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New bid to keep food out of bins

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Potatoes, then bread and milk, are the UK’s most wasted foods, a new study by the retailer Sainsbury’s shows.

In the case of the spud, it’s estimated that around 733,000 tons are thrown out each year in the UK.

The research has been released by Sainsbury’s to launch its Food Rescue waste campaign. Among other things, the campaign provides recipes and handy tips to help people reduce their food waste.

The tips include:

  • Store potatoes in the cupboard rather than the fridge.
  • Keep all fruit in the fridge except pineapples and bananas, which are happier in the fruit bowl.
  • Keep leftover salad in a bowl and add a sheet of kitchen roll before topping with cling film.

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source: http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/media/latest-stories/2015/0617-the-true-cost-of-food-waste-brits-bin-thousands-of-nutrients-every-day/

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Hopes sweeter variety will boost wilting cabbage sales in UK

A sweeter variety of homegrown cabbage is being trialled by Tesco.

A sweeter variety of homegrown cabbage is being trialled by Tesco.

The UK retailer said the cabbage – known as Sweet Summer Cabbage – is grown in Lincolnshire and was “naturally developed to re-generate interest in the vegetable.”

In a press release, Tesco said it has a light, sweeter and fresher taste than other cabbage varieties and is ideal for people who like making their own salads and coleslaw.

Tesco vegetable buyer Luke Shutler explains: “In recent years many greens have not only shed their ‘difficult’ image but have been re-appraised as superfoods because of their great nutritional value.

“Broccoli was the first about 10 years ago but more recently, thanks to foodie culture and a greater awareness of what we eat, we have seen other greens such as spinach and even sprouts become more popular.

“Unfortunately that has not happened with cabbage, yet, and we think that demand is being held back because of a poor image that goes back to memories of school dinners and cabbage that was boiled to within an inch of its life.

“We have worked with TJ Clements, one of the UK’s biggest brassica producers, to come up with this sweet green variety that we believe will not only be a hit with children but with adults too.

“Regular varieties of cabbage have a slightly peppery, almost bitter flavour but the sweetness of the Summer Sweet can be tasted as soon as you take your first bite. “We are trialling it this summer and if demand is strong then we will have more next year.” Tesco said the cabbages will be sold in 250 stores.

Sweet Summer Cabbage - Edited.jpg

Cabbage sales down 6% in the UK

Tesco said Kantar data for the UK retail market shows demand for cabbage has fallen 6% in the last two years.

It said cabbage sales in Britain were at their highest in the 1950s when the vegetable was a seen as a relatively inexpensive way of eating nutritious food. But as Britain became more prosperous, the ‘meat and two veg diet’ began falling by the wayside and, with the introduction and influences of other cuisines and fast food culture, over the years there has been  has been a downturn in demand for cabbage.

A the time of publication, Summer Sweet Cabbage cost £1 each, compared to £0.45 for Tesco Everyday Value cabbage, £0.49 for Tesco Everyday Sweetheart cabbage, £0.52 for Tesco red cabbage, £0.55 for Tesco white cabbage, £0.80 for Tesco savoy cabbage and  £1.30 for Tesco organic seasonal cabbage, according to Tesco.com.

 

source: Tesco press release “Sweet Summer Cabbage launched to help image of ‘unloved’ green”

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EU High Court fixes €9.8M banana cartel fine on Del Monte & Weichert

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. and a previous distributor must pay a fine of €9.8 million for fixing banana prices between 2000 and 2002, following a decision by the European Union’s highest court.

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. and a previous distributor must pay a fine of €9.8 million for fixing banana prices between 2000 and 2002, following a decision by the European Union’s highest court.

On Wednesday, the European Court of Justice reversed an earlier decision by the General Court to reduce the fine by 10%.

The General Court had granted the 10% reduction of the fine to Del Monte and the previous distributor, Hamburg-based Internationale Fruchtimport Gesellschaft Weichert GmbH & Co. KG (Weichert), in respect of Weichert’s cooperation during the European Commission’s investigation into a banana cartel.

