Hortgro is in the final stages of securing funding for a new research project that will look at the ability of the fungus carried by the polyphagous shot hole borer beetle to infect deciduous fruit trees as well as common windbreak tree species. The polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) with its deadly fungus (Fusarium euwallaceae) [...]
According to data from the Statistics Division of the United Nations (UN), in recent years Spain has been constantly losing ground to South Africa and Turkey in the global citrus trade. Although Spain remains the world's largest exporter, its citrus shipments have been reduced by 15.18% since 2015, going from 4,184.56 million kilos back then [...]
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) is once again responding to one of the fastest growing industries in South Africa which is the export of citrus fruit. A new service was introduced from Musina in partnership with Musina Intermodal Terminal. The first Musina train that departed on 5 August loaded 250 wagons indicated how the private sector [...]
Among other things, Japan is known for its crazily expensive fruit. In 2016, a bunch of about 30 grapes sold for 1.1 million yen (US$10,190) in Japan, and since then the same variety of grapes has been hitting record highs every year. A bunch at this year’s first wholesale market auction was actually selling for [...]
Every year, in about week 36/37, Willem Dijk waits for his new European mandarins to arrive in the Netherlands. Sometimes, it is a week earlier, sometimes a week later. "There are sufficient overseas alternatives for mandarins. Despite this, there is a high demand for European mandarins. This week, we received our first truckload of Filosofo [...]
With the South African citrus season heading into its final quarter, Paul Hardman from the Citrus Growers Association explained that it has been a tough year for citrus exports. “We have had logistics problems with the port strikes and a lower crop than we had expected with oranges. The total citrus estimate of 137m cartons [...]
The South African top fruit season is drawing to a close with less than 10% of the pear stock and 15-20% of apples left. It was a mixed season according to Jacques du Preez from Hortgro. “Europe was tough this season, there was a lot of stock from last year and buy local campaigns in [...]
"Sintered Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is perfect to store fruit and for grapes in particular, which is very delicate especially during handling and transport. EPS packaging protects grapes and preserves its organoleptic qualities," explains Alessandro Scurria from SCF - Packaging division. EPS packaging was developed specifically for the fresh produce industry as it helps tackle many [...]
Every citrus season has its own ups and downs. The current South African season has a tale of its own too. This is according to the Dutch company, Exsa Europe's, Eddy Kreukniet. "We have been seeing crop expectation being adjusted downward the whole season. Sometimes up to 20-25%. This downward trend happened a lot with, [...]
