Saturday, January 31, 2009

Tesco calls for lower supplier prices

31 January 2009

Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy claims suppliers must pass savings made from lower commodity prices on to consumers

Tesco has called on its suppliers to pass savings made from falling commodity prices on to consumers, claiming that it is critically important that savings translate into lower retail prices to ease financial pressures on shoppers.

In a keynote address at the prestigious City Food Lecture in London this week, Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy (pictured) told an invited food industry audience that rising demand for discount goods underlined the need for lower prices for consumers.

“Commodity prices are down by over 50 per cent from their peak, while the price of oil is down by over US$100 – these lower prices need to be passed into the supply chain and fed on to consumers who are under growing financial pressure,” he said.

Sir Terry said that Tesco wanted to ensure that all its suppliers understood this and was “going to great lengths to speak to them about the pressures consumers are under”.

The Tesco chief executive argued that although the adjustment “would be difficult for some”, it was “critical if consumers are to be given what they need”.

As evidence of the demand for lower prices, Sir Terry claimed that the retailer was now Britain’s biggest discounter and said sales of Tesco’s discount and value ranges had increased by 65 per cent compared with a year ago.

He also delivered a robust defence of free market economics, claiming that agricultural subsidies were “too high”, reducing the efficiency of agriculture production and keeping food prices in protected markets “artificially high”.

But environmental concerns were also tackled in the speech and the Tesco chief claimed that government backing for biofuels had backfired, causing forests to be cleared and leaving “less land was available for other crops”.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

India: Krishna district unable to produce more mangoes this season

Krishna district, which produces the highest quantiy of mangoes in the state, may not be able to retain its top slot this year.

The crop size in the district, for the current year is likely to be lower than that of previous years, considering flowering has not yet begun in most part of the districts this is bound to adversely affect the prospects of the mango growers who suffered a crop damage last year too.

Mango is grown in over 3 lakh hectares in the state, of which Krishna accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the total mango production in its 65,000 hectares of mango gardens.

Infact, the Banginapally variety of mangoes, which is famous worldwide is almost solely grown in Krishna district but with the current delay in flowering the Banginapally variety might be the most affected.

Farmers are attribuiting the incessant rains, which has resulted in a big fall in the night and day temperatures, as the reason for the delay in flowering.

G Nageswara Rao of Surampally village says flowering process is usually completed by the first week of January and the pods grow into fruits by the end of the month and starts ripening in another two months.

The night termperature which plays a crucial role in flowering and development of mango fruits should ideally be between 28 and 32 degree celcius during the flowering season.

Meanwhile, Krishna district Assistant Director of Horticulture Department K Mamadara Rao expressed hopes that the recent rise in temperature would augur well for the district and flowering would hopefully start again in the next 15-20 days.


Source: hindu.com

Publication date: 1/29/2009

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

RP loses Japanese market for mango, okra

The Philippines is losing its market-led in terms of mango and okra exports in Japan due to high pesticide residue.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Salvador S.M. Salacup revealed this during the recently held seminar-workshop on science-based agriculture sponsored by Croplife Philippines and the Initiative for Farm Advocacy and Resources Management (iFARM).

Salacup called on the farm sector to adhere to the standards of good practices regarding farm chemical application while giving instructions to the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority (FPA) and to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to conduct intensive training and info drive on pesticide use.

While noting that Japan has remained the leading market of the country's fruit and vegetable exports, Salacup bared moves of Japanese authorities to address concerns regarding high levels of pesticide residues found in mango and in okra.

"Japanese (authorities) were even here to work out on pesticide residue," he told participants to the workshop but he failed to reveal details discussed during the visit last year.

Salacup's presentation did not show mango and banana among the country's top 10 agri-commodity export which was dominated by coconut oil, fresh banana, tuna, pineapple, desiccated coconut, milk and cream products, manufactured tobacco, seaweed carragenan, sugar, shrimp and prawn.

However, mango and okra are among the identified high value crops which DA will be giving priority intervention under its Ginintuang Masaganang Ani-High Value Commercial Crops (GMA-HVCC) Program in 2009.

For mango, DA will be establishing packing house and post harvest facilities; conduct training on pest management and provide chemicals for flower induction.