But the higher court said the General Court made an error in law by granting the reduction… “to Del Monte and Weichert in respect of Weichert’s cooperation during the administrative procedure, even though Weichert’s conduct could not be regarded as revealing a genuine spirit of cooperation.”

Among its findings, the European Court of Justice said “Weichert merely replied to a simple request for information, it is clear that it did not provide information to the Commission without having been requested to do so.”

It said that a fine reduction “…is justified only where an undertaking provides information to the Commission without being asked to do so. It is established case-law that the conduct of the undertaking concerned must not only facilitate the Commission’s task of establishing the existence of the infringement but also reveal a genuine spirit of cooperation…”

“Any other interpretation would undermine both the purpose and the incentive effect of the leniency provisions as, first, it would have the effect of granting to all parties participating in a cartel a reduction of the fine if they provided to the Commission, at the Commission’s request, useful information and/or evidence and, second, it would encourage undertakings to adopt a ‘wait-and-see’ approach rather than supplying the Commission, on their own initiative, and as quickly and as comprehensively as possible, with such information and evidence.”
 

Background to cartel probe

According to information published by the Commission, the cartel investigation started with surprise inspections in 2005, prompted by an application for immunity by Chiquita.

“The Commission found that banana importers Chiquita, Dole and Weichert participated in a cartel between 2000 and 2002 in violation of Article 101 TFEU. The cartel members coordinated the setting of their quotation prices for bananas in eight EU Member States.

“At the time of the infringement, Weichert was trading mainly Del Monte branded bananas and was 80% owned by Del Monte. The cartel affected Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Sweden, where the combined retail value of bananas sold in 2002 amounted to around €2.5 billion,” it said.

In a press release in 2008, the Commission said that the banana business is organised in weekly cycles. “During the relevant period the importers of leading brands of bananas into the eight EU Member States principally served by North European ports set and then announced every Thursday morning their reference price (their “quotation price”) for the following week.

“On numerous occasions over the three year period there were bilateral phone calls among the companies, usually the day before they set their price. During these calls the companies discussed or disclosed their pricing intentions: how they saw the price evolving or whether they intended to maintain, increase or decrease the quotation price.”

sources:

European Court of Justice judgment
European Commission
 

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Putin prolongs Western food ban

Spanish fruit and vegetable growers are among those asking the European Commission to urgently adopt new aid measures for them amid Russia’s extension of its veto on certain Western food imports.

Spanish fruit and vegetable growers are among those asking the European Commission to urgently adopt new aid measures for farmers amid Russia’s extension of its veto on certain Western food imports.

The Russian move came in retaliation to the EU decision to prolong until January sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

Russia’s original ban – which applied to food products including vegetables, fruit, beef, pork, fish and dairy products from the EU, the US, Canada, Norway and Australia – was introduced last August. Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he was extending it, “by one year beginning from today.”

Fepex, the Spanish federation of associations of producers and exporters of fruit, vegetables, flowers and live plants, immediately called on the European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan to extend the exceptional measures used by the Commission to help EU fruit and vegetable growers affected by the existing ban.

In a letter to Hogan, Fepex said the Russian ban on the import of EU fruit and vegetables in force since last August had deprived the Spanish fruit and vegetable sector of the top non-EU export market. “There are no alternative markets that can compensate for this loss,” it said.

Fepex calculates Spanish fruit and vegetable exports to non-EU countries in the first quarter of this year were down 17% – a total of 218 million tons – on the same period in 2014. It said the extension of the veto “will worsen a major crisis in the EU summer fruit market” and called for the Commission to urgently adopt market crisis management measures.

Meanwhile, Murcia’s Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, a member of the European Parliament from Spain’s ruling Partido Popular party, in a written question in the Parliament has called for stone fruit to be covered under the earlier exceptional support measures.

He said these existing measures did not contain any exceptional support for Spanish plums, table grapes, kiwifruit, peaches, apricots or nectarines.

“Exports to alternative markets have not absorbed the 60,698 tons which were previously exported to Russia. Measures need to be taken therefore to prevent prices falling as they did between 2013 and 2014 (by 32.3% for plums, 36.7% for yellow flesh peaches and 44.9% for yellow flesh nectarines). The marketing season started in April and farmers are now extremely concerned,” he said.

Photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin: Kremlin.ru [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Delhaize and Ahold merging into Ahold Delhaize

Leading international food retailers Delhaize Group (Delhaize) and Royal Ahold N.V. (Ahold) are to merge into a company to be known as Ahold Delhaize.

Leading international food retailers Delhaize Group (Delhaize) and Royal Ahold N.V. (Ahold) are to merge into a company to be known as Ahold Delhaize.

Announcing the merger agreement on Wednesday in a press release, they said the company will have enhanced scale across regions, market-leading retail offerings to serve customers’ changing needs, and a strong financial profile from which to fund innovation and investments in future growth.

Ahold and Delhaize businesses reported aggregated net sales of €54.1 billion, adjusted EBITDA of €3.5 billion, net income from continued operations of €1.0 billion and free cash flow of €1.8 billion last year. The new Ahold Delhaize enterprise will boast “a portfolio of strong, trusted local brands and serve more than 50 million customers every week in the US and Europe.”

Mats Jansson, chairman of Delhaize Group, will become chairman of Ahold Delhaize. Jan Hommen, chairman of Royal Ahold, and Jacques de Vaucleroy, Delhaize Group director, will become vice chairmen of Ahold Delhaize. Dick Boer, CEO of Royal Ahold, will become CEO. Frans Muller, CEO of Delhaize Group, will become deputy CEO and chief integration officer.

Leveraging our combined scale, skills and values

Hommen and Jansson said the merger will combine two highly complementary businesses to create a world-leading food retailer.

Muller said it will create significant value for all stakeholders. “Ahold Delhaize aims to increase relevance in its local communities by improving the value proposition for its customers through assortment innovation and merchandising, a better shopping experience both in stores and online, investments in value, and new store growth,” he said.

Boer said the proposed merger “is an exciting opportunity to create an even stronger and more innovative retail leader for our customers, associates and shareholders worldwide. With extraordinary reach, diverse products and formats, and great people, we are bringing together two world-class organizations to deliver even more for the communities we serve. Our companies share common values, proud histories rooted in family entrepreneurship, and businesses that complement each other well. We look forward to working together to reach new levels of service and success.”

sources:
Ahold and Delhaize announce intention to merge (press release)
Presentation 
 

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Increase in fruit and vegetable imports and exports by Spain

A recovery in exports of Spanish fresh fruits and vegetables in the first trimester of 2015 was partly thanks to increased consumption in some major EU markets –such as the UK and France – according to FEPEX.

A recovery in exports of Spanish fresh fruits and vegetables in the first trimester of 2015 was partly thanks to increased consumption in some major EU markets – such as the UK and France – according to Fepex.

Spanish fruit and vegetable exports in the first four months of this year were up 8% in volume, to 4.8 million tons, and 11% in value, to €4.6 billion, compared to the same period last year.

Fepex, the Spanish federation of associations of producers and exporters of fruit, vegetables, flowers and live plants, said fruit exports were up 15% in volume, to 2.4 million tons, and 14.5% in value, to €2.27 billion.

It said Spanish government figures also show that vegetable exports were up 1.6% in volume, to 2.3 million tons, and 8% in value, to €2.5 billion.

Strong growth in orange exports in April
The most recent figures, for the month of April, show fruit exports up 15.5% in volume and 12% in value, compared to April 2014.

Fruit export highlights for April:
Oranges 263 538 tons (+25%)
Strawberries 101,365 tons (+11%)
Mandarins 68,872 tons (+26%)
Watermelon 13,636 tons (+7%)
Apples 12,038 tons (+23%)
Raspberries 6,111 tons (+39%)
Blueberries 4,620 tons (+3%)

Pepper exports down in April

Also in April, vegetable exports rose 20% in value, to €536 million, though by just 5% in volume, to 541,094 tons, with tomato, lettuce and cabbage the main vegetables exported that month.

