<![CDATA[Berriestrade news]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/feeds/news Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Zend_Feed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Germany want to improve position European organic strawberries]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0123 Germany want to improve position European organic strawberries

In Germany discussions are going on about the situation on the organic strawberry market, the latest discussions of the 'Strategy Forum' in Gleisdorf are going on. Last year a considerable amount of Chinese organic strawberries were exported to Europe. And this year the quantity will increase as well. At the moment Chinese organic strawberries are 50 percent cheaper than the European Bioware strawberries. Therefore as a result the sale of organic strawberries from the region is in danger.

But how should European organic products react? According to the forum this will only be possible, when the organic growers are only involved in the cultivation and leave the selling for the account of the trading companies. These companies are in a position to offer European and non-European products to the same buyers simultaneously. In this way the European strawberries can be sold with the best possible margins in the long term as well.

For many consumers price is the most important aspect when buying. The consumer uses this often as a justification when not buying organic products. But the emotional outlook can quite easily add value to the product, for instance by emphasising the region where the product was grown. As long as the European organic products are grown outside of Europe, the organic grower will have to contend with worldwide competition.

Author: Gerard Lindhout
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com

]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[Canada: Freeze destroys strawberry crops]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0124 Canada: Freeze destroys strawberry crops

An overnight frost in Newfoundland has destroyed thousands of dollars worth of strawberries. One farmer said 80 to 90 per cent of his strawberries at their flowering peak died when temperatures plunged below freezing Wednesday night in Reidville, on Newfoundland's west coast.

The clear skies overnight lead to the low temperatures which dropped as low as -4 Celsius.

Author: Nichola Watson
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com

]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[Clouds gather over Poland’s strawberry]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0125 Clouds gather over Poland's strawberry

Bad weather, floods and rain have affected this year's strawberry pickings, driving prices up by almost 200 percent.

Currently, markets in Warsaw offer a punnet of strawberries for between 7-10 zloty (1.7-2.4 euro).

The bad weather has also meant that there are less strawberries available than in 2009, although experts' opinions differ as to the extent of the fruit's decline.

A fruit market expert, Prof. Eberhard Makosz told the press that Poland's strawberry yield this year will amount to around 150,000 tons, a drop of 45,000 tons on 2009.

The expert added that the lack of strawberries may cause problems for fruit processing plants in 2010.

Companies buying up strawberries in bulk for frozen products currently pay 2.4-2.8 zloty per kilogram, a hike of 200 percent on 2009 prices, which amounted to 1.4 zloty per kg.

Dr. Bozena Nosecka, a specialist from the Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics in Warsaw, believes that the purchasing price of strawberries does not only depend on the size of the yield, but also thanks to the food producers' strawberry stockpiles.

«Reserves are low, and demand has grown due to the better economic situation in [fruit] exports,” Nosecka claims, adding that strawberry prices may still rise due to the lack of other fruit pickings this season.

Strawberry season has hit central and eastern Poland, with northern regions expecting to harvest their yields in the near future. Experts estimate that the season will last for a further two weeks, depending on the weather.


Source: thenews. pl

]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[Spain: Price increase saves the strawberry season ]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0126 The local labor grew by 12%
Spain: Price increase saves the strawberry season

The strawberry campaign in the province of Huelva was completed yesterday and employers stressed the «special complexity» of this year due to two factors: the devastating winter storm that brought loses of up to 10 million kilos of early fruit (about 30 million Euros), and certain campaigns from Europe which criticized, among other things, the use of pesticides and the lack of rights of seasonal workers during the harvest.

Alberto Garrocho, president of the Association of Producers and Exporters of Huelva Strawberry (Freshuelva) reported yesterday some figures in the absence of the final results of production: the tons of strawberry collections this year fell by 10% to 12%, that means that from the 245 000 tons of fruit produced the previous season, this year it will fall to a maximum of 220 500.

The good news, according Freshuelva, is that prices increased by 5% to 6%, due to the decrease of produce. According Garrocho the final profit of this year will be very similar to that of 2009. He still lamented, «This year we had more expectations.»

