South America
Fresh produce industry news and analysis from South America.
Water For All mangoes target values-driven shoppers
Continental Fresh hopes its Water For All initiative will help to sell more mangoes in the US, while providing clean water to greater numbers
Colombian exporters feeling the heat
The new administration must act as rising costs, unfavourable exchange rates and tariffs threaten the profitability of the country’s agri-exports
Soaring temperatures hit mango and avocado production in Lambayeque
With the hot spell set to continue through August, fears grow that it could affect the flowering of key regional crops
Argentina launches first-ever DO for fresh fruit
Exports of the Los Antiguos Valley Cherry Designation of Origin will get underway in the new season
FPC launches new action pack to help sector reach MPs
Email templates expressing the risks to produce imports from the rest of the world under the new EU-UK reset deal are available at the new hub, along with a petition signed by kitchen staff and catering suppliers to protect diversity of sourcing
New stamp issue pays tribute to Costa Rican banana industry
Postage stamps depict everyday scenes from the country’s banana plantations
High temperatures stall Peru’s mango recovery
Record heat disrupts flowering, leading to an expected abundance of larger sizes
Barfoots celebrates 50 years of ‘forever farming’
Barfoots’ Keston Williams takes Fred Searle on a sustainability journey, from energy self-sufficiency to water resilience, as the pioneering producer marks its 50th anniversary
Ecuadorean banana exports up 5.5 per cent in first half of 2026
Shipments reached 210.75mn boxes, driven by stronger demand in Russia, the EU and South America
Chilean kiwifruit industry faces “spectacular opportunity”
As it gathers for Kiwif Day 2026, the sector hears how it must capitalise on the post-pandemic consumption boom
Naturipe Farms and Hortifrut expand berry genetics platform
Landmark collaboration with MBO will build new capabilities to deliver more consistent, flavourful berries from field to fork
Innocent awards £1mn in grants to fruit and veg projects
Winning projects will support growers in 14 countries to adopt climate-friendly farm practices and secure the future of core ingredients in Innocent’s range, from citrus to coconut
Del Monte Corporation reports mixed Q2 financial results
The fresh produce giant reported a 3.4 per cent increase in net sales for Q2 2026, driven by its newly acquired Del Monte Foods division
Frutas de Chile secures key exemptions from US trade tariffs
Avocados, kiwifruit and oranges will avoid the 12.5 per cent import tax
El Niño threatens blueberry production in La Libertad
Redes warns that the crop could once again face significant impact, as it did in 2023
Hazelnuts: a rising star in Chile’s export basket
Thanks to a surge in new plantings, the nut is becoming a new engine for growth in Chilean agriculture
FPC urges government to rethink UK-EU reset
Consortium backs closer UK-EU trade but warns that planned border changes could add £300mn to annual import costs
Costa Rica brings its fresh produce to European consumers though Amazon
Amazon stream and in-store tasting events showcase Costa Rican bananas, pineapples, and cassava to millions of consumers across Europe
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