September

It’s just a few weeks before the start of Macfrut , the Italian trade show for the fruit and vegetable sector.

Being held at the Rimini Expo Centre in Cesena from September 23-25, this event boasts new exhibition premises, more companies attending, an international preview focused on the retail sector and the markets, a wide-ranging offer of initiatives dedicated to innovation and internationalisation, and a new promotional venue for businesses.

A preview of the exhibition will take place on September 22 at Cesena Fiera: the Macfrut Forum, a conference entirely dedicated to the retail sector and the markets, which will comprise three sessions including several meetings with opinion leaders and key players in the sector, who will introduce current topics of interest, trends and major challenges faced by the supply chain.

After 23 September, Macfrut will move to Rimini Fiera, at a new exhibition centre with 6 halls and 11 exhibition areas. The new location will facilitate connections thanks to the presence, at the premises, of a station on the Milan to Bari railway line (Trenitalia Frecce trains). It will create new synergies thanks to Flora Trade, the international trade fair dedicated to horticulture, which will be held at the same time. 

The three-day event will bring together major players of the supply chain, offering a comprehensive overview of the international fruit and vegetable market, with a full calendar of events including conferences, workshops and technical seminars to address the key trends of the supply chain.

As part of the event, the Macfrut Innovation Award will also be awarded by a panel of experts to the major technological innovations in terms of environmental and economic sustainability and improvement in product quality, to be presented for the first time at Macfrut 2015. The award ceremony is scheduled for Friday 25 September.

Moreover, this year, there will be many new features. The Fruit & Veg Fantasy Show, to be hosted in the entrance hall, will mark its debut in a trade version. The prestigious Italian magazine Gambero Rosso will be livening up this area, which will feature show cooking focusing on fruit and vegetables, as well as educational activities organised by the “Scuole del Gambero Rosso” to present contents and ideal preparation methods for fruit and vegetables.

On the occasion of Macfrut, in collaboration with the CRPV (Crop Production Research Centre), six professional tours will be organised to local companies in the fruit and vegetable supply chain, especially for specialised operators and buyers from abroad. Visitors will be able to experience four sectors “first-hand” by taking part in the tours scheduled on the days of the Macfrut event: field production, processing warehouses, fruit and vegetable markets and supermarkets.

A special focus on food and wine: during the three-day trade fair, visitors and their hosts will have the chance to book a tour in Cesena and the Romagna area, based on local food, wine and culture.

You can find the complete Macfrut programme with detailed information at www.macfrut.com.

Posted on by

Belgium: Flandria produce around the world

The Belgian “Taste of Europe’ fresh produce initiative with non-EU countries gets a boost in the Far East, Russia and North America.

The agenda for 2015 is jampacked. Early this year, a VLAM group booth was present at Foodex Tokyo and the CPMA in Montreal. At this year’s CPMA, VLAM mainly focused on Conference pear qualities, as the Canadian borders had just opened up for Belgian pears. Visitors to the exhibition could taste the green-bronze skinned pear at the booth and at the entrance to the fair. A ‘walking pear’ drew the attention to the stand. Moreover, interested parties could win several gadgets by simply ‘spinning the pear’. The Belgian pear-shaped chocolates, pear-shaped memo notes and linen tote bags were a great success.

“Taste of Europe” campaign around the world

To carry out the events, VLAM can access financial support from the EU. The current marketing campaign winds up at the end of 2015. A new programme with similar activities is proposed. The latest upcoming exhibitions include: – Asia Fruit Logistica (2 – 4 Sept.) in Hong Kong, along with 3 companies – World Food Moscow (14 – 17 Sept.), together with 7 export companies and representatives from the auctions – World of Perishables in Dubai ( 5 – 7 Oct.), alongside 2 export companies and auction representatives – Fresh Summit ( 24 – 25 Oct.) in Atlanta, jointly with 2 companies Naturally, apart from the ‘Taste of Europe’ programme, Fruit Logistica in Berlin and Fruit Attraction in Madrid are also on this year’s agenda. At each exhibition, a display chef entertains the audience by preparing some simple but delicious dishes with Belgian fruit and vegetables. A fresh leek soup, a Belgian endive salad or a dessert with Conference pears – enough inspiration to convince people of the taste and quality of Belgian produce. With the exception of Asia Fruit Logistica, activities will remain more or less the same for the next three years. Asia Fruit Logistica will be replaced by participation at World Food Kazakhstan. In addition to the regular schedule, an extra yearly event will be held in India.

