Supply news from Eurofruit
Coverage of Europe’s local and international fruit and vegetable suppliers, including news and analysis of key areas such as production, trade, exports, logistics, and research and development.
Discounters lead the way with British apples after first two months of season
Between them Lidl and Aldi bought over 40 per cent of the apples sold by Brititish Apples & Pears growers in September and October
Lidl crowned Retailer of the Year by British Berry Growers
Discounter wins trade body’s top prize for supporting domestic soft fruit after 46 per cent increase in sales of British berries
Milestone gene-editing legislation comes into force in England
England becomes first country in Europe to legalise the development of gene-edited and other precision-bred plants, with potential benefits in terms of disease resistance and yield
Future of tomatoes in the spotlight in Malaga
Tomato experts gathered in the Spanish city of Malaga this week for Fruitnet Tomato Congress, a two-day event highlighting the big future challenges facing the category, as well as the opportunities and solutions for businesses
South African stonefruit sector optimistic for strong season
South African producers are optimistic for a strong stonefruit season on the back of increased production, favourable weather and improvements to address long-running logistical issues
Global blueberry demand rises as supply becomes more diverse
Global demand for blueberries continues to rise, with North America and Europe leading the way, according to the latest RaboResearch Blueberry Update 2025. The report highlights growing consumption alongside an increasingly diverse global supply landscape
Former M&S technical director Paul Willgoss replaces Christine Tacon as MDS chair
Tacon’s tenure saw fresh produce management training provider treble trainee numbers and double company membership
Dole reports 10.5 per cent revenue growth in third quarter
Fresh produce giant Dole has reported third-quarter revenue growth of 10.5 per cent to US$2.28bn, driven by positive operational performance across all segments, though net income declined 35.7 per cent following the disposal of its Fresh Vegetables division
Zespri sees UK sales boost from retail sampling campaign
Kiwifruit marketer reports notable increase in UK sales following in-store sampling campaigns with major retailers and big awareness drive in train stations
Jazz apples triumph once again at National Fruit Show
Branded variety wins Tasteiest Apple for eighth time in 10 years, with supplier Worldwide Fruit reporting a high-quality apple harvest and trade body BAPL calling for government support on seasonal labour and energy costs
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Tighter supply brings fresh optimism for Spanish citrus sector
Lower production across the Mediterranean augurs well for the new season
Fruitnet Tomato Congress looks to the future of tomatoes
On 11-12 November in Malaga, Spain, essential event focuses on how the fresh tomato business can cope with future challenges like climate change, labour challenges, and evolving consumer demand
Enza Zaden debuts Tribelli Seedless snacking pepper
Seed company believes the consumer-driven innovation has the potential to double the market value of the category
IGD launches Food Supply Chain Sustainability Framework
On the anniversary of its Net Zero Transition Plan for the UK, IGD has announced the launch of a new framework to better integrate sustainability into businesses
Heavy rainfall slows Northern Irish potato harvest
Maincrop potatoes now 80 per cent harvested but race is now on to lift rest of crop before frosts hit
Merger of Agrintesa and Fruit Modena Group offers new path for pears
Merger of Italian cooperatives creates one of Europe’s largest fresh produce suppliers with 10,500ha of production area
Irrigation costs ’making UK potato growers question the future’
Fred Searle speaks to Greens of Soham MD William Shakeshaft to hear about the main challenges and opportunities for the Cambridgeshire-based potato producer, from water security to sustainable technologies
Thorvald strawberry robot closes biggest season to date
Robotic platform is now used across a fifth of UK tabletop strawberry production, for UV-C treatment and precision data collection
Defra confirms seasonal worker visa allocation for 2026
Government announces slight reduction in visa numbers for year ahead but NFU ‘hopeful’ it will be sufficient
South African table grape season starts with promising outlook
South Africa’s new table grape season shows promising early signs with favourable growing conditions across all five production regions and expectations of nearly 80mn cartons, while port improvements at Cape Town Container Terminal are set to enhance export logistics