South America
Fresh produce industry news and analysis from South America.
Bananas on the brink? Professor James Dale has other ideas…
Scientist dubbed the ‘Einstein and Indiana Jones of bananas’ talks in depth about the fruit’s highly uncertain future
Comment: Why gene-editing is a must in bananas
Climate change and disease pressure are making gene-editing increasingly important to the future success of the banana sector, argues agri-scientist James Dale
Argentina renews fight against greening in key citrus province
Government maintains links with provincial producers and exporters to maintain monitoring and prevention efforts
Frutura moves to crop-specialist model to fuel next phase of growth
Fruitnet speaks with Frutura CEO David Krause about the company’s strategy to focus on in-demand crop categories
Comment: Banana industry should not restrict itself to conventional breeding
Agricultural scientist Professor James Dale considers why gene editing may be the only sensible option to develop a new banana variety with effective disease resistance
Third-country imports continue to grow in Spain
New customs data processed by Fepex reveals that non-EU suppliers are increasingly driving Spain’s fresh produce import growth
Banana Link remains determined after three decades
Despite a bunch of successes, the UK-based NGO still faces some familiar challenges as it strives for supply chain sustainability
First new-season Alpine Fresh blueberries to China sell out in one hour
Container opening at Jiaxing’s Haiguangxing Market marks launch of Peruvian blueberry season
Belgian topfruit battles shipping uncertainty
Apple and pear producers in Belgium are keeping an eye on the weather forecast as much of Europe bakes in its second heatwave of the year, but the reliability of the shipping lines remains the chief concern for exporters
Peruvian asparagus suppliers facing ‘severe’ shortage
Unusual weather patterns linked to El Niño are causing shortage and quality issues set to last weeks
Tough times for Colombian avocado exporters
Reduced volumes and rising costs make for challenging export scenario
Chilean firm mulls potential of year-round blueberry production
SQM’s trial seeks to grow the fruit in the Atacama Desert using adapted varieties, advanced irrigation and precision fertigation
Green Motion showcases new generation of avocados and rootstocks in Peru
GMA shared data on the field performance of its three upcoming Hass-type variety selections that will soon be launched on the market
Armed groups halt banana production in Colombia’s Magdalena region
Intimidation and extortion force suspension of operations at several banana farms
Coquimbo avocado growers warn of losses due to fruit fly control measures
Concerns raised that SAG’s sanitary protocols to contain the pest will leave small-scale farmers out of pocket
Agap flags up growth opportunity for Peru under new government
Association’s president, Gabriel Amaros, calls for faster modernisation of small-scale agriculture
Chile’s Baika opens avocado packhouse in Colombia
The El Retiro-based facility can process up to 14 tonnes per hour, and will pack for the US, European and Argentine markets
Costa Rica launches pineapple and cassava promotion in France
France is the latest country to be added to Procomer’s pan-European campaign, joining Spain, the UK and Germany
Vanguard International’s inaugural blueberry harvest underway
Expansion into berry category follows successful foray into table grapes
How EU realignment risks global fruit imports
In the latest FPJ Podcast, Nina Pullman is joined by the FPC’s Nigel Jenney to discuss how the EU-UK reset deal could spell trouble for imports
New GAP manual to boost banana sector productivity and sustainability
Corbana’s updated material incorporates technical and scientific advances for more efficient crop management in Costa Rica
Dole completes the sale of its port in Guayaquil
Sale of port operations to Terminal Investment Limited brings in some US$75mn in net proceeds
EU apple campaign targets Colombian importers at Bogotá trade show
The ‘Have an apple day!’ EU co-funded campaign made a strategic push into the Colombian market at Alimentec-Anuga Select Colombia 2026
Tropical fruits outperform wider produce market, congress hears
Suppliers and retailers gather for Fruitnet Tropicals Congress, where commercial outlook is very positive despite major challenges
Dole’s premium play: the story behind the piña colada pineapple
The arrival of Colada Royale, a pineapple 15 years in the making, marks more than just a new variety launch, as Dole’s Bil Goldfield explains
Jingold boosts kiwifruit supply to meet summer demand
Marketer reports positive early-season feedback for red-fleshed variety as it ramps up volumes from Argentina, Chile and South Africa
Del Monte on pioneering premium tropicals across European markets
Gianpaolo Renino of the newly-rebranded Del Monte Corporation discusses the group’s strategic approach to tropical fruit innovation
Former minister sounds warning over fruit fly risk in Peru
Gustavo Mostajo Ocola says budget cuts have led to a resurgence of the pest that is threatening the country’s international competitiveness
Peruvian pomegranates on course to hit new export record in 2026
Shipments up 36 per cent so far this year, putting sector on course to top its previous high in 2022
Ecuador brings together global experts to combat TR4
Strategies to fight the disease was the key theme at this year’s Banana Time Machala conference
Eosta targets fresh juice growth with organic ‘rain-grown’ oranges
Netherlands-based organic importer-marketer is focusing on supermarket juice machines for its Peruvian citrus
Family Tree Farms celebrates 18-year Mountain Blue Orchards partnership
Family Tree Farms retains exclusive rights to programme’s original varieties as partnership evolves
AgroBerries Group expands global blueberry offer with Mountain Blue Orchards
New licensing agreements cover China, Mexico, the US, Canada and Peru
Southampton set to install two of Europe’s largest quay cranes
Port operator DP World says £60m investment will boost capacity and future-proof operations at one of UK’s largest container terminals
Chile eyes export opportunities in the Philippines
Fresh fruit expected to become an increasingly important trade commodity between the two nations
Rijk Zwaan opens tropical breeding station in Brazil
The Dutch breeding specialist’s new 40ha facility in Mogi Mirim is an investment in developing varieties tailored to tropical conditions