More Belgian cabbage, cucumbers and bell peppers exported

Not counting Belgian exports of tropical fruits (as this has to do with reexports), in terms of volume Belgium mainly exports fresh tomatoes, pears, apples and carrots. Exports of these products had a good year in 2014, except for apples, with gradually dwindling export volumes. Other important Belgian exports are strawberries, cabbages, cucumbers, leek and bell peppers. In general, fresh fruit exports are decreasing slightly, due to falling apple exports and other southern fruits. Fresh vegetable exports are increasing, mainly due to rising exports of cabbages, cucumbers and bell peppers. The main export markets for fresh fruit are the European markets (92% share), with neighbouring countries in the top 3. Germany boosted its market share up to 31%, followed by the Netherlands and France. In 2014, Russia was still its fourth most important market and the Czech Republic followed suit in fifth place. Italy and Spain are becoming less important year after year for Belgian fresh fruit exports. In contrast, Eastern European markets are gradually importing more Belgian fruit, with the Czech Republic and Poland in front. Some new markets also appear on the list, such as China and India. For Belgian vegetables, it’s the same top 3 countries, but in different order. France is the most important market with a rising share of 40% in 2014, followed by the Netherlands with a steady share of 21% and Germany with 18%. Far behind these markets, the UK and Czech Republic in fourth and fifth place. Belgian exports of fresh vegetables to Russia are characterised by a downward trend and a share of only 2% in 2014. Belgian vegetables are also exported to some African markets like Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo. Nevertheless, the US, Canada and some Asian markets (e.g. Japan) also buy Belgian vegetables. These non-EU countries, however, only represent an 8% share of Belgian fresh vegetable exports.

Belgium fruit imports slightly decreasing, vegetables increasing

More than 70% of fruit imported into Belgium comes from non-EU countries, mainly tropical fruit. After these countries (Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador), the Netherlands, Spain and France as main European suppliers of fruit to Belgium, where shares are even increasing. For vegetables, the Netherlands and France are the main suppliers, with an 81% share in Belgian imports of vegetables. non-EU countries supplying vegetables to Belgium include Australia, New-Zealand and some African countries like Egypt, Senegal and Kenya. Main imported vegetables are carrots, onions and shallots, peas and other fresh vegetables. 

PE

This article appeared on page 40 of the July-August 2015 edition, number 138, of Eurofresh Distribution magazine. Read more of that edition here: https://www.eurofresh-distribution.com/magazine/138-2015-julaug

Posted on by

HPSS Standard, the new pre- and post-farmgate solution

“We are pleased to introduce to the U.S. market our new Harmonized Produce Safety Standard (HPSS) solution: HPSS is an innovation in audit standards which includes the entire pre- and post-farmgate Harmonized Standards in a single combined checklist” remarked GLOBALG.A.P. Vice President of Operations Jonathan Needham.

GLOBALG.A.P., the internationally trusted farm certification standards organization, and the United Fresh Produce Association gathered leading US retail chains and producers, last Thursday June 11, to debate “The Sense and Nonsense of Farm Certification”. The participation of the FDA Deputy Commissioner Michael Taylor and other government representatives indicated the high degree of concern for food safety in the US as well with supplying countries.

Taylor gave his view of the role of on-farm audits in the coming era of the landmark FSMA legislation. The participants gave very positive signals that standards harmonization and the reduction of audit duplication between buyers, producers and shippers are possible and necessary, in order to ensure food safety and reduce audit fatigue. Auditing was viewed as an opportunity for improvement and collaboration through the supply chain, rather than a cost. Furthermore, harmonization is also considered a facilitator of international trade and can help to secure other parameters like labor compliance and sustainability practices.

