Latest news stories from Produce Plus
News updates for the fresh produce business in Australia and New Zealand.
GP Graders launches industry-first sanitary blueberry sorting machine
Post-harvest technology specialist GP Graders has released a new fully sanitary-designed sorting and grading machine specifically engineered for blueberries, featuring dry-handling technology and advanced defect detection
Produce Plus Spring out now
Produce Plus Spring is headlined by a keynote interview with MOYA 2025 winner Sonia Gabauer. She reveals the keys to the successful Driscoll’s Australia Sweetest Batch Strawberries campaign. Plus, a wrap up of Hort Connections and features on berries, avocados, citrus and IFPSS 2025.
IFPSS 2025: Securing a safer future for fresh produce
The second edition of the International Fresh Produce Safety Symposium explored how industry can deliver safe product in an evolving food safety landscape.
Zespri to cut 135 jobs amid industry challenges
New Zealand kiwifruit marketer reportedly plans to reduce its workforce as part of a strategic restructuring to address changing market conditions
Rockit launches premium gold selection range in China
Launch comes ahead of the peak Mid-Autumn Festival gifting season
Conversations
Fruitbox 108 · Carlo Magni & Louise Beard, Forward Insight
Chris, Carlo and Louise consider the consumers of tomorrow, the choices they will make and how we can develop fresh produce that will appeal to them
Fruitbox 101 · Alex Garcia-Devis, GlobalGAP
Chris speaks with Alex about the scarcity of water in some of the world’s key production regions, and what this means for the fresh fruit and vegetable industry
Fruitbox 95 · Sir Charles Godfray, Oxford University
Chris and Sir Charles discuss what population growth and climate change mean for the global food system
Sumitomo Chemical Australia announces new regional managers
Sam Boyce appointed regional manager for eastern Victoria and Stephan Logoida appointed south-east Queensland and Northern Rivers regional manager
Premier Fresh Australia announces strategic marketing agreement with Montague Farms
Premier will serve as the sub-licensee for Montague’s stonefruit offerings
AC Foods and Legacy Packing partner with Tomra for packhouse upgrade
Upgrade is AC Foods’ largest investment in the Southern Hemisphere, expanding capacity fivefold
Dr Sukhvinder Pal Singh honoured with food safety award
Award recognises Dr Singh’s significant contribution to the advancement of food safety in Australia’s fresh produce industry
Zespri forecasts strong returns for 2025/26 season
New Zealand kiwifruit marketer Zespri has released its first full forecast for the 2025/26 season, projecting record per hectare returns for most categories despite having to reallocate fruit from challenging Asian markets to stronger performing regions
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Zespri welcomes EU approval for health claim for green kiwifruit
Green kiwifruit the first fresh fruit to achieve a health claim by the EU Commission, following more than 15 years of Zespri-led research
Northern Territory mangoes gain access to Western Australia
Newly endorsed protocol replaces the previous trial agreement between the states and allows some varieties access under alternative fruit fly treatment
Potato mop-top virus detected in Australia for the first time
The virus was detected in northwest Tasmania following an industry member reporting signs of disease to Biosecurity Tasmania
Perfection Fresh exits Fruit Master operations
Strategic review sees Perfection Fresh cease table grape farming operations, shifting supply to third-party growers
Redland partners with Reeve Farms on Dazzle production
Redland says the branded apple is a “catalyst for market growth”
IFPA ANZ welcomes new government relations and communications specialist
Jo Crawford-Wynd will lead the organisations corporate affairs and advocacy strategy
Rockit launches new small family pack
The new pack offering follows the successful launch of the Large Family Pack last year
Queensland researchers explore plant “vaccines” to protect vegetable crops
Five-year initiative led by The University of Queensland will assess how peptides trigger broad immune responses in vegetable crops
New Zealand brings freshness to Bangkok with fruit truck campaign
Trucks deliver New Zealand apples, avocados and kiwifruit directly to Thai customers in NZTE promotion
Erbacher’s Fruit & Vegetables voted ‘a better choice!’ Retailer of the Year
Sunshine Coast greengrocer receives national people’s choice award celebrating independent Australian fruit and vegetable shops