Industry analysis from Fresh Produce Journal

Analysis and insight for the UK fresh produce business.

India is a major grower and exporter of grapes

Different country, different rights: the India lesson for breeders

2026-07-20T15:14:00+01:00By

Tomer Biran, a legal consultant specialising in varietal protection, outlines the best approach in a fast-growing market like India where varietal rights cannot always be taken for granted

Marks and Spencer avocados Perfectly Ripe

Comment: As ripening tech matures, what next for avocados?

2026-07-20T15:10:00+01:00By

Experts predict even more dramatic changes for the fruit’s supply network, as rapid market growth continues

Gene-editing

Comment: Why gene-editing is a must in bananas

2026-07-16T08:00:00+01:00By James Dale

Climate change and disease pressure are making gene-editing increasingly important to the future success of the banana sector, argues agri-scientist James Dale

Cavendish bananas dominate global production

Comment: Can science help save bananas, the world’s favourite fruit?

2026-07-10T12:34:00+01:00By Professor James Dale

In an extract from his new book The Future of Bananas, Australian agri-scientist Professor James Dale explains why a lack of genetic diversity and an overreliance on a single variety have put bananas at risk of commercial extinction

John Giles started his work at Promar soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall

Comment: What's changed in fresh produce in the last 36 years? Quite a lot…

2026-07-02T08:27:00+01:00By

Promar International divisional director John Giles reflects on huge transformations in international fruit and vegetable sector

Conversations

Philippe Binard comment

Comment: Fresh produce business pays price of Brexit division

2026-06-24T11:33:00+01:00By Philippe Binard

As UK marks decade since it voted to leave EU, Freshfel’s Philippe Binard reflects on bruising ten years for produce traders

Clara Tucker spoke at Festival of Fresh for a second time on 10 June

Health continues to drive UK produce sales

2026-06-22T12:32:00+01:00By

Health is becoming more ingrained in UK shoppers’ choices, according to Worldpanel’s Clara Tucker, as flat consumer confidence fails to dent a growing health trend

Before joining British Growers, John Walgate had 25 years of senior-level experience in the pet food sector

Crop association collaboration ‘more important than ever’

2026-06-19T14:42:00+01:00By John Walgate

British Growers CEO John Walgate makes the case for the country’s horticulture crop associations to continue working together more closely as cost pressures build

Tim O'Malley says Nationwide Produce speaks to more UK growers on a daily basis than any other business

The question for UK growers today is: ’What can I grow that will not make a loss?’

2026-06-08T18:22:00+01:00By

Nationwide Produce chairman Tim O’Malley reflects on major challenges for growers and government as potato producers are forced to dump large volumes of crop amid overproduction in Europe

Spain El Ciruelo flat peaches

European peach and nectarine forecast up 8 per cent

2026-05-26T16:50:00+01:00By

Europe’s peach and nectarine production looks set to recover this season, thanks to favourable growing conditions

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A climate study among McCain potato suppliers found clear risks to yield

Comment: Why climate action in food and farming can’t wait

2026-05-26T11:04:00+01:00By

Soil health, water availability and biodiversity are not abstract environmental concepts; they are the foundations of food security, writes McCain CSO Charlie Angelakos

UK consumers expect a wide range of choice

Growing more in the UK won’t solve food security, warns FPC

2026-05-26T10:35:00+01:00By

Trade body raises concerns that the new EU-UK reset deal, and calls to produce more domestically, threaten UK imports from further afield

AdobeStock_581361514

Focus on progress over perfection

2026-05-20T09:19:00+01:00By

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

British potatoes were cut to 4p at some retailers over Easter

Comment: 4p veg promotions hurt the whole supply chain

2026-05-20T09:15:00+01:00By

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

MarkUp Marche banana

Comment: The £74 banana is a good look for fresh produce

2026-05-08T11:07:00+01:00By

A new campaign designed to expose over-priced cosmetics offers plenty of hope for the fruit and veg business