Industry analysis from Fresh Produce Journal
Analysis and insight for the UK fresh produce business.
Focus on progress over perfection
When it comes to encouraging consumers to eat more fruit and vegetables, demanding too much too quickly has an unfortunate tendency to backfire, says Barbara Bray of Alo Solutions
Comment: 4p veg promotions hurt the whole supply chain
Jim Padfield of Essex potato grower H Padfield & Sons highlights the overlooked impact of the major multiples’ 4p veg promotions on the wholesale and foodservice sectors
Comment: The £74 banana is a good look for fresh produce
A new campaign designed to expose over-priced cosmetics offers plenty of hope for the fruit and veg business
‘Senior talent must adapt to new realities of fresh produce job market’
A number of jobless directors are searching for their next challenge following some high-profile mergers and restructures in the sector, but the job market they’re entering isn’t the same one they left
UK citrus market feels impact of Gulf crisis
The UK market has seen a rise in citrus sales over the past year, but all eyes are now on how logistical disruptions in the Middle East are affecting trade flows
Conversations
Fruitbox 117 · Hein Deprez, Greenyard
Greenyard’s founder discusses the company’s recent privatisation and explains why he sees an urgent need to redefine healthy eating
Fruitbox 116 · Mark Landini, Landini Associates
Sydney-based retail consultant explains how supermarkets can reconnect with customers through better design, storytelling, and a renewed focus on food
Fruitbox 115 · Daniel Sauvaitre & Philippe Binard, World Apple & Pear Association
Recorded live at Prognosfruit 2025, the latest episode of Fruitbox brings you instant reaction to this year’s European apple and pear production forecasts
Bananas under pressure, but the solutions exist
The global banana sector faces a plethora of challenges, but industry experts insist the fruit’s future can be made secure by appropriate measures
Is the UK grape market heading from feast to famine?
Analysis from UK fruit importer Richard Hochfeld predicts a switch from a demand-driven to a supply-driven market in the UK around week 16
Berry supply chain collaboration ‘essential’ amid significant cost pressures
Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, shares his thoughts on the impact of the Middle East conflict as the peak UK berry season approaches
Food industry ‘must move beyond simply reporting carbon emissions’
Richard Bonn, co-founder of Aethr Associates, argues new approach is needed to unlock true value of decarbonisation
GPG says Chilean blueberry industry is in “transition, not decline”
Co-owner Jamie Petchell toured the country’s blueberry growing regions and saw a business that is adapting to meet current challenges
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Growing systems ‘must work with water variability rather than against it’
Ahead of World Water Day on 22 March, AH Worth’s farms director Katie Ford explains how the veg producer is reducing its exposure to water risks by building diversity and resilience into its production methods
Aubergines offer consumption hope
Efforts to arrest declining vegetable consumption have largely been futile, but the versatile aubergine offers a way to attract a younger audience
Comment: Defra funding has supercharged food redistribution
The £9.2mn in Defra funding has helped us redistribute over a third more surplus produce and allowed growers to cover costs – now it’s time to go up another level, writes FareShare’s head of fresh produce Emma Brown
Comment: Greenhouse tech is often ‘too costly to scale’
Technological complexity and high costs will continue to restrict growth of covered production, especially in the US, says Kubo CEO
Analysis: A new era for appetite
Weight loss medication is transforming the food industry, but how can the fresh produce sector make the most of it?
Food rescue 'the sensible option' with AD plant fees set to soar
Tim O’Malley explains why incoming regulations on household food waste collections will push up the cost of using AD plants, further strengthening the case for diverting surplus produce to organisations like FareShare
‘Sustainability now a priority for banana consumers’
Caoimhe Buckley, chief corporate affairs officer at Fyffes, tells Fred Searle about the key trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the global banana industry
Egyptian citrus exports up for UK challenge
Demand for Egyptian citrus has seen a surge to the UK market post-Brexit, but competition from EU suppliers is a resurgent threat
Taking control: analysing the FPJ Big 50 Companies 2026
The biggest companies in UK fresh produce supply are doing all they can to make their businesses resilient and ready for growth
Pride and optimism for 2026 after tough year for farming
As 2026 begins, NFU president Tom Bradshaw reflects on the past 12 months and the farming sector’s future in the coming year