Lamb export prices in NZ soar, farm-gate rates need improvement

Lamb export prices in NZ soar, farm-gate rates need improvement

Record export prices of lamb in New Zealand at NZ $13.83 ($8.41) a kg have brought processors huge returns but farmers are yet to maximize. According to the Farmers Weekly on July 3, 2025, although farm gate rates are also strong due to tight supply, they could be better.  As of June 2025, farmers were receiving NZ$9.55 ($5.80) a kg for lamb,...

Saguaro cactus harvest kickstarts brand new year in wild Arizona

Saguaro cactus harvest kickstarts brand new year in wild Arizona

It is harvest time for Arizona’s iconic saguaro cactus and therefore a brand new year for the native American community of Tohono O’odham.  According to the Associated Press on July 2, 2025, the harvest began in June and will culminate as fruits ripen through early July.  So culturally important is the locally-termed bahidaj cactus that its harvest must stop for good if rain falls...

Blueberries from Georgia

Blueberry price in Poland showing varying dynamism early July 2025

The blueberry season in Eastern Europe is in full steam, with Poland beginning its harvest amid wholesale price diversity early July 2025.  According to the Agro Review, Poland has begun its season with wholesale rates at between €7 and 11 euro ($8.25-12.96) a kg, as of July 1.  The capital of Warsaw is witnessing the most diverse pricing range of between €7 and...

Sugar prices in New York retreat upon July 2025 contract deadline

Sugar prices in New York retreat upon July 2025 contract deadline

New York sugar futures on July 1, 2025 recorded declines in prices on the final delivery date of July’25 contracts from oversupply fears. Sugar #11 or bulk raw cane sugar in New York lost by -2.09% daily, early on the July 1 deadline.  The same fate overshadowed the much-traded sugar #5 or bulk raw white sugar in London, by -2.43% day-on-day. By...

China-Indonesia durian protocol awakens dormant direct trade 

China-Indonesia durian protocol awakens dormant direct trade 

A May 2025 China-Indonesia frozen durian (Durio zibethinus) direct export protocol is unfreezing hitherto unimpressive trade, a month on. This at a time when transit durian exports from Indonesia to China barely reached 27 tonnes in 2024, reports the IDX Channel. Hence, direct long haul exports of the frozen fruit could find a perpetual market for Indonesia’s current 2 million-tonne production capacity. ...

Food groceries

Fourth of July specialties whet U.S.’ grocery sales

Sales’ adverts of grocery specialties in the United States have risen in the June 21-July 3, 2025 timeline, before the Fourth of July. According to the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), peaches have amassed 7% of all non-organic grocery ad placements so far. In the other fruits category are nectarines with 5%, strawberries with 4% and watermelon with 4% in ads’ share....

Prunes from South Africa modestly navigating high demand 

Prunes from South Africa modestly navigating high demand 

South Africa could moderately fill overreaching demand for dried prunes from falling world production in 2025.  2024-25 local production will upswing to 750 tonnes, per a late 2024 projection by the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC).  Since international demand is outpacing supplies, contract producers who cannot meet their orders can capitalize on this modest output revamp. SA is still reinstating...

Ground beef price in the United States beefs up 16%, y-o-y 

Ground beef price in the United States beefs up 16%, y-o-y 

U.S.’ ground beef has reached its priciest point in recent memory, with May 2025 price up by 16%, year-on-year (y-o-y). According to The Cool Down, referencing the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, minced beef in May peaked at $5.98 a pound. Only February 2025’s pricing at 5.625 a pound is comparable, itself below the earlier champ, September 2024’s $5.670.  This marks a 49%...

tropical mangoes

The Ghana mango sector evolves three-prong processing maximization strategy

Stakeholders in Ghana have engineered a three-tier approach to maximize the processing of the local mango (mangifera indica). They aim to cut post-harvest losses that decimate 30% of the total harvest, especially in the main April-August season. The Tree Crops Development Authority (TDA)’s CEO Dr. Andy Osei Okrah evolved the farmers’ empowerment strategy during a processing zone tour on June 25, 2025....

Rice terraces in the Philippines

Negros Occidental province in PH distributing 20-peso rice

Sugar-rich Negros Occidental (NegOcc) province in Western Visayas in the Philippines is going palay (unhusked rice) with the 20-peso ($0.35)-per-kg program.  After a May 12, 2025 election-time halt, the Department of Agriculture (DA) on June 24 brought the distribution program to Pulupandan town.  The Federation of Irrigators’ Association of Central Negros-Bago River Irrigation System (FIACN-BRIS) initially sold 50 bags via the local government.  Distributors...