With these interventions, DA is projecting a six percent increase in Mango production this year while also looking at Okra to regain its market share in Japan.

On the other hand, participants to the Croplife and iFarm workshop gave particular attention to concerns on the need to adhere to the good agricultural practice (GAP) guidelines.

In the Declaration for Science-Based Sustainable Agriculture signed during at the close of the workshop, participants recognized the importance of following the GAP "which include safe and judicious use of crop protection products."

The declaration resolved that local government agencies tasked to inspect and enforce laws relevant to the safe practice of agriculture should effectively and efficiently deliver necessary services.

In line with this, producers and stakeholders including exporters and marketers were called on "to police their ranks and stick to GAP guidelines" but "to avoid restricting agricultural technologies and inputs unless these methods have been shown not to conform with GAP guidelines."


Source: pia.gov.ph

Publication date: 1/27/2009

USDA names members to the National Mango Board

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer to announced six appointments to the National Mango Board. The appointees were nominated to fill a domestic producer position, three importer positions for District II, and two foreign producer positions. They will serve three-year terms that began Jan.1, 2009 and end on Dec. 31, 2011.

Ted J. Johnson of Sky Valley, Calif. is appointed to the domestic producer position. This appointment is significant as Johnson is the only US based grower on the board. Johnson, who currently serves as the COO of Ag Accounting said, “I’m honored to have been selected to join the National Mango Board and represent United States mango growers. I look forward to helping expand opportunities here in the states.”

The three appointees to the District II importer positions are: Curtis DeBerry of Boerne, Texas and Cesar Garcia of Mission, Texas; Sue Duleba of Mission, Texas was reappointed. Tomas Paulin Nava of Mexico and Bernardo Jose Malo, Ecuador were appointed to fill the two vacant foreign producer positions.

The National Mango Board administers an industry-funded, national research, promotion, industry and consumer information program. The generic program is designed to maintain, expand and develop domestic markets for fresh mangos. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service monitors the operations of the board.

More info:
Ted Johnson
Ag Accounting, LLC
(760) 564-9920 or (760) 574-7562
www.ams.usda.gov



Publication date: 1/27/2009

Monday, January 26, 2009

Guatemala to boost mango deal

Fruitnet.com 26 January 2009
The Central American country is planning to increase mango exports to the US this year
Guatemalan mango exporters are reportedly gearing up for a push on the US market as part of a new project devised by the country’s Ministry of Agriculture (Maga) and the national exporters’ association (Agexport) in conjunction with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

During the course of 2009, the mango industry plans to increase exports to the US by 5 per cent under a new USDA-APHIS export protocol, according to a news report by the Guatemala Times.

The move will build on the success of last year’s shipments when Guatemala exported some 4m cartons of mangoes, worth US$20m, to the US.

To achieve the export increase, Guatemala’s network of mango producers have reportedly boosted their selection process which now includes thermal cleaning process to remove all pests and bacteria present on fruit.

As part of the deal, the country’s six mango production plants will expand production in order to adequately satisfy demand from US buyers.

There are currently around 6,000ha planted with mangoes in Guatemala, according to data compiled last year by Profruta. Some 94 per cent of the crop is exported to the US with the balance headed for Europe.

Friday, January 23, 2009

India: Cold storage unit for farmers

Good news for mango and vegetable growers of the North Karnataka region. The commercial city will have the first of its kind cold storage unit in the state that is being set up under the public private partnership (PPP) model.

Tropicool Foods Private Limited, a joint venture of Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing and Export Corporation Limited (KAPPEC) - a state-owned agency promoting exports of agricultural and horticultural produce, and Hubli-based Ken Agritech Private Limited, is setting up a Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) unit exclusively for processing vegetables and mangoes at Honnenahalli on Karwar Road, 20 km from here.

KAPPEC managing director K J Devendrappa told `The Times of India' that the project will help the farmers in cultivating alphonso mangoes and vegetables such as cabbage, radish, carrot, cauliflower that are preferred by European and American countries. The unit, equipped with 600 metric tonne storage capacity, will process 1,800 kg of mangoes and 3,600 kg of vegetables under minus 20 degree temperature per hour.

