Agricultural areas of Souss-Massa, one of the top tomato exporting areas of Morocco have not suffered much of the September 8 earthquake effects despite being in the southwest along the quake’s path. Souss-Massa region is home to Touradant, a city of 80,000 people, which felt the full impact of the quake. Al Houaz province in the neighboring Marrakech-Safi region in western Morocco...
Corn Ethanol to fuel Aircraft if USDA’s $400k review of GHG subsidy plan works
Corn-based ethanol by aviation companies may qualify for subsidies under the greenhouse gas (GHG) system of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The federal agency plans to spend $400,000 to review the eligibility of corn-based aviation biofuels for subsidy allocation. If it succeeds, federal financing of aviation biofuel will become a major breakthrough in American green energy use outside agriculture. Aviation...
Poland cashes in on Morocco’s revenue-earning tomatoes, vegetables & wheat
In August, 2023, Poland revealed its blossoming appetite for Morocco tomatoes through record imports. Morocco exported $2.7 million worth of vegetable produce to Poland in 2022. Tomatoes led the export trail that has risen year-on-year since 2018 to account for 9% of all veggies shipped to the Central European country. The total export value for Morocco tomatoes in 2022 was $1.12 billion. The...
Ghana gives cocoa farmers a break after hiking cocoa bean prices by 63%
Ghana has upped farm gate cocoa prices by 63% to buffer low supplies, hinder smuggling and raise farmers’ hopes. From this fall season, farm gate prices of cocoa beans will climb to 20,943 Cedi (GH¢) or $1,837 per tonne. President Nana Akufo-Addo has also fast-forwarded the cocoa season to September rather than October, to help steer dwindling stocks. This comes just...
Egypt newly ranks as world’s biggest citrus exporter
Egypt has newly ranked as the biggest exporter of citrus fruits, globally. This is according to the country’s Minister of Agriculture Al-Sayed el-Quseir, on September 10, 2023. The Minister was unveiling the seminal Sahara Exhibition. The agricultural machinery event will, this year, attract Spain, Germany and China. Spain and China ranked first and third respectively in worldwide citrus exports in 2022. ...
All hands on new pink pineapple in Costa Rica
At a time when Costa Rica is experiencing short supplies, demand has shifted to a new genetically modified pineapple, the lycopene-enhanced “Pinkglow” by Fresh Del Monte. Fresh Del Monte, a company that grows and distributes pineapples worldwide said on September, 2023 that customers in Costa Rica can’t seem to get enough of this new pink variety. Scientists took 17 years to engineer...
Dairy prices in Vermont to increase this fall
Wholesale market prices in Vermont of dairy products including whole milk and cheese have increased by $2.28 in September, 2023. This markup also reflects the national average increase. A wholesale measure of milk now retails at $18.90 per hundredweight ($0.43 per liter) from the August average of $16.62 ($0.38 per liter). Vermont is currently reeling from the aftermath of floods that hit Northeast United...
Georgia in a blueberries’ crossover moment as state-financed cold storage program begins
Following a phenomenal rise in blueberry production in Georgia, the government is co-financing cold storage facilities for farmers. The Rural Development Agency (RDA)’s website put up a notice on September 4, 2023 to encourage producers to join the program. The statement tags the program as the “State Co-financing Program of Refrigerated Storage facilities for Berry Crops of Agricultural Cooperatives.” The Ministry...
Egypt’s new sweet potato export season robust in the European market
Egypt is calling the shots in the European market as its sweet potato season that runs from mid-July to January, peaks. New half-year results for January to July 2023 have ranked sweet potatoes as the current sixth biggest agricultural export from Egypt. During this period, the country has already exported 54,090 metric tonnes of the tuber. Only citrus fruits, potatoes, onions, grapes...
Aussie Apricots: “People are looking for Australian grown products”
For three generations, Aussie Apricots has grown and supplied high-quality apricots to private and, lately, public clientele. Situated at Mypolonga, a 15-kilometer stretch from River Murray bridge, this is one of South Australia’s finest family-run commercial stone fruit sanctuaries. The company produces its own naturally grown tasty fruits. Australians, who consume thousands of tonnes of apricots each year, cherish local fruits...