Based On: www.elpais.com

]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[AU: Strawberry glut pushes prices down]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0127 AU: Strawberry glut pushes prices down

Strawberry growers are facing yet another case of oversupply.

As some of the best production in years is harvested across south-east Queensland, it's driving prices down.

The good news for consumers is that not only is the fruit cheap, but timely rain earlier in the year means the quality is good.

President of the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association, Bill Sharpe, says growers may need to reconsider introducing a marketing levy and improve taste to boost demand.

«I mean there's nothing worse than a green mango or a green peach, or a green pear or whatever, anything picked green, it doesn't have the same flavour," he says.

«If you can pick it sort of ripe, the sugar levels are just way higher.

«So that's what we've been working on for the past 12 months."


Source: abc. net.au

]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[Heavy rainfall hits 40,000 farms in Poland]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0122 Heavy rainfall hits 40,000 farms in Poland

In Poland about 400,000HA of agricultural land have been damaged by floods over the last few weeks. At least 40,000 agricultural companies have been hit. This is according to the first estimates of the Polish government. Crops have been destroyed and the government fears, that because of the water damage, not all spring crops will be sowed. Also neighbouring Slovakia has been hit by rainfall lasting for several days. Damage to the agricultural sector is mainly in the centre and south of the country in the river basins of the rivers Wisla and Oder. The foreign large-scale companies are mainly established in the north-western area of the country and have not been hit. In Sandomierz about two thousand people had to leave their homes. Two weeks ago the same area was also hit by heavy flooding.

Not only were many plants destroyed by water, the Polish government fears about 6% of the spring crop will not be planted. After Germany, France and the United Kingdom Poland has the biggest agricultural area of the European Union. Also in neighbouring country Slovakia the days-long rainfall led to dramatic results. After the heavy flooding there were a number of landslides in the east of the country.

Source: Agrarisch Dagblad]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:25:42 +0000 <![CDATA[Poor quality of first Polish cherries ]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0121 Poor quality of first Polish cherries

First Polish sweet cherries appeared on the market about two weeks later than usually. Their quality is rather poor due to adverse weather. They are small, poor coloured and not sweet. However the demand for cherries is quite big. In the production area near Grójec the price of first cherries was from 4.00 to 5.00 PLN (0.97-1.22 €)/kg.

Source: fresh-market.pl (KZ)

]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:21:46 +0000 <![CDATA[China: Cherry production delayed due to cold winter ]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0120 China is expecting a delayed cherry season this year. This is due to an abnormally long and cold winter, which froze some of the early cherry blooms.



The cherry season normally starts May 1st with cherries from the greenhouses which last for the month of May. These cherries represent between 10-20% of the total production. The outdoor cherries are normally ready for harvest around June 1st and continue till the beginning of July.

Due to the long cold winter this year Steve Leung, from Alfa Fruit Packers expects a delay of about 2 weeks compared to last year. Initial estimates suggest the volume will be reduced by 40%.



Alfa Fruit Packers will begin harvesting the early varieties Rainier and Bing then continue with the later varieties such as Lapins.

Mr Leung Managing Director at Alfa Fruit Packers says that due to the reduced volumes he expects prices to be a lot higher than last year.



Very little cherries are exported by Alfa Fruit Packers because there are very few large cherries available for the export market. Mr Leung also says that «there is no infrastructure such as a hydro cooler, cold storage at the airport and the domestic airline is not capable of handling fresh and highly perishable products like cherries."

Mr Leung does not expect to export cherries in the next few years due to the above problems and also the high domestic demand. China imports cherries from the USA, Australia and New Zealand.



]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:12:24 +0000 <![CDATA[US(CA): Bumper blueberry harvest]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0119 US(CA): Bumper blueberry harvest

The blueberry crop in California is about ten days late this season due to a cool and wet spring. Although late, a bumper harvest is expected. According to Alex Ott, executive director of the California Blueberry Commission more than 30 million pounds (13.6 million kgs) should be harvested.
Author: Nichola Watson
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com

]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:01:54 +0000 <![CDATA[Spain: Volume of plums will half this season]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0118 Spain: Volume of plums will half this season

According to estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture (MARM) there is a decrease in Spanish cherry production by 38.8% to 57,200 tons. Peaches on the other hand will rise by 6.9%

The biggest reduction will be seen in plums, 53.2% to a volume of 104,200 tons

For other stone fruit, apricots will fall 3.5% (for 93,000 tons), while the peach will improve by 6.9% compared to last season (for 838.300 total tons), reports Green Med Journal .