Highlights of vegetable exports for April:
Tomato 109,258 tons +10%)
Lettuce 108 299 tons (+7%)
Cabbage 62 893 tons (+7%)
However, Fepex reported significant declines in Spanish exports of some vegetables, such as:
Pepper 57,551 tons (-8.6%)
Zucchini (courgettes) 36,732 tons (-11%)

Spanish imports of fresh fruit and veg also up

Meanwhile, Spanish imports of fruit and vegetables from January-April were 2% higher in volume, to 878,019 tons, and 8% in value, to €632 million, compared to the same four months last year.

Fepex said vegetable imports stood at 481,294 tons (+ 5%), for a value of €224 million (+2%), and fruit 396,725 tons (-1%) and €408 million (+11%).

Potato imports up 28% in April

Figures for April alone show that – largely thanks to potatoes – Spain imported 17% more vegetables, to 132,192 tons, but fruit  imports were down 8%, to 114 298 tons. The relative values were up 6%, to €54.3 million, and 5%, to €121.7 million.

Screenshot 2015-06-25 at 11.40.42.png

Original information (in Spanish):
http://www.fepex.es/noticias/detalle/crecimiento-10-volumen-16-valor-exportacion-frutas-hortalizas-abril​
http://www.fepex.es/noticias/detalle/mantiene-evolucion-positiva-importacion-frutas-hortaliza-abril

Flag map of Spain: by Soerfm (own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

 

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Cool Logistics Asia makes its debut in Hong Kong

“The most productive concentration of cold-chain professionals under one roof in Asia” – that’s one way organisers have described the coming Cool Logistics Asia conference, taking place on September 2 on the doorstep of the world’s largest potential cold chain market, in Hong Kong.

The most productive concentration of cold-chain professionals under one roof in Asia – that’s one way organisers have described the coming Cool Logistics Asia conference, taking place on September 2 on the doorstep of the world’s largest potential cold chain market, in Hong Kong.

Coinciding with the opening day of Asia Fruit Logistica, this first edition of Cool Logistics Asia, being held at the AsiaWorld–Expo centre, will focus on new ways to control rising perishable logistics.

The high-level one-day forum will feature speakers from leading cold store operators and shipping lines, international perishable logistics experts, and perishable cargo owners, among many others, who will exchange experiences on how to create a roadmap for developing Asia’s perishable supply chains of the future.

It will also bring together the latest retail and e-tail trends with perishable product-based logistics case studies, food-safety with multi modal transport forecasts. Additionally, the conference will provide analysis of key infrastructure investments and a review of the latest available refrigerated logistics technology, and plenty of debating time as an appetiser and scene-setter for the Asia Fruit Logistica Exhibition.

The conference takes place within the wider context of an expected explosion in growth of the cold chain market in Asia in the short and medium term fired by greater demand for perishable goods, increasing wealth distribution and the development of e-commerce.

The need for new approaches is underlined by the fact that at least 30% of temperature sensitive cargoes are being wasted and have to be destroyed due to insufficient infrastructure, differences in culture and communication problems. Hence the critical need for this platform for better dialogue between the logistics sector and perishable producers, exporters and importers, organisers say.

Cool Logistics Asia has been designed as a regional event to complement Cool Logistics Global in Europe and other biennial regional events, such as Cool Logistics Africa and Cool Logistics Americas.

For more information: http://coollogisticsresources.com/asia/

 

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The world’s best in 6 key fresh produce areas, as ranked by France

A recent report by the French ministry for agriculture, FranceAgriMer, assesses export competitivesness in key markets for the six key produce categories of cauliflower, tomatoes, salad, strawberries, peaches and nectarines, and apples

Which countries are the most competitive in the export of six key fruit and vegetable products is assessed in a recent report by the French ministry for agriculture, FranceAgriMer.

Cauliflower and broccoli, tomatoes, salad, strawberries, peaches and nectarines, and apples are the categories analysed in the annually updated publication, which assesses key components such as production potential, soil, climate and macroeconomic context. It monitors the strengths and weaknesses of the world’s various fruit and vegetables sectors.