He said the unit is set up at a cost of Rs 10.5 crore with the equity share of KAPPEC and Ken Agritech being 26:74. The Belgium and Holland-based food processing companies, which have lend their expertise to Ken Agritech and also have equity participation with them in the project, will buy back the finished products.

Devendrappa said another cold storage unit exclusively for pomegranate will be started at Kushtagi in Koppal from February. The unit will be similar to the one in Bijapur meant for grapes. It will have 200 metric tonne capacity cold storage and 12 tonne capacity pre-cooling unit apart from a bulk storage unit of 300 tonnes per annum.

The unit is fully maintained by KAPPEC and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda), a central government agency and the state government under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), has funded Rs 8.33 crore towards the project.

Devendrappa said the state government is willing to set up more such joint ventures in the state where the state will have 49% stake. "We have received more than a dozen applications from private players from Dharwad, Kolar, Uttara Kannada and other parts of the state. We are holding discussions with the prospective investors," he said.


Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Publication date: 1/23/2009

Thursday, January 22, 2009

US: Guatemala expects increased export of Mango

Last year the mango producers sold four million boxes in the U.S. market, generating revenues of U.S. $ 20 million for the country. As for this year a 5% increase is expected.

To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Agriculture (MAGA) with the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport), will define an export protocol with the USDA / APHIS in Guatemala, a branch of the Department of Agriculture of the U.S.

Government.

The figures show that 95% of the Guatemalan mango production is exported to the US. Considering these numbers, the six mango production plants will expand cultivation sites, to provide adequate supply for the demand of US buyers.
"The agricultural sector generates about 5 thousand direct jobs and 40 thousand indirect jobs," said Carmen Sandoval, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, commenting on the benefits that this product provides for the country.

Surveillance.

Due to regulations and quality standards required by the Department of Agriculture of the United States for the entry of agricultural products, Guatemalan mango producers have increased the technical mechanisms for selecting the fruit. The fruit is washed and after that a thermal cleaning process is used, ie, the mangoes are cleaned by means of heat. This process removes 100% of any bacteria or bugs that the fruit might contain.

This action is monitored by the processing plants and the MAGA Inspection Program and Agricultural and Environmental Protection (PIPA). With the cleaning process, as outlined above, the fruit is provided adequately to the American buyers, since it fills all required quality standards.

Cultivation area.

It is estimated that currently in Guatemala there are about 6 thousand hectares of mango cultivation, according to the census conducted last year by Profruta. Of this amount 94% is exported to the United States and 6% to Europe.


Source: guatemala-times.com

Publication date: 1/22/2009

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Mango Ecuador Foundation present at Fruit Logistica

Ecuador has 15 years of experience in the US and EU markets
Mango Ecuador Foundation present at Fruit Logistica (Hall 25/C-11)

As it has become a tradition, the Ecuador Mango Foundation representing 98 % of the country’s growers, shippers and packers will be present again at the Fruit Logistica Convention to be held in Berlin during February 4, 5 & 6.

The Foundation which will have its own booth (Hall 25/C-11) welcomes all visitors interested in starting new business with any of their members.

Mr. Bernardo Malo, Chairman of the Board of Directors as well as Mr. Manuel Jimenez, member of the Board will be representing the mango organization at the Fruit Logistica Convention.

The 2008 – 2009 Ecuadorian mangos season is about to end and the production levels seem to have decreased in around 40 % compared with the previous one. Weather related issues were the main cause for this volume reduction.

Ecuador has been shipping mangos to the US and Europe since around 15 years ago and its quality has been greatly recognized according to the Mango Ecuador Board members.

Contact
Bernardo Malo
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Mango Ecuador Foundation

Publication date: 1/21/2009

Monday, January 19, 2009

Australia: New mangoes ripe for commercialisation

Fruitnet.com 19 January 2009

Three new mango varieties are being offered for commercialisation by the Queensland DPI

Three new varieties of mango developed by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) in the Australian state of Queensland are being offered to the industry for commercialisation, according to the ABC.

With a taste similar to the currently popular Kensington Pride variety, the new mangoes reportedly look better and are more productive.

