As California’s April-October peach season climaxes, Chico State University’s student-benefiting “U-pick peaches” harvest has closed in communal style. All this is thanks to a favorable agricultural environment of northern California which nurtures wine grapes, honey and peaches. Each August, the local community gets a chance to harvest peaches at the university, with the 2024 price at $3 a pound. The...
Sheep prices surge across Europe as supplies founder
Diminishing lamb stocks has seen sheep prices rise by up to €1 per kg at the farm-gate in different countries in Europe. France led the upward pricing curve at €9.13 a kg as of August 3, 2024. This was up from August 2022’s €8.01 and August 2023’s €8.06, reported the Irish Farmers Journal on August 14. Also experiencing a similarly high annual rise is Spain, whose August...
The Ecuador banana export volume to China shows 14% decline
The Sino-Ecuador banana preferential trade of May 1, 2024 is yet to improve Ecuador’s exports, which have declined by 14%, reports Expresso. Ecuador shipped 190.98 million boxes of bananas to China in 2023 vis-á-vis 188.99 million boxes in the year ending June 2024. The world’s biggest banana exporter however is downplaying the decline, citing that long-term tariff reduction analysis could improve...
The Saudi date output exceeds domestic needs at 124%
With production at 1.6 million tonnes in 2024, the Saudi date sector has surpassed domestic self-sufficiency needs by 24%. According to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the country’s yearly production self-sufficiency margin is now at 124%. The ministry attributes the increase to governmental and affiliates’ efforts to boost palm date acreage to almost 165,000 hectares. Riyadh, the capital region situated...
Tim Walz versus emission-free agriculture
From his influential Strengthening Our Investment in Land (SOIL) to the Land Stewardship Project, Tim Walz has entrenched himself in climate. His climatic connection has recently ballooned after he became Kamala Harris’ choice for vice president in the November 2024 U.S.’ presidential poll. As governor of Minnesota, Walz has also benefited small-scale farmers through federal loans for farming, equipment purchases and...
Tomatoes cost less in Pune as supplies rally
Residents of Pune, in Maharashtra, Western India are heaving a sigh of relief now that tomatoes cost cheaper than before, as supplies rebound. By August 13, 2024, fresh supplies in Pune’s Narayangaon market had more than doubled from 12,000 crates to over 30,000 crates. Even the retailers lowered their prices from 100 rupees ($1.19) a kg to 60 rupees ($0.71) a kg minimum. Wholesale...
Maximum residue levels for vegetables getting stricter, says Vietnam
The European Union (EU) is reducing the maximum residue levels (MRL) for various vegetables applicable to Vietnam, reports Nongnghiep. Vietnam is one of the heavy duty users of pesticides globally and Vietnamese produce is frequently under EU inspections. In the proposal that SPS Vietnam Office sent to the Plant Protection Department (NPP), some vegetables are particularly under strict control. The EU proposal, which...
Pears from South Africa make it big in India
India has matured into a tropical fresh fruit consumer market and nowhere is this more manifest than in the country’s love for pears from South Africa. Speaking at the yearly IFPA Southern Africa, Shubha Rawal of fruit importer IG International, noted India’s overwhelming reliance on South Africa supplies. In an Agrifocus Africa story of August 12, 2024, Rawal said that “South African pears...
Food in Croatia 22% costlier than EU average, attracts imports
Despite recent agricultural growth, food in Croatia is dearer than the European Union (EU) mean and this is encouraging cheap imports. Research on over 2,000 foods and services across Europe now puts prices in Croatia at 22% above the EU bloc’s average. According to Total-Croatia News on August 10, 2024, families in the southeast European country allocate high budgetary allocation to food. Ana...
SmartMAK developing AI Integration into food processing machines
As the world population grows and food demand increases, food processing technology is turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict production and improve sustainably. AI is also helping food processing machines in controlling the drying process of packaged food. Besides, AI integration in cleaning, packing, sorting and grading are all gaining traction. The food processing industry is therefore increasingly acquiring machines with AI features...