HPSS – The New Harmonized Standard Introduced in the US

“We are pleased to introduce to the U.S. market our new Harmonized Produce Safety Standard (HPSS) solution: HPSS is an innovation in audit standards which includes the entire pre- and post-farmgate Harmonized Standards in a single combined checklist” remarked GLOBALG.A.P. Vice President of Operations Jonathan Needham. Augmented with additional GLOBALG.A.P. control points, HPSS offers the market the first GFSI-level interpretation of the Harmonized Standards, providing an excellent food safety solution for American producers. HPSS is an evolutionary step in audit fatigue reduction for farmers, and a simple, effective tool for retailers/distributors to protect their consumers, industry partners and brands.”

“The ProduceGAPs harmonization initiative is very important for us, it is very positive that the private sector responds with food safety practices” declared GLOBALG.A.P.’s President Kristian Moeller. He suggested that the US needs to differentiate on food safety criteria, noting that his organization is aware of more than different 400 food safety standards in the world, with 160 registered at the United Nations. He added that the new Version 5 of GLOBALGAP includes both food safety and sustainability standards. “We have included on the new version the critical checkpoints from McDonalds” specifies Moeller. Reggie Brown from the Florida Tomato Exchange questioned how to achieve audit harmonization, considering the different standards of the industry and the preferences for either FDA or private sector auditors. He remarked that the US industry is generally very safe, but occasionally problems occur, and a harmonized tool is needed for audits, plus traceability to ensure food safety for all.

For Peter Hill from Alpine Fresh, HPSS is the solution for standards harmo- control worldwide nization, as it achieves both GAP and food safety goals. Alpine Fresh is looking for a single audit solution, since it is both supplying the domestic market and shipping in 9 different countries. “If you make things too complicated the farmers will find out how to get around it” noted Hill. As 50% of the produce marketed at Alpine Fresh is sourced from associated growers, there is a need to educate farmers in order to meet the GFSI specifications, the main standard required for packhouses. Kerry Bridges, Walmart food safety manager, pointed out that the adoption of GFSI is the first step requirement for all the suppliers. “We observe that the new GFSI farmers have indeed improved the level of food security”. She further noted a significant decline in food safety recall situations since the implementation of GFSI standards.

“At Costco we do not require GFSI certification, but 92% of them are certified” declared Milinda Dwyer, food safety manager at the second-largest US retailer. The chain continues to develop its own food safety protocols and does not yet accept the Harmonized Standards due to the differences in qualifications found among auditors. Jorge Hernandez, head of food safety at US Foods, the secondlargest American food distributor, urged the need for the industry to work together on a global standard in order to facilitate trade with different parts of the world.

Beyond Food Safety – Social Welfare and Sustainability

All parties agreed on the need to enforce a better control on labor practices, both in the US and abroad. Ken Peterson from the US Department of Agriculture commented that labor requirements also help to provide s afe products, allowing workers to maintain healthy practices. Nonetheless the government audits are too limited and concern only 1-3% of the farms every year. The need for audits on social welfare is also a necessity abroad, as too many places in the world still have no labor regulations (the same applies for sustainable farming). The GRASP “add-on” of GLOBAGAP could be seen as a first “baseline” for a global solution, since the same auditor would also check the compliance with the social standards of the country. Retailers Costco and Walmart also considered social welfare a B-to-C issue, as consumers can be aware of the social practices of the country of origin via the press. Reggie Brown from Florida Tomato Exchange also noted that social dumping abroad generates unfair competition with domestic farmers. Gavin Bailey, head of social issues at Walmart, reported that more than 600 audits were conducted of their suppliers in Mexico alone last year, but this is may be insufficient. For Bailey a combination of public and private audits are necessary to track social welfare. 