After 15 years in development, Queensland DPI horticulturalist Dr Ian Bally said the new varieties need industry partners to develop them commercially.

“The earliest the consumer is likely to see these on the shelf is probably five years from now,” he said.

“These varieties have to be grown up in large numbers and made available to the market. This is one of the reasons we’re calling for expressions of interest from commercial partners to help us in this ramping up procedure.”

Friday, January 16, 2009

Australia: Mango lovers in for a treat

Mango lovers can rejoice - there are three new varieties out for public tender.

ABC Rural News reported that the new varieties, which have taken 15 years to develop, taste like the Kensington Pride mango but are more productive and look better.

Dr Ian Bally, Queensland Department of Primary Industries horticulturalist, said they are now looking for industry partners to take the mangoes through to commercialisation.

"The earliest the consumer is likely to see these on the shelf is probably five years from now," he said.

"These varieties have to be grown up in large numbers and made available to the market. This is one of the reasons we're calling for expressions of interest from commercial partners to help us in this ramping up procedure."


Source: foodweek.com.au

Publication date: 1/16/2009

Peru: mango production will decrease to 50,000 tons

According to Hermann Vega, chairman of the Peruvian association of mango growers
Promango, the production of mango's will to a great extent decrease during the
coming season. The expectation is, that only 50,000 tons will be harvested, of which about 22,000 tons will be exported to the United States. Normally half of the production is exported to the United States and Europe.

As a result of the not-ideal temperatures during the flowering period the crop is expected to disappoint. Fertillization after the previous crop was also substandard.

Publication date: 1/16/2009
freshplaza.com

First PMO to get Global Certificate for Mango in Pakistan

First Produce Marketing Organization (PMO) of the progressive mango growers of Multan (Pakistan) has been awarded Global GAP (Global Good Agriculture Practices) certification. It is first PMO of the mango industry in the country which has been certified; previously three individual farms; Ali Khan Tareen Farm, Lodhran Punjab, JDW Farm, Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab and Asim Agriculture Farm, Tando Allahyar, Sind were certified as Global GAP

According to a press release issued here today by Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Board (PHDEB), PMO of Multan comprises of 730 acres (290 Hectors) of Mango Farms around village Lutfabad on Bosan road, Multan. The partner farmers that of PMO are Mr. Saleem Alizai, Barrister Waseem Khan and Major (R) Tariq Khan. The area of PMO is known of quality rich mango production the world over.

With the support and guidance of PHDEB the PMO has recently achieved the Global GAP certification for exports of mangoes. The PMO has the potential to raise its capacity and serve as launching pad for exports of Mangoes to European Union (EU) direct from the farm in the times to come. The PMO has already applied for Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF) grant to develop modern Pack House with a cold storage facility.

The founder farmers of PMO are committed to enhance their capacity, matching the world practices for export of mangoes to European markets. In this connection Major (R) Tariq khan, a leading member of PMO has been to Singapore to develop the market links for the PMO. The members of this PMO are also working closely with ASLP (Supply Chain) project as core group members.

This is a private certification system driven by 22 large scale retail chains in Europe that form the core members and the Global GAP scheme brings those 22 retailers together with large scale fresh produce suppliers and producers. The international consumers / buyers are now beginning to differentiate between the fruit that is produced from farms where Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) have been applied. Pakistan shares a negligible percentage of the total export of fruits & vegetables to the European markets. This is due to strict food quality standards of the European countries.

More info:
episodeexperts@gmail.com

Publication date: 1/16/2009

Thursday, January 15, 2009

European grocery prices to fall this year

Grocery prices are likely to fall this year as food retailers react to the rise of discounters and lower oil and raw material prices.

Steep food price inflation propelled the value of the European grocery market to euro 901.5bn in 2008, research house Verdict's European Grocery Retailers 2009 report showed.

But the plunge in the price of oil and better harvests last year have depressed price inflation, while the impact of the credit crunch and increased shopper focus on value are likely to be reflected by grocers.

The effect of the downturn on food retailers is anticipated to put a brake on mergers and acquisitions, format diversification and international expansion. Sale and leaseback deals are likely to lose their appeal and sales of non-food and organic goods are expected to take a hit.