As for vegetables production, an increase by 3.1% is expected for asparagus, to 50,300 tonnes, and by 2.6% for early onion, to 218,000 tonnes. The early potato crop will fall by 34.2% over last year, to 234.000 tonnes. As for nuts, MARM expected an increase of almond crop of 0.4 percent, to 283,100 tonnes.

]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:01:28 +0000 <![CDATA[US(CA): Stone fruit season delayed]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0117 US(CA): Stone fruit season delayed

San Joaquin Valley stone fruit season is facing a delay this year due to the cool damp Spring. Cherries especially could suffer from a reduced volume.

Arrivals to the farmers markets have been delayed by a few weeks. The temperatures in May did not get above 90°F which is very unusual. The farmers saw some light rain last month but were happy that this was not followed by heat spikes, which can encourage pests and diseases in the fruit.

It was reported by mobee. com that industry representatives said apricots and other stone fruits are a week or two behind. That extra time on the tree can mean a larger size for each piece, according to the University of California Cooperative Extension.

After three years of drought farmers in general have welcomed the rain to boost water supplies.






Publication date: 6/10/2010
Author: Nichola Watson
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com

]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:59:57 +0000 <![CDATA[Chinese cherry hits the market]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0116 Chinese cherry hits the market

Cherries from China are on the market. The main varieties are Red Light and Lapins, the first is already on the market and will be followed the Lapins next week. The Chinese is cherry big, colourful with a good taste, each weighs more than 9gr.



The main producing areas are in Shandong and Liaoning provinces. Cherries were originally planted in Yantai, Shandong provinces, by western churchmen, sailors and colonies in the 1870's. According to Ms Joyce He from Isnet, «there are about 57 thousand acres of red cherry in Yantai, the output is about 124.6 thousand tons occupying 60% of the total productions in China.» Owing to the low temperature last year, the harvesting time has been delayed, and the price is lower than last year.

]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:59:18 +0000 <![CDATA[Hungary: Serious flooding destroys up to 80% of crops]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0115 Hungary: Serious flooding destroys up to 80% of crops

Extreme weather in Hungary came at the worst possible time for farmers, causing wide spread flooding over the whole country. In the south west of the country 30% of the strawberry crop has been destroyed, but the north east has been most seriously affected. In areas with light sandy soil loses are thought to be 10-20% but areas where the ground is of heavy clay loses are as much as 80-100%.



Crops such as melons, peppers, cabbage, tomatoes, sweet corn, apples and sour cherries are among those destroyed in the floods. The torrential rain was the second blow for the farmers this year, having also suffered from late frosts earlier in the year.

The situation was most serious between 4th and 8th of May, when 50-60 mm of rain fell and rivers burst their banks. Poland, Austria, Italy and Germany have also suffered from storms and heavy rain this year.

It is not only crops on open ground which have been affected, many of the country's greenhouses are also flooded. The livelihoods of many farmers at are risk because the surviving fruit and vegetables are of poor quality and now they are facing the added threat of bacterial and fungal diseases such as Clavibacter, Phytophtora, Sclerotinia, Monilia.



The local and national economy will certainly be seriously affected by this situation, the farmers can only hope for high than average prices and compensation from the government.

Farmers' associations currently estimate the damage at HUF 500 million (EUR 1.75 million).
www.hortiservice.hu

]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:29:29 +0000 <![CDATA[Denmark: Strawberry harvest delayed again ]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0114 Denmark: Strawberry harvest delayed again

A lack of sunshine and cool temperatures mean the country's domestic strawberry supplies aren't yet available

Spring's inclement weather has delayed the much-anticipated harvesting of Denmark's strawberry crops, which probably won't reach supermarkets for at least another week, according to growers.

