Middle East
Fresh produce industry news and analysis from the Middle East.
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
Chiquita welcomes banana pan-genome breakthrough
Project backed by Chiquita and Innocent Drinks claims major step forward in fight against disease, with new varieties potentially months from development
Thai fruits target Middle East premium market
Tourism is helping to boost familiarity and demand for Thai fruits in high-end retail and hospitality
Morocco’s fresh produce, fast and reliable across the sea
Morocco’s growers and exporters now have a new way to reach the UK and Northern Europe. Tomatoes, blueberries and other high-value fruits and vegetables can travel faster, fresher and more reliably thanks to the new DP World Atlas short-sea reefer service.
European demand for Egyptian strawberries stays strong
Adverse weather conditions in Morocco and Spain have disrupted berry supplies to Europe this winter, with buyers turning instead to Egypt
Spinneys supermarket to open 12 stores in the Philippines
Partnership with ACX Holidings facilitates the first opening outside of the Gulf for the UAE-based retailer
Dubai bolsters standing as regional hub
With the creation of the Foodstuffs, Fruit and Vegetable Market, set to be twice the size of the current market, Dubai is reinforcing its position as a world-class hub for fresh produce, according to Redha Mansouri, CEO of Fresh Fruits Company, and Hesam Rahi, CEO of Farzana Trading
Unifrutti deploys data resilience software across global network
Grower-distributor works with Seattle-based Veeam to implement software that ensures near-perfect data integrity across its operations
Driscoll’s secures new partnership agreement with LuLu Retail
MoU signed last week opens door to closer collaboration on marketing branded berries to consumers
Fruit Logistica Briefing: AI is changing everything – are you ready for it?
Watch a recording of the event’s fascinating discussion on artificial intelligence and automation in the fresh produce business
Polish apple exporter reports solid season despite market pressures
Jan Nowakowski of Polish apple exporter Genesis Fresh says this season has demonstrated the importance of flexibility and diversification
Uzbekistan to expand supply of fresh and dried fruit to Malaysia
Delegation reaches agreements with leading importers and distributors following a series of meetings
Saudia Arabia becomes world’s third producer of white strawberries
Middle Eastern country joins the US and Japan with harvest of rare premium fruit
Avocados on the rise in Lebanon
Investment is pouring into avocado production in Lebanon, with the Avocado Lebanon Association working to ensure growers meet all the requirements for European market access
DP World London Gateway terminal surpasses 3m TEU milestone
The company’s UK container total came to more than 5mn TEUs in 2025, with London Gateway’s growth alone up 52 per cent
How can apples and pears compete with avocados and mangoes in the social media age?
Nine leading players in the fresh apple and pear market explain what opportunities they see to add value to the category
Healthy, sustainable… and losing consumers? Apples and pears fight for attention
World Apple & Pear Association secretary general Philippe Binard considers the challenge ahead for the topfruit business
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
Philippine bananas and pineapples get boost in new UAE FTA
Free trade agreement will reduce tariffs and enhance market access for goods and services
AI is changing everything… Are you ready for it?
Why you really can’t afford to ignore artificial intelligence – find out at the Fruit Logistica Briefing 2026
Mohammed Abbas is the man for Del Monte
Abbas joined the the group’s senior leadership team in the US in early 2022, and has now been handed the role of group president
China expands kumquat exports to Middle East
Industry insiders expect exports to grow more than five-fold on 2023 volumes
Israeli potato exports on the decline
The potato sector in Israel has been hit by the impact of war as well as improvements in post-harvest treatments in Europe, leading to a drop in exports
Maersk appoints Robert Erni as new chief financial officer
The logistics group has also announced a series of regional leadership appointments as part of a broader restructure
Italian apple group director welcomes Suez Canal reopening
Faster access to overseas markets seen as vital, as association looks to develop new export markets in Asia and Latin America
Video: How will AI shape the future of fresh produce?
AI is transforming how fruit and vegetables are bred, grown, distributed and marketed. But where will the technology have the greatest potential impact?
South African lemon exports surge to 41.5mn cartons
The industry overcame challenging weather conditions to deliver volumes 26 per cent higher than initial estimates
Fledgling South African cherry business dreams big
Industry targets large export deal this season as it continues to pursue China market access
New initiative set to boost Australian melon exports to the Gulf
Project takes practical approach to building market knowledge and connections for Australian industry
Maersk encouraged by Gaza peace process
The shipping giant has announced plans to resume shipping routes through the Red Sea and Suez Canal “as soon as conditions allow”
Afghanistan and Pakistan seek out alternative trading partners
Violent clashes on the border have brought trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan to a halt, pushing the former to find new outlets and the latter to seek out new sources
Asia Fruit Logistica on track for record-breaking 2026 edition
Exhibitor registration opens early for Asia’s premier fresh produce trade show, with bookings already up 23 per cent on same period last year
‘Strawberry shuttles’ provide new capacity as Egyptian season starts early
Unexpected higher demand for airfreight capacity prompts new partnership between national carrier and specialist cargo company
Is the divide in the tomato market destined to widen?
Faced with new challenges, some foresee the increasing commoditisation of fresh tomatoes, despite continued success for premium varieties
Unifrutti Group appoints Ashley Allen as group chief sustainability officer
International fresh produce supplier Unifrutti Group has appointed Ashley Allen as its new group chief sustainability officer, bringing experience from Oatly and Mars to advance the company’s environmental agenda.
Akorn Technology is finalist in UAE FoodTech Challenge
Postharvest solutions specialist Akorn Technology has been named as a finalist for the 2025 FoodTech Challenge, a UAE-based competition focusing on agri-food technologies for challenging environments