Verdict European retail analyst and report co-author Daniel Lucht said: "While grocers are to a certain extent insulated against the downturn that hurting the rest of the retail sector, the effects of the credit crunch and onset of global recession will still be felt."

Privately-owned grocers such as Auchan, Leclerc and Rewe may be in the strongest position to profit from tough conditions. The report's co-author, Simon Chinn, said: "Being privately owned, such retailers are not under the same kind of financial pressure from investors that publicly listed retailers have to deal with.

"The companies are able to take a more long-term view of investment, which has been a key driver for many of these retailers' expansion strategies."

Source: retail-week.com


Publication date: 1/15/2009

USDA names members to the National Mango Board

David: now this is cool partnership


Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today announced six appointments to the National Mango Board. The appointees were nominated to fill a domestic producer position, three importer positions for District II, and two foreign producer positions. They will serve three-year terms that began Jan. 1, 2009 and end on Dec. 31, 2011.

Ted J. Johnson of Sky Valley, Calif. is appointed to the domestic producer position. The three appointees to the District II importer positions are: Curtis DeBerry of Boerne, Texas and Cesar Garcia, Mission, Texas; Sue Duleba, of Mission, Texas, was reappointed. Tomas Paulin Nava of Mexico and Bernardo Jose Malo, Ecuador were appointed to fill the two vacant foreign producer positions.

The National Mango Board administers an industry-funded, national research, promotion, industry and consumer information program. The generic program is designed to maintain, expand and develop domestic markets for fresh mangos. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service monitors the operations of the board.

Publication date: 1/15/2009

UK: Environment secretary on food labelling

UK’s Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said that supermarkets and companies needed to label products more clearly to show consumers exactly where their food was coming from. Under current European regulations, a product's country of origin was the place where it had undergone its last significant process, but this could hide where it had really come from. Mr Benn suggested a voluntary labelling scheme for retailers and caterers that would show the country of origin. The Food and Drink Federation, however, said it would be an expensive move to label products like pizza or pies that had a number of ingredients. Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, Mr Benn said consumers could help boost the agricultural industry by eating healthier, locally produced food that was also more environmentally friendly because of less transport.

Robin Maynard, Soil Association Campaigns Director, commented that Hilary Benn should know there was already a label that delivered what he was calling for: the Soil Association's organic symbol, which offered a 'one-stop shop' for consumers wanting food free from bad ingredients, providing high animal welfare and care for the environment. Given organic farming used 26% less energy to produce the same amount of food as non-organic agriculture, organic farmers would be top contenders for Mr Benn's 'low-carbon farming award'. Robin Maynard continued that it was time the Secretary of State and Defra finally acknowledged that there was a burgeoning body of British farmers doing exactly what he and the public said they want, producing sustainable, climate-friendly food that was what our long-term food security depended on above all.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk

14.01.2009

Australia: New mango varieties

Three new mango varieties are out for public tender.

The varieties have taken 15 years to develop, and they're said to taste like the popular Kensington Pride mango, but are more productive and look better.

Queensland Department of Primary Industries horticulturalist Dr Ian Bally, says they now need industry partners to take the mangoes through to commercialisation.

"The earliest the consumer is likely to see these on the shelf is probably five years from now," he says.

"These varieties have to be grown up in large numbers and made available to the market. This is one of the reasons we're calling for expressions of interest from commercial partners to help us in this ramping up procedure."


Source: abc.net.au


Publication date: 1/15/2009

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

US approves Ecuador mango access

14 January 2009 fruitnet.com

The South American country has received the go-ahead from the USDA-APHIS to ship fresh-cut mangoes to the US

Ecuador is reportedly planning to boost its mango exports to the US following the approval by the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) of a phytosanitary protocol for fresh-cut (sliced) mango imports.

The opening up of the market is the result of a long risk assessment by APHIS in response to Ecuador’s application for entry in April 2008, according to a statement from the US Embassy in Ecuador, reported by local newspaper El Mercurio.

The embassy claims the move presents important opportunities for Ecuador, such as the shipment of mango varieties which are not resistant to hydrothermal treatment (used to eradicate fruit flies on whole fruit shipments), exports from production areas which do not monitor fruit fly presence and additional employment in current or new packing houses.