Published last month and drawing on comprehensive fruit and vegetable data from 2013, the 2014 edition rankings are:

Cauliflower & broccoli

1 France
2 Italy
3 UK
4 Germany
5 Spain
6 Belgium  
7 Poland

Salad

1 Belgium
2 Netherlands
3 France
4 Germany
5 Italy
6 Spain

Tomato

1 Netherlands
2 Spain
3 France, Belgium (TIE)
5 Germany
6 Poland
7 Turkey
8 Morocco
9 Italy

Strawberry

1 Spain
2 Poland
3 Belgium
4 France
5 Italy
6 Germany
7 Morocco
8 Netherlands

Peach & nectarine

1 Spain
2 Italy
3 France
4 Greece
5 Turkey

Apple

1 New Zealand
2 Italy
3 Chile
4 Belgium
5 South Africa
6 US
7 France
8 Netherlands
9 Poland
10 Germany
11 China
12 Turkey
 

To find out more about these rankings read the report (in French) here.

Source: FranceAgriMer

Book 2014 Études économiques fruits, légumes et pommes de terre réalisées et/ou financées par FranceAgriMer

Veille Concurrentielle Internationale Fruits et Légumes Pilotée et financée par FranceAgriMer Réalisée par Agrex Consulting

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US nearly triples its fresh vegetable imports from China

The United States’ imports of fresh vegetables from China grew 185% in value to $214.3 million in the five years to 2013, a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows.

The United States’ imports of fresh vegetables from China grew 185% in value to $214.3 million in the five years to 2013, a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows.

Though off a much smaller base, the value of its its fresh fruit imports from China also grew over the same period, rising 61% to $21.8 million.

Meanwhile, in the opposite direction, the value of fresh fruit imports from the US by China rose 116%, to $119.5 million, and that for vegetables 719% to $3.84 million.

According to the report “China’s Growing Demand for Agricultural Imports”, China has overtaken Japan, Mexico, and Canada to become the leading export market for US agricultural products. Projections by the USDA and other sources anticipate continued growth in Chinese agricultural imports through 2023.

As for China’s agricultural exports, they are mainly labor-intensive, high-value (per unit of land) products that often require processing. US vegetable imports from China include garlic and mushrooms.

source: USDA

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Laser Food & JBT bring cutting-edge laser labelling technology to UK

Spanish fresh produce technology specialist Laser Food, together with US partner JBT Corporation, made their first major appearance on UK shores at the London Produce Show.

Spanish fresh produce technology specialist Laser Food, together with US partner JBT Corporation, made their first major appearance on UK shores at the London Produce Show.

Held June 3-5 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, the show was a key opportunity to explain to leading members of the fresh produce sector why Laser MarkTM can be an effective alternative to traditional fresh produce labels.

Laser Food’s head of international business development, Stephane Merit, said: “The UK is a major consumer of fresh fruits and vegetables in Europe and it is also a very demanding market that wants quality and is ready to pay for it.”

Merit said the UK is a perfect target for the technology as laser labelling is a way to add value to fresh produce and help retailers reduce their carbon footprint. The reduction in carbon footprint, which can be delivered by the paper-free technology, also fits well with consumer – and therefore retailer – awareness and concern about environmental issues.

With the London Produce Show consolidating its position as a major meeting place between UK retailers and producers of fresh fruits and vegetables worldwide, Merit said it offered Laser Food and JBT a great opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of laser-labelled fresh produce.

“Maintaining a constant dialogue with the major UK retailers is key because we know they are the ones who set trends and are looking for new products, new technologies and new ways of satisfying their customers’ needs.”

Based in Valencia, Spain, Laser Food originally developed the laser labelling technology between 2010 and 2013 as part of its Laser MarkTM research project, which was 50% funded by the European Union.

The technology, which can be applied to almost any type of fresh produce, uses EU-approved compounds that do not damage the fruit surface or interior, while maintaining the commercial value of the product. The materials used in the process were legally approved by the EU for pomegranates, melons and citrus in June 2013.

As well as being able to write brand names directly onto fruit, the system allows growers and retailers to add QR matrix codes to product surfaces, offering greater traceability.

Laser Food and JBT Corporation tailor their services to the individual needs of each client, and are currently supporting customers in Italy, France, Poland and the UK. JBT Corporation is a leading global supplier of integrated solutions for the fresh produce sector.