Hort left out of energy exemption list as government says it’s ‘watching closely’
Fresh produce businesses will be left to face soaring energy costs alone after further expansion to industrial protection scheme excludes sector
Landgard appoints Marc Beckmann to lead fruit division board
German agribusiness appoints current MD as chair of its management board at Landgard Obst & Gemüse Holding
Emilia-Romagna to host Interpera in June
CSO Italy will host leading European pear conference in Emilia-Romagna, a region that accounts for 60 per cent of Italy’s production
M&S drops prices on 19 veg lines to attract families
Premium retailer has placed 22 lines including brassicas, garlic, courgettes and leeks into either its value or ‘dropped and locked’ ranges and lowered some prices in a bid to entice more family shoppers and double its food business
Turkish citrus suppliers thankful for timing
As logistical situation goes from bad to worse and costs keep rising, country’s exporters express relief as season approaches end
Fieldwork Robotics partners with Dynium
Collaboration will provide growers with greater flexibility and enable Fieldwork’s robots to tackle steeper inclines and wider terrain ranges,
Naturitalia innovates to drive fresh produce demand
Italian supplier to launch branded stonefruit range, ready-to-use potato line, and more occasion-based packs to drive consumption
Greenyard director to lead Freshfel Europe
Frédéric Rosseneu named as successor to Salvo Laudani, with new vice-presidents from Netherlands and Spain also appointed
Freshfel to unveil new manifesto as industry challenges mount
Association marks 25th anniversary in Sicily, where its president Salvo Laudani is due to step down
Plus Berries reports good quality and export volume as stonefruit season begins
Spanish company says harvest is running around a week later than last year, due to the wet winter
France orders supermarkets to stop ‘deliberately misleading’ practices
Consumer affairs agency demands Carrefour, Leclerc, Aldi and Lidl cease “deceptive” marketing of fresh fruit and veg
Port of Antwerp-Bruges CEO steps down
COO Rob Smeets will assume the role of interim CEO while the port seeks a permanent replacement for Jacques Vandermeiren
Food security fears build in Lebanon
The conflict in Lebanon is rapidly creating a food security crisis, according to the UN, as Israeli attacks prevent farmers accessing land
Dover becomes UK’s first net-zero port
The port has reached its carbon net zero goal for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, marking a significant milestone in maritime decarbonisation
Kiku partners with Olympic athletes at Italian ski event
Marketer joins celebrated winter sports athletes in distributing healthy snacks and prizes to around 400 children in the Dolomites
Put procurement and planning on local election agenda, NFU urges
Farming union is asking local council candidates for the May elections to support British growers and farmers by campaigning to increase public procurement or planning reforms
Zespri reports record Northern Hemisphere SunGold kiwifruit season
As Italy achieves close to year-round supply, company records 24 per cent increase in counter-seasonal volume
“Illusion of stability” exposed by Gulf crisis
The supply chain must learn to operate amid uncertainty, says Stefano Iorini of Global Star Group, focusing on “resilience, flexibility and alignment”
Redpop apple expands presence in Asia with launch into new market
Move follows targets announced in 2025 to double production by 2028
Looking inside every fruit without ever cutting one open
How Orbem’s industrial MRI technology is eliminating guesswork, waste, and labour dependency from fresh produce quality control
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
MSC founder transfers ownership to next generation
The shipping giant has announced an ownership transition, with founder Captain Gianluigi Aponte passing control to his son and daughter
Dutch group keeps goals in sight with Van der Sar appointment
Greenhouse tech provider Royal Brinkman continues recent reorganisation by naming new head of Horti Essentials
Pressures mount on global shipping
Drewry’s Global Index rises as fuel costs and geopolitical tensions bite
Gene-edited banana approved in Japan and Brazil
Tropic’s non-browning variety can now be imported, sold, and consumed in both countries, and grown in Brazil
Italian apple suppliers express concern over Gulf conflict’s ‘long-term damage’
Industry association Assomela says higher input costs and price inflation could have serious impact on demand for fruit
Hazera Seeds offers pepper market perspective
Federico Puyó, product manager cucumber and pepper at Hazera Seeds, discusses the important trends and traits driving the business
Soaring costs to push up stonefruit prices in 2026, says Afrucat
Association warns that rising input costs come at a difficult time for producers
BioSikelia showcases new Mediterranean farming model
Company’s sustainably grown Sicilian organic avocados and mangoes are making headway on the domestic and international markets
Urban Crop Solutions selected for prestigious agri-food ranking
The indoor farming technology specialist has been recognised in Forward Fooding’s global benchmark ranking
Tesco trials AI assistant to help people write their shopping lists
UK’s largest supermarket develops AI-powered shopping assistant to offer personalised recipe ideas and automated basket creation
Importaco and AgriSound collaborate on regenerative farming project
Food group partners with UK’s AgriSound to gauge impact of regenerative farming on pollination and crop performance in almond orchards
Rijk Zwaan highlights need for balance in pepper business
Cconsumer preferences must align with grower requirements for disease resistance, climate resilience and strong returns on investment
Yuksel Seeds launches tomato showcase
Visitors will see 21 tomato varieties ranging from snack types to heirloom specialists, including 16 varieties with ToBRFV resistance
Agriplace rebrands as Simvia as compliance data requirements grow
Software company says change marks evolution from compliance platform to trusted infrastructure for Europe’s consumer goods market
Spanish exports fall in volume, rise in value in January
According to new analysis by Fepex, January 2026 saw exports reach 1.14m tonnes, 8.5 per cent less than in the same month of 2025