The US currently the largest market for Ecuadorean mangoes, the report said, absorbing more than 75 per cent of the country’s export crop.

Australia: Mango crop smaller in number, bigger in size

A Central Australian mango farmer say this year's crops have been the lowest he's ever seen.

Ti Tree mango farmer John Crayford says his crop is about 15 tonnes lighter - or 40 per cent less - than last year.

He says it's the first time he'd had such a low number, but he's not too concerned because he sells locally and always has an oversupply.

It's a lighter crop, but because it's a lighter crop the mangoes have got bigger, he says.

He says Darwin and Kununurra had similar low producing crops and blamed cold weather in late August for the drop in produce.


Source: abc.net.au

Publication date: 1/14/2009

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

UAE: Fruit and vegetable market hit by downturn

Although some sectors such as banking and real estate have been heavily affected by the global financial crisis, its effect on the fruit and vegetable business has been relatively low.

The fall in oil prices and the onset of winter has slightly brought down the prices of some fruit and vegetables as more imports arrive from regional countries at a lower transportation cost.

Gulf News spoke to importers, wholesalers and retailers at Dubai fruit and vegetable market to find out how their businesses were running.

According to importers, the prices of necessary agricultural items have remained mostly unchanged while the price and demand for luxury fruit and vegetables has fallen slightly.

"Buying vegetables and fruit is not like purchasing or investing in the automobile or property industry. Food in general - and many agricultural products in particular, are necessary items and people will continue to buy them."

"However, the number of buyers and the purchase of quantities of vegetables and fruit these days has slightly gone down because many expatriates have lost their jobs and left the country. Many residents have also tightened their budgets and are not buying expensive fruit," said Husainy Sharbat, accounts manger at Kibsons International, a company which imports fruit and vegetables.

Travel costs

"In general the prices of necessary items such as potatoes, onions, garlic, ginger and salad items have mostly remained constant. But the price and demand for luxury fruit and vegetables such as grapes, lychees, etc has dropped by 10 to 15 per cent," said Arsalan, a Pakistani importer.

"Currently my business is down. Before those who cooked for a lot of people used to buy a lot of onions and potatoes from me, but now they buy these items in smaller quantities," said a Pakistani wholesale seller.

"My profits have decreased by 20 to 30 per cent," said a Bangladeshi wholesaler. "There are five of us here and there is nothing much to do these days," he added. Retailers at the market have complained that their businesses are not thriving for other reasons as well. They pointed out that its distant location and the heavy traffic on Emirates Road continue to be among the factors contributing to the low turnout of buyers at the market.

"The prices of some agricultural products have decreased and the quality of many items is also good due to the winter season, however, many residents still prefer to buy from grocery stores and supermarkets.

"When the market was located in Al Hamriyah, many people used to go there because it was close to residential areas. Now people are hesitant to come here," said a Bangladeshi seller.

"I don't go to the fruit and vegetable market because it is more convenient for me to shop at a hypermarket. It is like a one-stop shop where I can buy other kind of products as well. The last time I went there was two years ago," said Roopa Mathews, an Indian expatriate who lives in Al Twar.

"You may find fruit and vegetables at slightly cheaper prices there but the travel costs and traffic will add to your expenses," added Bena Soris, who has visited the market only twice.

"Before I used to buy all my groceries within a budget of Dh100 to Dh150. But these days I am spending around Dh300. I don't think the prices have gone down."


Source: gulfnews.com

Publication date: 1/13/2009

Thursday, January 8, 2009

UK: Imported fresh produce prices to soar

David says: Will exotics be affected? Of course


The cost of fresh fruit and vegetables will soar this year as European farmers shun the plunging pound. British importers believe shoppers will face increases as high as 20 per cent in coming weeks, with some produce disappearing from our shelves altogether. All sorts of fresh produce is affected but potatoes, onions and tomatoes are particularly at risk from fluctuating prices.

Producers and growers on the Continent are losing out because of sterling's slide and are putting up their prices for the UK market to compensate or bypassing it altogether in favour of their eurozone neighbours who have not been hit by sterling’s currency slump.

In weeks the pound has lost almost a quarter of its value against the euro, creating a nightmare for importers.