The cold spring has already delayed the fruit's harvest by a week. However, the recent rain has been good for the crops, as farmers say the fruit still needs to grow.

«It\'s when the ripening begins that we aren't as happy about the rain,' strawberry farmer Peter Drejer told public broadcaster DR. «Until then, the rain is more than welcome because it will make the berries larger and juicier.'

Several different varieties of Danish strawberries will be on offer once the weather allows growers to begin harvesting. Drejer said he is growing 14 different types this year in order to prolong the selling season.

Until the Danish strawberries are ready for distribution, shoppers will have to make do with those from other countries, such as Spain and Egypt.

The poor spring weather meant that the nation's new potato crop was also two weeks late, with farmers only beginning to round up the vegetables last week.


Source: cphpost. dk

]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:28:18 +0000 <![CDATA[Spain: The start of the plum and peach season marked hail]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0113
Production was reduced by 40% in the province because of the weather.

Friday's rain has caused again major damages to some of the most representative of Alicante's crops such as cherry or citrus and even the plum, which begins its season this week. In just over three hours, the hail affected the crops of Torremendo, Orihuela, Villena and La Cañada.

The last episode of precipitations recorded on Friday damaged areas of the province of Alicante, mainly the areas of the low Vega and the high Vinalopó.

Amongst the affected crops are the citrus, berries of the mountain, top fruits such as apples and pears and also stone fruit which starts its campaign this week.

The novelty of the plum or peach campaign this year was marked by the bad weather. Frosts and hail have caused losses between 30 and 40% in the case of the plum, peach and nectarine.

With no doubt, fruits this year will have an exceptional quality «Because of the shortage of the fruit, the ones that do grow utilize the strength of the tree with more intensity and reach a larger size and better flavor” explains the president of Young Farmers ASAJA Alicante, Eladio Aniorte.

Based On: Asaja Alicante
]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:22:11 +0000 <![CDATA[US: Minnesota strawberry crop arrives ahead of schedule]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0112 US: Minnesota strawberry crop arrives ahead of schedule

Thanks in part to a mild spring, Minnesota strawberries are ripening ahead of schedule.

According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, some strawberry farms in southern Minnesota are already open for picking and many others plan to open during the week of June 7.

The agriculture department says most growers are reporting excellent looking crops and expect to have lots of sweet, juicy berries for picking this year.

There are 90 strawberry farms in the Minnesota Grown Directory.

Publication date: 6/9/2010
Author: Shailaja VR
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com

]]> Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:12:30 +0000 <![CDATA[US(WA): Cool, wet spring slows some crops]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0109 US(WA): Cool, wet spring slows some crops

The cool and wet late spring has curtailed asparagus harvest, caused some anxiety for cherry growers and pleased wheat farmers across the region.

Asparagus yields are down overall by about 25 percent because of the cool weather, and growers so far have been able to pick only about half of the amount they would have in a typical year, said Alan Schreiber, executive director of the Washington Asparagus Commission.

Yields of Chelan cherries, an early season variety, are expected to be down in much of the region in part because of persistent rainfall that can cause ripening cherries to split.

Still, the overall cherry crop shows promise, particularly if the weather warms in coming weeks and rainfall diminishes, said B. J. Thurlby, president of the Washington State Fruit Growers Commission.

Source: seattlepi. com

Publication date: 6/7/2010

]]> Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:10:07 +0000 <![CDATA[US: Strawberry harvest late in Oregon ]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0100 US: Strawberry harvest late in Oregon

As farmer Jim Evonuk walked through his muddy field of strawberries on Seavey Loop Road last week, stomping through puddles between rows, a steady drizzle falling from a steel-gray sky turned suddenly into a pelting downpour, sending Evonuk to the shelter of his barn.

«We've had enough rain," he said."If we have another week or 10 days of this, it will cease to be fun."

A cool, wet spring is to blame for a slow-growing crop of Oregon strawberries. Growers say they're hoping for a dry stretch of weather so the fruit ripens and they can begin picking in the next week or two.

The first crop of strawberries should be ready to pick within the next two weeks. The cool weather should mean an extended harvest.



