Eurofruit's 500th issue is due to be published at the start of November, a major milestone for a publication that has been reporting on news, trends and ideas in Europe's fresh produce business ever since the European Economic Community began to expand at the start of 1973.
We have selected one important story from each of our previous issues, giving you a snapshot of key developments in the European fruit and vegetable market during the course of our 44-year history. Below, you can see what the key stories were in issues 401-450.
Timelines in this series:1-50,51-100,101-150,151-200,201-250,251-300,301-350,351-400,451-500.
To secure your copy of Eurofruit's 500th issue, please contactsubscriptions@fruitnet.com. Orview the entire magazine for free online here.
#401October 2007
EurepGAP rebrands as GlobalGAP and Dutch company Hillfresh begins trading, aiming to become an “ultimate new alternative” supplier for the fresh produce market.
#402November/December 2007
Pink Lady partners with Disney for a unique European marketing push.
#403January 2008
Univeg acquires Turkish exporter Alara.
#404February 2008
The Greenery opens its doors to foreign grower membership.
#405March 2008
Murcia allocates €10m over three years to converting growers to natural pest control methods.
#406April 2008
Italy’s GF Group acquires majority shares in Argentinean suppliers Moño Azul and Salvador Liguori.
#407May 2008
Monsanto acquires De Ruiter Seeds.
#408June 2008
Having agreed a deal to buy Atlanta from Chiquita for €54.9m, Hein Deprez of Univeg tells FRESH2008 that the developed world must 'reassess the value of fruit and veg' as purchasing power rises in emerging markets.
#409July 2008
A transport strike paralyses much of Spain's fresh produce sector, while a summer shortage looms for Europe's citrus trade.
#410August 2008
Freshfel welcomes new EU proposals to implement a School Fruit Scheme.
#411September 2008
Leading Italian pear cooperatives Campogalliano and Eurofrutta join forces to form Fruit Modena Group.
#412October 2008
Eosta introduces NZ-grown, “climate neutral” kiwifruit to Europe after teaming up with Freshco.
#413November/December 2008
Chile, Argentina and Uruguay launch Blueberries from the South, Latin America's first joint promotion for the fruit in Europe.
#414January 2009
The global financial crisis takes hold, affecting consumer spending, retail pricing and exchange rates, and forcing suppliers to approach major markets differently.
#415February 2009
China opens its doors to Italian kiwifruit imports.
#416March 2009
The Greenery announces plans to extend its pesticide reduction scheme with Bayer to global markets.
#417April 2009
As discount retail expands, Tesco confirms it is planning a new, more direct produce sourcing strategy.
#418May 2009
Zespri rolls out a series of high-profile marketing campaigns to 'ensure strong sales across Europe”.
#419June 2009
The World Cancer Research Fund encourages consumers to keep eating fresh produce despite cost-cutting during global recession.
#420July 2009
Jeff Wesley of T&G attacks Zespri’s export monopoly, calling for a review of the current system.
#421August 2009
Rewe prepares to expand its Best Alliance contract farming initiative.
#422September 2009
Following the recent bankruptcies of rival importers Sorus and Sunway, Russian firm JFC says its share of the domestic banana market is now 40 per cent.
#423October 2009
Eurofruit publisher Market Intelligence acquires the Fresh Produce Journal.
#424November/December 2009
The EU's healthy eating campaign comes under fire from Freshfel and UK organisation the FPC.
#425January 2010
Pascal Lamy of the WTO hails the end of the so-called banana wars, as the EU, US and Latin American nations reach agreement on tariffs.
#426February 2010
EU fruit and veg imports fall as the economic downturn dampens Dutch sales in particular.
#427March 2010
Chile’s fresh fruit industry assesses the damage caused by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake.
#428April 2010
In the run-up to hosting the 2010 World Cup, South Africa spends significantly to back fruit promotions in Europe under the 'Beautiful Country, Beautiful Fruit' brand.
#429May 2010
A volcanic eruption in Iceland causes headaches for the European fresh produce industry following a ban on flights – in particular those trying to return fromEUROFRUITand Freshfel’s FRESH Congress in St Petersburg.
#430June 2010
Italian retailers Conad and Coop deny rumours of a boycott on Agrexco produce.
#431July 2010
Rotterdam Fruit Wharf emerges from the wreckage of port handling firm Seabrex’s financial failure.
#432August 2010
Amazon enters the online grocery fight with services in Germany and the UK.
#433September 2010
A judge considering T&G’s request to remove the monopoly on NZ kiwifruit exports rules in Zespri's favour.
#434October 2010
Supermarket pricing puts the banana trade under “intense pressure”, say commentators.
#435November/December 2010
Freshfel says there is “much work to be done” on improving School Fruit Scheme.
#436January 2011
New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry responds to the rapid spread of bacterial vine disease Psa by establishing a taskforce to combat the disease.
#437February 2011
Belgian importer Special Fruit enters a new partnership with Del Sol Fresh Peru.
#438March 2011
The European Parliament finally approves its banana tariff agreement, officially ending decades of trade disputes.
#439April 2011
Brazilian apples specialists Renar and Pomifrai announce plans to merge.
#440May 2011
The concept of direct produce sourcing gains greater momentum in Europe.
#441June 2011
Zespri chief executive Lain Jager tellsEUROFRUITthat the company is looking to triple its kiwifruit revenue by 2025.
#442July 2011
Europe’s produce industry suffers greatly following an outbreak of E coli in northern Germany. The outbreak was intially, and wrongly, blamed on Spanish cucumbers.
#443August 2011
Chilean fruit exports record “solid gains”.
#444September 2011
UK citrus importer Eurodix enters administration.
#445October 2011
Israeli fresh produce giant Agrexco slides into liquidation following months of speculation.
#446November/December 2011
Norwegian importer Bama celebrates 125 years in business.
#447January 2012
Red kiwifruit goes on sale in Italy for the first time with the launch of EnzaRed in Milan.
#448February 2012
Pink Lady apples register record sales in the UK.
#449March 2012
Russia's largest importer JFC files for bankruptcy.
#450 April 2012
German conglomerate BayWa gets approval for takeover of New Zealand group Turners & Growers.