While independent shops will be hardest hit because they don’t have the commercial muscle of the major supermarket chains, even retail giants like Tesco and Sainsbury’s will be forced to up prices, if pressure on margins continues.

Some analysts believe even more greengrocers will disappear from our high streets. Simon Lane, managing director of importers Fruco plc, said: “The problem is that the producers and growers have the option to sell to other markets in the EC. “Margins when dealing with sterling are being squeezed all round and inevitably people here will have to pay more for their fresh produce.” More than 3,000 greengrocers have vanished from Britain’s high streets in the past decade.

Alex Liasi, of wholesalers 4degreesC in London’s New Spitalfields market, said: “One of our farmers in Spain says he is currently losing £500 on every lorry load of fresh produce he sends to the UK. “A lot of produce is now being shipped to Russia because they are prepared to pay more than we are.


Fruit and vegetable prices are already at risk from controversial European Union rules which would see many of the pesticides used by UK farmers outlawed.


Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com

Publication date: 1/8/2009

Mango growers from Bahia, Brazil, find buyers overseas

Copefrul, the Brazilian Cooperative of Small Farmers of Fruit from Livramento and Surroundings, in the state of Bahia, in the Northeast of Brazil, which exported its first shipments of mango in November and December 2008, totaling 150 tons, wants to triple that result in 2009.

In order to do so, according to the manager of the Project for Fruit Farming in the Region of Livramento, Mônica Rizério, this year the cooperative should obtain the GlobalCap and Integrated Fruit Production (IFP) certifications, accredited by the Institute of Metrology, Normalization and Industrial Quality of the State of Bahia (Ibametro). After the certification, the fruit farmers will be fully professionalized.

In early November, they celebrated the shipping of the first container. A total of 22 tons mango were sold to Canada by means of the company Agrolime - Limes Agrobusiness Comércio e Exportação de Frutas Ltda. The farmers did not stop there. On November 27, they shipped five other containers, with 22 tons each, of the Tommy Atkins mango variety to Canada and France.

The president at Copefrul, Antônio Alves Silva, said that this was the first time ever that the cooperative exported mango, and that farmers are enthused.

"The Sebrae/Bahia enabled us to have a differential by obtaining knowledge in the sales area, offering courses and promoting technical and trade missions by means of its Sebrae Trade Brazil program, through which we got to know new markets. Lots of mangoes that used to be thrown away, because we were not able to sell them, are now exported. We want to triple our exports."

The sales director at Copefrul, José Aparecido Dourado, explains that in the past, fruit farmers in Livramento barely knew what the word "market" meant.

"Everything changed after we established a partnership with the Sebrae/Bahia for the fruit farming project, which helped strengthen cooperativism among our farmers. The best part was taking part in technical and trade missions, with the support of the Sebrae, by which we got to know other markets, such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

"Early on, we used to sell a box of mangoes to São Paulo for 3 Brazilian reais (US$ 1.3), but then we met clients in Rio de Janeiro, where we sell a box for 4 reais (US$ 1.8). From the Sebrae, we learnt to go after the clients instead of waiting around. Now, a minimum of 9 trucks loaded with mangoes leave the Copefrul each week, headed for São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba and the coastline of the state of Bahia," celebrates José Aparecido.

The sales director at the Copefrul reports that the work carried out by the manager Mônica Rizério, of the Sebrae/Bahia, was perfect. "Mônica is the mother of the cooperative. She helped the farmers to prepare the packing house, a warehouse in which the fruit is washed and packed. The project, valued at 620,000 reais (US$ 283,247), received funding from the Bank of Brazil Foundation.

"With it, we started offering quality mangoes to the market, and that led us to expand our sales to other states, and now to Europe and Canada. We believed in the project and now we are reaping the fruits. This year, we have already managed to exceed our goal of selling the equivalent to 1 million reais (US$ 456,850)", says José Aparecido Doura.

Mônica Rizério explains that the market access project that was implemented at the Copefrul was only successful thanks to partnerships with the Bank of Brazil Foundation, the Livramento City Hall, the Agricultural Defense Agency of the State of Bahia (Adab) and the Bahia Agricultural Development Company (EBDA).