Source: mycentraloregon. com

Publication date: 6/1/2010

]]> Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:50:50 +0000 <![CDATA[India: Sweet cherries gone sour for Himachal growers ]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0105 India: Sweet cherries gone sour for Himachal growers

A bumper sweet cherry crop this year has gone sour for farmers in Himachal Pradesh. The high yield has pushed prices so low that growers are getting 25 to 35 percent less than what they received last year.

Horticulture department officials say the total cherry production is set to touch a record 1,000 tonnes. It was 419 tonnes in the last fiscal and 698 tonnes in 2007-08.

As a result, market prices have dropped heavily fetching very low returns to the growers. 'The high production of cherries has considerably brought down the prices,' Gopal Mehta, a prominent grower in upper Shimla, told IANS.

He said the best varieties of black cherry picked from organic farms was selling at Rs.230 to Rs.270 a kg in the Delhi wholesale market this year, whereas it fetched between Rs.350 and Rs.380 last year.

A high yield in other cherry-growing states like Jammu and Kashmir has led to a glut in the market, said Diwan Negi, another grower.

'We are selling a box of ordinary red cherries in the wholesale market in Chandigarh at Rs.80-100. Last year the price was above Rs.150,' Negi said.

According to him, the farmers are hardly making any profit as the costs of labour, packaging and transportation have risen manifold over the year.



Source: sify. com

Publication date: 5/31/2010

]]> Mon, 31 May 2010 17:04:41 +0000 <![CDATA[US (CA): May rains concern strawberry crop growers]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0099 US (CA): May rains concern strawberry crop growers

The rain is a welcome sight for those who are happy the drought is over, but it's causing major problems for two popular fruit crops.

One strawberry grower expressed his thoughts on the late May rain.

«In all other circumstances, this would be wonderful but right now in terms of the strawberries, it's just terrible," cherry grower Ralph Santos Jr. said.

Cherry growers may find the weather even more devastating. Ralph Jr. operates 200 acres of cherry trees in Gilroy. Next week he was going to have a crew of 500 pickers hit the orchards. Instead today, he called his insurance agent to give him the bad news.

«Every place I looked there were cracks and I realized for all intents and purposes, we're done," he said.

Ralph Jr. fears the crop will be a total loss.

Bing cherries are at a critical point in the growing cycle. The skin is thin and taut across the fruit and turning red. When moisture from the rain creeps in, the skin splits making the cherries unshippable. Ralph's son is a fourth generation grower.

«Basically the costs of picking the trees and weeding though the acceptable and split fruit is just too expensive. It's just not cost effective to try to pick though the orchard," Ralph Santos III said.

Strawberries and cherries are grown across California, and how much more rain and just where it falls will determine if retail prices rise.




Publication date: 5/28/2010
Author: Shailaja VR
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com

]]> Fri, 28 May 2010 16:49:14 +0000 <![CDATA[US: Strawberry season arrives early]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0098 US: Strawberry season arrives early

Strawberries are on pace to reach consumers weeks before their usual date, due to a warm March with little to no snow cover, and plenty of other fruits will follow suit.

«The usual time (for picking strawberries) is the third week in June or mid-June, but it is looking like next weekend,” said Tom Mitchell, of Ledge Top Farm in Wilton.

His farm was hit with no deep frost and all of his fruit is a week or two early, he said.

In Hollis, Lavoie Farm has half-to three-quarters of an acre of ripe strawberries. It will open its pick-your-own stand Saturday at 8 a. m., said Adrien Lavoie.

Lavoie, who is the fourth generation of his family that has lived on the 53 acres, said strawberries are facing the earliest season on record by more than a week. The strawberries are three weeks ahead of their normal schedule, he said.

According to Lavoie, the taste of the nine varieties of strawberries will be the same despite the early start, and he expects they will be available for the usual period of about five weeks.

UNH Cooperative Extension educator George Hamilton says the weather was a catalyst for the early start for produce and that fruit such as apples, peaches and strawberries may be weeks early this year. He cautioned, however, that any stretch of cooler-than-normal weather could offset these early season gains and push the seasons back to normal.

