Originally posted on November 14, 2024. Global sugar prices have finished mixed after recent lows, following reports of downward late October harvest in southern Brazil. Sugar #11 or raw cane sugar traded 0.61% up day-on-day in New York’s futures on November 13, 2024. This is even as sugar #5, the code for white sugar, moved downward on the same day by -1.38%. Raw cane...
Sugar Price Index 2.6% up amid Brazil’s weather uncertainty
Originally posted on November 19, 2024. Global sugar prices increased by 2.6% in October 2024 due to weather uncertainty in Brazil, inching up the monthly Sugar Price Index. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the index for the sweetener increased by 3.3 points month-on-month to 129.6 points. The value appreciated in tandem with that of cereals (0.8% up), vegetable oils (7.3%...
Peach, nectarine and cherry production to rebound in the 2024-25 American season
The U.S.’ peach, nectarine and cherry production is back in the black for the 2024-25 season. While peaches and nectarines will up by 15,000 tonnes, cherries will improve by 13,000 tonnes year-on-year (y-o-y). According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a September 2024 forecast, the 2024-25 peach and nectarine harvest will amount to 669,000 tonnes. The projection essentially marks a...
The 2024 American pecans harvest begins in southern states
The American pecans harvest for the 2024 season began in the southern states on October 20 and will run till late November. Despite the effect of Hurricane Helene, Georgia’s early harvest was yielding robustly at a minimum 42% and a maximum 57% meat yield per nut. This shows resilience since Helene wrecked 90% of pecan trees in eastern Georgia’s counties of Burke and Jefferson....
Mushroom coffee all the rage for potential health benefits
Advocates of the increasingly popular mushroom coffee are citing its potential health benefits, not least of all Megan, Duchess of Sussex. Since 2020, tens of brands have emerged, each with a unique name that distantly echoes the medicinal qualities of the content. It costs around $20 for a few servings while regular coffee in the U.S. costs less, but its content still gives it market popularity. ...
The fruit industry in South Africa hopeful despite port delays
South Africa is headed to growth in its fruit industry in the next half decade, says Anton Rabe, Executive Director at Hortgro. Speaking on a visit to Tru-Cape, the executive cites agricultural value chain contribution to national economic growth. This aligns with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s forecast of 7% growth in South Africa’s apple production alone. However, there are also significant...
Apple picking picks up in the U.S.’ northeast
From the orchards of Rhode Island to the scenic ones of Peru in New York, the northeast is tailing off its apple picking with a bang. This is even as Georgia rallies the southern U.S. harvest with “you pick” offers. The east coast is trying to beat the odds and finish its harvest before the November chill impacts quality. Radio...
The UAE goat grazing niche versus plan to regenerate forests
A late 2024 Emirates Nature-WWF initiative to replant the overgrazed Hajar mountains in eastern Dubai has underlined the grass-fed UAE goat rearing set up. In presenting its partnership with Visa to replant forests, Emirates Nature-WFF cites that overgrazing has reduced new vegetation habitats here. This is why the scientific agency wants to keep goats at bay via steel fences after planting the drought-resistant Sho’a...
Food prices in Japan get unruly, prompting cost standardization plan
Unruly food prices in Japan have prompted the government to deliberate on how to seamlessly pass agricultural costs onto consumer prices. Accordingly, the Agriculture Ministry is setting up a committee to recommend ways to feature costs into especially rice and vegetable prices. The recommendations however will only come after the panel has looked into the country’s trading set up. The aim is standardize...
California’s red abalone harvest still under ban, black abalone provides state shell
Two developments have swayed the US mollusc sector in 2024, both to do with California. They include the long-term closure of the California red abalone season and the naming of black abalone shells as the state seashell. Regarding red abalone, its fishing in the Golden State remains closed till April 1, 2026, leaving fishermen yearning for its comeback. According to the National...