All articles by FPJ Staff – Page 115
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Cool reputation for IMA in produce industry
Refrigeration specialist IMA Cooling Systems Ltd has served key fresh produce customers for the last nine years. Its bespoke systems have earned it a strong reputation, but the challenges keep on coming, as managing director John Dye tells Laura Gould.
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Article
Conundrums and paradoxes of pesticides
By Hazeldene agronomist and technical director Simon Hendry
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Summerfruit rows heat up in France
The summer of 2009 will certainly be remembered as the one when the traditional summerfruit crisis really reached a climax.
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Nowhere to hide in a recession
The news this week that AMS-WellPict European is to bring in the administrators appears to have come as no surprise to those
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ArticleAll eyes on the Western front
When FPJ visited the brand-new Western International site on the first day of trading last year, there was a mixed reaction to the relocation and a row over the timing of the move cast a pall over what should have been a positive day. But 12 months on, traders are settling into their new home and tackling the recession head on, as Laura Gould finds out.
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ArticleMelon moments
Not quite the exotic they were once thought of as, melons are gradually making their way into the average UK consumer’s shopping basket, despite the economic downturn. Elizabeth O’Keefe visited Parma, Italy, to meet leading players in the global melon industry at this month’s International Melon Days 2009 and find out more.
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ArticleFlat season for southern hemisphere citrus
South Africa has dominated the citrus market in the last three months, but trade has remained fairly flat. Promotions have kept sales steady - however, easy peelers continue to drive the only real growth in the category. Anna Sbuttoni reports.
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Paragon scores a hit with McDonald’s
Information technology is playing an ever-increasing role in the arena of fresh produce. This month, McDonald’s has teamed up with Keystone to implement Paragon’s road speed data software, Sainsbury’s and NCR go a little green around the tills, and cash and carry specialist Makro launches a high-tech video conferencing system.
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UK growers put on a good show, as brands pick up
Shelves continue to burst with summer fruit at present and full marks to English cherry growers for putting up some really
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Change4Life brings out inner sceptic
When the government’s Change4Life scheme launched last November, those of you with elephantine memories may recall that
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ArticlePrepared industry stares change in the face
As demand for most prepared products falters, the industry has embarked on a new era and it looks as if the recession will have changed the face of the sector for some time to come. Elizabeth O’Keefe reports.
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ArticleCarmel Innovation adds spice to shelves
Israel is well known for its innovative approach to the fresh produce industry, from novel growing techniques and unusual varieties to new types of packaging. Carmel, the brand label of Israeli exporter Agrexco, is now capitalising on that approach to unveil its latest addition to the family - the Carmel Innovation range. Laura Gould reports.
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ArticleSweeter summer for UK
As the nation prepares to enjoy better August temperatures following two disappointing summers, sweetcorn producers are hoping that this will translate into strong sales. Doris Lee Butterworth finds out more.
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ArticleExploring the seasonal debate
British consumers are being told that they should aim to eat fruit and vegetables “in season”, but the term has been a catalyst for debate in fresh produce circles. So what is seasonality? How can consumers be taught about when to enjoy home-grown fruit and vegetables at their seasonal best? And if shoppers are urged to buy British, what message does this send out about the global industry? Anna Sbuttoni reports.
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Curate’s egg needs strong arguments
My first impression of the news in last week’s FPJ that the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) is in a huddle with the
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A blast of hot air from the media
In last week’s issue, we covered the various trials underway in the UK of Thermal Pest Control (TPC) - a technology that
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ArticleUK on a labour-intensive mission
While last summer the UK growing industry was dogged by a significant shortage of labour, this season the pressure is off due to an increase in the quota for the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) and the effect of the global recession encouraging eastern Europeans to turn back to UK horticulture. However, despite this year’s relative abundance of workers, the long-term labour shortage issue still remains. Laura Gould reports.
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ArticleBritish berries shine
There are high hopes for home-grown raspberries and blueberries this season, thanks to innovative growing practices and sustained consumer interest. Doris Lee Butterworth talks to leading producers and examines the opportunities for the two fruits.
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ArticleTime goes Bayer
With the revision of EU directive 91/414/EEC looming, growers in Europe face the possibility of losing access to a wide range of pesticides vital to the survival of their crops. The directive has sparked suggestions from some that it will take the world’s chemical companies no time at all to come up with replacement substances. But as Laura Gould discovered when she visited the German headquarters of Bayer CropScience last month, nothing could be further from the truth.