PE
This article appeared on page 38 of the July-August 2015 edition, number 138, of Eurofresh Distribution magazine. Read more of that edition here: https://www.eurofresh-distribution.com/magazine/138-2015-julaug

Posted on by

US to allow import of citrus from all parts of Peru

APHIS (the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection) has announced it s amending fruit and vegetable regulations to allow citrus fruit from any part of Peru to be imported into the continental United States, but with conditions.

APHIS (the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection) has announced it s amending fruit and vegetable regulations to allow citrus fruit from any part of Peru to be imported into the continental United States, but with conditions.

A fruit fly management program must be in place, including the use of bait spray applications, registration of places of production and citrus fruit shipments must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, APHIS said in a recent bulletin.

Under current regulations, the importation of citrus fruit to the US is allowed from five approved citrus-producing zones in Peru, subject to a systems approach.

“However, based on the findings of a pest list and commodity import evaluation document, we have determined that this systems approach also mitigates the plant pest risk associated with citrus fruit produced in all other areas of Peru,” APHIS said. “This action will allow the importation of citrus fruit from the entire country of Peru while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of plant pests into the continental United States.”

This final rule will be effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register and will be available as of today (Monday, September 14) at:
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0005

Posted on by

The Frutoteca – making it fun for kids to learn about fruit & vegetables

The Frutoteca – a very special way for children to learn about fruit and vegetable – is being launched by Spain’s 5 al día (5 a day) association as the new school year starts in Spain. In a brightly-coloured inflatable dome that is both portable and easy to install, it will tour Spain to provide children with an attractive and interactive experience Featuring 3D and 360ºimages.

The Frutoteca – a very special way for children to learn about fruit and vegetable – is being launched by Spain’s 5 al día (5 a day) association as the new school year starts in Spain.

In a brightly-coloured inflatable dome that is both portable and easy to install, it will tour Spain to provide children with an attractive and interactive experience featuring 3D and 360º images.

The Frutoteca will help young consumers learn about fruit and vegetables from the farm to the fork, the history of this sector, fun facts and trivia about it, and its role in different cultures and civilisations, as well as how this produce is grown, harvested and transported. All in all a fun way to learn about the importance of the fruit and vegetable sector in daily life.

The Madrid-based 5 al día association, which promotes daily fruit and vegetable consumption, said that in this first phase of this project it aims to more directly reach out to over 18,000 children. It hopes visits to the Frutoteca will ultimately lead to change in the eating habits of these future consumers so that including fruit and vegetables in their diet becomes something natural and spontaneous for them.

For more information: www.5aldia.org

Posted on by

Pomegranate exports may hit record 60k tons in west Indian state of Maharashtra

West Asia continues to remain one of the biggest export markets for India, but this year India also exported pomegranates to countries such as Bangladesh, Bahrain, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. The UK, the UAE, the Netherlands, Egypt, Turkey, Bahrain and Kuwait are other important markets for the fruit.

Record pomegranate exports of up to 60,000 tons are forecast for this coming season in the state of Maharashtra in western India.

The Financial Express reports that farmers across Maharashtra are switching to the fruit because it is more remunerative than grapes. About 30,000 to 40,000 ha are now under pomegranate cultivation, up from 10,000-15,000 ha last year.

Maharashtra’s pomegranate season starts in November and usually ends by March but this year continued to April. The 2014-15 season was a record one with 40,000 tons of pomegranate exports, a third higher than the previous season, and estimates are that exports in the new season will be 40,000-60,000 tons.

Quoting Prabhakar Chandane, chairman of the Maharashtra Pomegranate Growers Research Association, the paper said West Asia continues to remain one of the biggest export markets for India, but this year it also exported pomegranates to countries such as Bangladesh, Bahrain, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands. The UK, UAE, Egypt, Turkey, Bahrain and Kuwait are other important markets for the fruit.

Markets in the US are also expected to open up next year but while Russia emerged as a new market last year, traders are not keen to send products there owing to payment issues in the previous year, Chandane was quoted as saying. He also said cultivation of pomegranates is on the rise across India.

Maharashtra is India’s third-largest and second-most populous state and its capital is Mumbai.

