Sustainability
News and analysis for the international fresh produce business on the theme of sustainability. What is the fruit and vegetable industry doing to protect people, planet, and profit?
Extreme weather devastates southern Italy’s citrus and vegetable crops
Growers in Sicily and Sardinia report extensive damage to citrus, artichokes and vegetables after torrential rainfall and high winds in recent weeks
Tesco recalls prepped fruit after salmonella finding
Grape and berry medley has been recalled by retailer after salmonella was detected during testing with consumers urged not to eat
Shoppers see vegetables as the future of food, says Tesco
Chilled plant-based food sales are back in growth after years of decline, according to new figures from Nielsen, as Tesco says shoppers see vegetables as a “fundamental part of how people expect to eat in future”
Kalfresh secures A$80mn investment for bioenergy facility
Queensland vegetable grower to lead development of food and energy precinct
MSU AgBioResearch launches Growing Healthy Together Initiative
Initiative targets a variety of health challenges, from soil health and water quality to nutrition, chronic disease and food access
Garcés Fruit publishes 4th Sustainability Report
Company’s 60th anniversary year marked by a strengthened focus on ESG
Last chance to register for 2026 Spain Food Nation Summit
Organic produce and opportunities to boost exports from Spain to the UK will be focus of free event in London
Comment: Defra funding has supercharged food redistribution
The £9.2mn in Defra funding has helped us redistribute over a third more surplus produce and allowed growers to cover costs – now it’s time to go up another level, writes FareShare’s head of fresh produce Emma Brown
British apples have ‘negligible water footprint’
New research finds British apples have a low water footprint compared with European or southern hemisphere origins, while greenhouse gas emissions are comarable across the UK, Europe and Chile
Korea prepares for growth in subtropical crops
Government prepares tools to help growers transition to new fruits as climate changes
Daily Dose supports digestion with new apple cider vinegar shot
Exclusive launch at Whole Foods Market is accompanied by three new smoothies, featuring berries, mango and greens
Global Coalition of Fresh Produce discusses industry resilience
Fruit Logistica panel covered challenges facing the business and how greater resiliency and efficiency in logistics can be achieved
Less green, more green: Albert Heijn cuts out carrot tops
The Netherlands’ largest food retailer says it has chopped out foliage and packaging from its bunched carrot line
Dutch supermarkets run low on berries and veg
Recent adverse weather in Spain and Morocco has apparently left a number of retailers in the Netherlands short of supply
New Zealand fruit regions brace for weekend storms
Growers in country’s North Island face more heavy rainfall, raising concerns three years after Cyclone Gabrielle devastated 4,000ha of orchards
Fragile food systems are “underestimated risk" to global stability
IFAD president Alvaro Lario has told world leaders that access to productive land and reliable freshwater must receive the same attention as rare minerals
CR banana sector drives community infrastructure improvements
Investment in active projects to improve road infrastructure and drainage totals US$7mn
Citrosol advances sustainability agenda with 2024 Carbon Footprint registration
The Valencian company has once again obtained the Calculate and Reduce seal for 2024
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
MWW wins Gold GroceryAid Award for charity support
UK fresh produce importer and distributor Minor, Weir & Willis has received the Gold GroceryAid Award for its work supporting the national grocery charity
Asda fined half a million for food safety offences
Trading standards seized nine chilled products found to be a total of 91 days past their use-by date at an Asda superstore
Rijk Zwaan unveils veggie vending machine
Seed breeder wants to encourage ‘more moments and new eating habits’ to help stimulate fruit and veg consumption
Sorma presents clipless net packaging at Fruit Logistica
Italian machinery specialist unveils mono-material packaging solution at Fruit Logistica that eliminates metal clips
Global fresh produce trade weathers the storm to spark unbeatable Fruit Logistica
Fruit Logistica 2026 once again demonstrated its status as the world’s premier business, innovation and knowledge platform for the industry
New review underscores public health case for fresh produce
Foundation for Fresh Produce white paper underscores strong evidence linking fruits and vegetables to reduced non-communicable disease risk
City Food & Drink Lecture announces keynote theme and panel for 25th edition
Nutrition scientist Professor Jebb to set out stark realities of diet-related ill health and ask how we can make next 25 years healthier
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
Allergy-free apple and high-tech drone pick up prestigious innovation awards
Prompur variety and L50 drone win top prizes in Berlin, as voted by visitors to Fruit Logistica 2026 in Berlin
Berry shortages and ‘tsunami of grapes’ bound for Europe
Heavy rain, wind, and port issues are disrupting exports from Morocco, Spain and South Africa, with berries and grapes among top affected
Raingrown fruit initiative saves 1.6bn litres of water
Eosta publishes results of its Organic Raingrown project, which sources fruit only from producers that use natural rainfall rather than irrigation
IFPA A-NZ Fresh Matters delivers sustainability insights
New report shares consumer trends and reveals how sustainability can drive efficiency, resilience, and long-term growth
Fruit Logistica European Statistics Handbook 2026
Despite climate pressures, cost burdens and regional shifts, Europe’s fruit trade remains competitive
CMI Orchards receives global recognition for sustainable innovations
Leading US grower-packer-shipper receives two 2026 Seal Sustainability Awards for its regenerative, climate‑positive tree fruit production
MG Group partners with The Gut Foundation
Fresh-produce ooperative to support the health education organisation to create content for primary and secondary schools
Riverford sales rise as higher costs squeeze profits
Devon-based veg box company chose to absorb costs rather than passing on, while sharing £1.1mn of profit equally with its 1,000 co-owners in the last financial year
Frutas de Chile president calls for more investment in desalination
Iván Marambio warned that thousands of hectares of production have already been lost to drought in worst affected regions