In recent years, direct-to- consumer sales such as pick-your-own operations have become a major source of income for Nashua-area farmers. Hillsborough County ranks in the top 1 percent in the country in terms of direct market sales as a percentage of all farm sales.

The earlier ripening of produce means farmers can start making money earlier. Hamilton noted one drawback to an early season: Consumers may not be aware that certain foods are available.

Allen Lindahl, of Hillside Apiaries in Merrimack, grows raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. Lindahl said that like many farmers, he is a couple weeks earlier than in previous years and is expecting his raspberries in the third week of June as opposed to the typical second week of July.

Lindahl says the early warmth and no «killing frost” was responsible for the hastened start of growth.

Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis is expecting to open its pick-your-own strawberry fields the first weekend in June, roughly a week earlier than usual.

The Lavoie Farm strawberries are on a hill which plays a key role for its early growth this spring. The hill faces east and gets an abundance of sun, which melted snow more quickly. Also, Lavoie said, the air flow rolls over the hill not allowing cold air to settle down on the patch, which keeps off frost.

Many Hillsborough County farmers were not hit hard with frost this year, Hamilton said.

Lavoie's Farm has done well the past two years, which Lavoie credits to people not wanting to go out as much to restaurants to eat. Lavoie says people are taking a more affordable option of buying local and cooking at home.


Source: nashuatelegraph. com

Publication date: 5/28/2010

]]> Fri, 28 May 2010 16:47:31 +0000 <![CDATA[Fewer cherries available due to cold and rain]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0104 Fewer cherries available due to cold and rain

To-day Kervo is marketing the first cherries of the new season. These cherries were harvested in Southern France and are sorted and packed in the Netherlands. The company, which has been operating in Venlo since 2008, grows cherries locally and abroad for the fresh market and to be tinned for bakeries amongst others. The sweet cherries are mostly for the fresh market, whilst all Morello cherries are processed.

The prospects for the French cherry sector are reasonably good. Frits van Vossen, who together with his son Paul, runs the company says, that as a result of the cold weather about 30% less sweet cherries are available than last year. The expectations for French Morellos are very good. «We have our own growing company of 65HA in France and we are about the only ones growing tart cherries on such a large scale there.»

Harvesting in Eastern Europe will start shortly. According to Frits the production there is also smaller than in other years. «In Poland orchards are under water and in Serbia many trees were uprooted because of bad results.» He expects the open ground cultivation in the Netherlands to be delayed by about four weeks. «Also in the Netherlands the crop is smaller because of the cold weather at the time of flowering."



The quality of the cherries is otherwise very good. Frits expects a positive season, also because of the smaller supply from Spain, where the abundant rain was not very good for the crop. «As a result of the limited supply, prices are high at present and we expect higher prices on average during the entire season, because of the smaller supply and the larger demand.» From next week large volumes will be available in the market. The cherries are sold under the Kervo brand. Publication date: 5/27/2010
Author: Gerard Lindhout
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com]]> Thu, 27 May 2010 17:00:29 +0000 <![CDATA[Spain: The strawberry comes into the market in "good condition"]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0097 Spain: The strawberry comes into the market in «good condition»

The President of Freson de Palos and Freshuelva, Alberto Garrocho said today that the strawberry is coming to the market in «very good condition with an exquisite flavor and sweetness”, so the campaign can go on until mid- June because farmers want to make the most of it after the storms that took place during the winter.

Speaking to Europa Press, Alberto Garrocho said «there is not much fruit, but the little there is is exquisite," this has caused the price of strawberries, in both domestic and international markets, increase between five and ten percent over the same dates in 2009. As for the campaign he predicted that it could go until June, and expects that to happen because in the European market the fruit continues to be sold. The farmers will continue collecting. That is why he affirmed that «if there is a good price now, but there isn't enough fruit in the long run it will be compensated, mostly taking into account the losses occurred in winter”.

In regards to the arrival of workers hired in origin registered in the reservation quota of 3,000 immigrants announced by the Government of Andalucia, the also president of Freshuelva said «they are working but have been arriving in early May, also indicating that labor will be used until the end of the campaign.»

