Markets news from Fresh Produce Journal

Essential stories, analysis and research from UK’s fresh produce markets, with a focus on retail, wholesale, marketing, and consumers.

Port of Dover

Summer border delays could bring ‘untold disruption’ to Dover

2026-07-08T14:14:00+01:00By

The CEO of the port of Dover has warned fresh produce hauliers could be stuck behind queues of summer tourist traffic as new digital EES checks are set to cause severe hold-ups

ZA Table grapes white green seedless Waitrose 2

Tempestuous season takes toll on South African grape trade

2026-07-08T13:42:00+01:00By

Geopolitical, logistical and climate disruptions all combine to prompt major shakeup in country’s grape export business

Mellow yellow: Asda's new watermelon

Asda launches yellow watermelon

2026-07-08T08:35:00+01:00

Retailer has won key consumer media coverage for new melon launch, described as ‘must-have’ summer snack

Angus Soft Fruits chairman Lochy Porter with the award-winning AVA Magnum strawberries

Sainsbury’s AVA Magnum strawberries from ASF prevail in Telegraph taste test

2026-07-07T16:47:00+01:00By

Berries supplied by Angus Soft Fruits praised for dark colour and rich flavour in well-established quality assessment

Steve McVickers has joined WB Chambers

Steve McVickers joins WB Chambers as commercial director

2026-07-07T09:45:00+01:00By

Former CCO at Fruitist joins leading Kent berry and cherry producer after eight months sailing around the world as part of a Clipper yacht crew

Tomer warns that a varietal trial is only a step toward commercialising a variety, not commercialisation itself

‘Get a variety trial wrong and breeder loses the right, grower loses the upside’

2026-07-06T17:33:00+01:00By

Tomer Biran, a legal consultant specialising in varietal protection, explores the IP pitfalls of trials and the commercialisation of new fresh produce varieties

Farmer Will is backing a new mushroom campaign

Love Island’s Farmer Will fronts new mushroom campaign

2026-07-02T14:07:00+01:00By

The EU-funded campaign aims to position mushrooms as a ‘sneaky snack’ for young consumers with ambitions to double consumption by 2030

Young marketeers at Borough Market

‘Mini marketeers’ take over Borough Market

2026-07-02T10:32:00+01:00By

Schoolchildren from across London will be selling their finest fresh produce at the iconic market today as part of a long-running food education initiative

Women can face barriers in returning to work

MDS launches new return to work scheme for women

2026-07-02T09:12:00+01:00By

Applications are open for a new eight-week programme that aims to support women returning to work after maternity or other career breaks by rebuilding confidence, skills and resilience

Timcon man working with pallet

Timcon urges UK government to cut pallet business red tape

2026-07-01T10:39:00+01:00By

Industry body is pressing to secure special dispensation or full exemption for wooden pallets and timber packaging moving between the UK and EU

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M&S is one of six retailers affected by the recall

Pink Lady slices among fruit pot recall after Salmonella finding

2026-06-30T15:20:00+01:00By

PrepWorld has recalled several fruit pots from six retailers across the UK and Ireland after routine testing found Salmonella in apple and kiwi

British strawberries are in peak supply

UK berries survive heat for Wimbledon but salad crops struggle

2026-06-30T14:46:00+01:00By

British strawberries are expected to have survived last week’s extreme heatwave in time for Wimbledon, but salad crops exceeded optimum growing temperatures

FTrC 2026 Cindy

Tropical fruits outperform wider produce market, congress hears

2026-06-30T13:22:00+01:00By and

Suppliers and retailers gather for Fruitnet Tropicals Congress, where commercial outlook is very positive despite major challenges

Strawberries and cream are a tradition at Wimbledon

Aldi gives away free strawberries in Wimbledon promo

2026-06-30T09:09:00+01:00By

Promotion comes as the retailer cuts price of 227g punnet to 99p and berry industry gears up for peak trading fortnight

Gianpaolo Renino Del Monte

Del Monte on pioneering premium tropicals across European markets

2026-06-29T11:25:00+01:00By

Gianpaolo Renino of the newly-rebranded Del Monte Corporation discusses the group’s strategic approach to tropical fruit innovation