Source: The Financial Express, “Maharashtra pomegranate exports may hit record 60k ton”

Pomegranate image by: http://www.flickr.com/people/69061470@N05 [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by

GKE N.V. presents Migo®, its new pear

GKE N.V. proudly presents its new pear, Migo®, which is positioned as ‘the Friendly Pear’ – the ideal snack anytime, anywhere. The taste remains unchanged – sweet, fresh and juicy as ever. Yet Migo® distinguishes itself through its great storage and shelf life, smooth peel, beautiful shape and size, and good firmness level. Migo® is exclusively cultivated by partners licensed by GKE.

GKE N.V. proudly presents its new pear, Migo®, which is positioned as ‘the Friendly Pear’ – the ideal snack anytime, anywhere. The taste remains unchanged – sweet, fresh and juicy as ever, the company says, yet Migo® distinguishes itself through its great storage and shelf life, smooth peel, beautiful shape and size, and good firmness level. Migo® is exclusively cultivated by partners licensed by GKE.

“Following the launch of the Kanzi® concept apple over ten years ago, we felt it was time for a new pear”, said Urs Luder of GKE N.V. “So we once again joined forces to develop a new concept pear to be launched on the market. We asked real pear lovers to share their wishes and even listened to pear haters’ comments. Why do they dislike pears? Their reaction was loud and clear, ‘We would gladly eat pears, but they should be less messy and of good quality, have a longer shelf life and last but not least, they need to be juicy! We’re looking for pears we can eat as a snack on the go.’ Migo® ticks all the boxes! This new, tasty and juicy pear that makes for the ideal snack will be harvested for the first time this month,” Luder said.

The first pear trees were planted last year and the first harvest will be a relatively limited one, but this variety has presented a stable yield and the trees need little pruning. “We are striving for a controlled expansion of the agricultural land to meet the market demand for Migo®”, Luder said. “We are confident that this new pear and the Migo® concept will offer added value to growers, retailers and consumers alike.”

GKE N.V. (a subsidiary of EFC cvba) has been the variety manager of the Kanzi® and Greenstar® concept apples since 2005, and has now added the Migo® concept pear to its portfolio. It holds worldwide exclusive licence rights for these brands. Its aim is for the production and marketing of these concept varieties to provide added value to all stakeholders, from growers to consumers.

Find out more about Migo® at www.migopear.com.

Posted on by

French potato delegation to showcase high quality products at WOP trade show 2015

The French Potato Delegation, FEDEPOM, will attend the WOP 2015-World of Perishables in presence of six diversified companies to showcase high quality of farm products to the local market. The French Federation of potato Packers and Traders will have a stand on the exhibition and will be located Stand E10 – Hall 3 at the Dubai World Trade Centre from the 5th to the 7th of October 2015.

The French Potato Delegation, FEDEPOM, will attend the WOP 2015-World of Perishables in presence of six diversified companies to showcase high quality of farm products to the local market. The French Federation of potato Packers and Traders will have a stand on the exhibition and will be located Stand E10 – Hall 3 at the Dubai World Trade Centre from this October 5-7.

FEDEPOM is the Federation of French potatoes traders, with over 70 members, representing over 80% of market players in France. This year, and for the first time, FEDEPOM will present six companies to introduce to the UAE and the Middle East market the French diversity of potato varieties such as: Agatha, Anabelle, Melody, Caesar, Mozart, Franceline, Charlotte, Bintje, Vitelotte, Ratte. UAE companies could avail of this opportunity to enter into new business partnerships.

France is one of the biggest producers of potatoes in the world, with a farmland of 120,000 ha, and a production between 5 and 6 millions of tons last year. The potato is also very important in the history of France. Indeed, the French pharmacist Antoine-Augustin Parmentier, who recognised the nutritional values of the potato, promoted its human consumption and production in France. Dr Parmentier’s crowning glory was when his recipe “hachis Parmentier” was served to Louis XVI and the Queen of France – Marie-Antoinette – in 1785.

FEDEPOM will be located at the following stand: SE10 – Hall3 – WOP 2015- DWTC.