Based on information by europapress. es

Publication date: 5/27/2010

]]> Thu, 27 May 2010 16:18:02 +0000 <![CDATA[US: Late spring rains could hurt California crops]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0103 US: Late spring rains could hurt California crops

California farmers don't usually say «rain, rain, go away” - especially these days, with water in short supply. But the state's agriculture industry isn't cheering the late spring storms.

You might think that after three years of drought, farmers would welcome every last rain drop. Not so, says Michael Marks, who markets agriculture for the produce distributor FreshPoint.

Marks: «For farmers, rain can be their best friend or worst enemy. And a lot has to do with when it comes and how much comes. And this certainly is not the time of year that you want rain.”

That's because it can harm young, tender crops just starting to ripen. Take cherries, for example. As they turn red, rain often leads to cracking or splitting when the sun comes out. Stone fruits like peaches, nectarines and apricots are also at risk.

But so far, it looks like farmers have dodged a bullet because the wet, cool spring has pushed back the normal ripening of the crops. The California Farm Bureau Federation says crops haven't seen any significant losses — just delays. The California Cherry Advisory Board says their harvests are running nearly two weeks behind schedule. That means consumers should expect lower volumes and higher prices into mid-June.


Source: capradio. org

Publication date: 5/26/2010

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 16:59:10 +0000 <![CDATA[Italy, Puglia's cherries destroyed by bad weather]]> http://www.berriestrade.com/news/item0102 Italy, Puglia's cherries destroyed by bad weather

Storms, winds and hail last week have undermined up to 80 to 90% of Puglia's cherry crop, especially Bigarreau and Giorgia varieties (40% for Ferrovia). Damages have been reckoned for hundreds of millions euros.

According to estimates by the Italian Farmers' Confederation CIA, storms and hail in Southern Italy could have caused a total loss amounting at least to 100 million euros, maybe more, after bad weather hit the area around Bari and Lecce on Friday, May 21, particularly affecting the harvest of cherries.

South of Bari, the situation is dramatic, especially in the area of Turi, Conversano, Castellana Grotte Sammichele, Putignano, Alberobello and Noci where rain and wind have irreversibly damaged the harvest of cherries, Italian web-magazine CorriereOrtofrutticolo. it reported.

According to estimates by CIA, up to 80-90% of the crop of «Bigarreau» and «Giorgia» varieties is compromised. As for «Ferrovia», which is partly still ripening, the damage hit about 40% of production.

Saverio Di Palma, producer of Conversano and among the largest exporters of cherries in the world, made an initial count of the damage: «I have never seen anything like this in May," he said, as reported the local newspaper Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno. «Water, wind and hail in some areas stroke hundreds of acres of cherry trees. The bad weather has hit Conversano affecting 40-50% of Ferrovia cherry production, now ripening. Whole fields of Bigarreau Moreau cherries which were just about to be collected, appeared irreversibly damaged. We are slightly more optimistic for the cultivation of the Ferrovia variety, which lie further upstream, and in the countryside of Turi and Casamassima. I forecast a loss for 5 up to 10 million euros."

Interviewed by Emanuele Zanini of CorriereOrtofrutticolo. it, Antonio Balacco, technician of the company «Giuliano» near Turi (Bari), revealed that «90% of the Bigarreau variety has been compromised, as it was in full harvesting. 70% of the harvest of early Ferrovia is irretrievable.» Damages to late products instead have been limited, «because the product — said Balacco — was still green and unripe so it held up better to the rain. If there are no new rainfall we may harvest a good product."

The fact remains that so far Giuliano suffered a loss amounting to 5 million euros in the cherry segment, which accounts for 10% of the business of the company, specializing in table grapes.

«We demand an immediate monitoring of the damaged areas and their boundaries — stated the president of CIA-Puglia Antonio Barile — and we urge extraordinary interventions by the Government to meet the losses incurred by farmers. It is essential, therefore, for the areas affected, to declare immediately a state of natural disaster and suspend all tax payments, pension contributions and agricultural bills as well as provide for the extension of loans. Besides these issues — claims the president of CIA Puglia — there is also the slump in sales and prices on the fields, which is giving farmers some concern."


Source: greenmed. eu

Publication date: 5/26/2010

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