The coordinator of the Agribusiness II Portfolio at the Sebrae/Bahia, Célia Fernandes, informed that the Copefrul is going to receive 200,000 reais (US$ 91,370) from Sebrae's Edict for Fair Trade.

"The funds will be invested in market actions and in obtaining a Fair Trade certification for Copefrul, a social certification attesting that the product comes from family farming, that the Cooperative works in a sustainable manner, preserving the environment, without using child or slave labour."


Source: brazzilmag.com

Publication date: 1/8/2009

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

National Mango Board elects new officers and wraps up successful year

Note from David: excellent model of mango cluster in the USA

The National Mango Board (NMB) held its November board meeting in Orlando, Florida where budgets and programs for 2009 were approved and officers were elected. The NMB eagerly looks forward many exciting efforts in 2009 and is already hard at work on programs for the first quarter of the new year.

The National Mango Board elected their officers for 2009, including: Isabel Freeland, Chair, Coast Tropical Distributors, San Diego, CA ; John-Campbell Barmmer, Vice Chair, Chestnut Hill Farms, Miami, FL; Sue Duleba, Treasurer, GM Produce Sales, Hidalgo, TX; and Bonifacio Bustamante Hernandez, Secretary, CC Tropicales SA de CV, Escuinapa, Sinaloa, Mexico.

Throughout 2008, the NMB made great strides in their outreach efforts to the mango industry. In total, the NMB conducted 12 industry outreach meetings in 2008, visiting each of the top five mango-exporting countries to the U.S. at least once, along with each major entry port in the U.S. In addition to these meetings, the NMB hosted a mango industry event in conjunction with the PMA Fresh Summit in October. Approximately 150 mango industry members networked and learned about NMB activities through a brief presentation plus a question and answer session. These meetings allow the NMB to hear feedback directly from mango industry members, and to ensure that both producers and importers understand how the NMB is investing their funds. Feedback to these meetings has been overwhelmingly positive and the NMB plans to continue this program in 2009.

With all of the exciting programs that happen throughout the year, the NMB strives to keep all members abreast of the progress. The Mango Connection is the monthly NMB email newsletter for the mango industry. This bi-lingual newsletter has become pivotal in sharing mango information with the industry and is now reaching over 700 subscribers. Industry members who would like to receive the Mango Connection can sign up on www.mango.org in the industry section.

Another tool used by the NMB to keep industry members informed is the web site at www.mango.org. The industry section is presented in English or Spanish, and is packed with information and resources designed to let industry members know what the NMB is doing and to provide tools and resources that industry members can use to build their mango business.

Exciting programs are in place for 2009, including marketing efforts to consumer, retail and foodservice audiences plus a broad spectrum of research programs designed to help the mango industry. With the new slate of officers in place to guide the NMB and the industry outreach program going strong, the mango industry can rest assured that 2009 will be a very exciting year and that they will be well informed.

Publication date: 1/7/2009

www.mango.org

Monday, January 5, 2009

Exotic fruit sales plunge in Italy

CIA reports 25 per cent year-on-year fall in sales of pineapples, bananas, avocados and mangoes during festive period

The amount of exotic fruit consumed in Italy over the festive period fell dramatically compared with the same period of 2007, according to Italian farming organisation CIA.
In a statement, the group reported a year-on-year downturn of more than 25 per cent in sales of fruits such as pineapples, avocados, bananas and mangoes eaten in the country over Christmas and New Year.
Overall sales of fresh fruit and vegetables fell by 1.5 per cent compared with the year before, according to CIA. However, sales of dried fruit and nuts rose by 2.5 per cent, while vegetable sales grew by 3.5 per cent on the back of increased demand for lentils and beans.
Before Christmas, Italy's Minister of Agriculture Luca Zaia
called on consumers to boycott pineapples and other imported food items over the holiday period in favour of traditional domestic products.

The calls were met with dismay from the trade, however, with industry body Fruit Imprese labelling the minister's comments "misguided".

According to CIA, the majority of Italy's 23m families did their shopping in retail stores (56 per cent), followed by traditional stores (24 per cent), local markets (18 per cent) and the internet (2 per cent)

www.fruitnet.com 5 January 2009