Latest news stories from Produce Plus
News updates for the fresh produce business in Australia and New Zealand.
Australian horticulture industry calls on retailers to respond to price increase requests
NFF Horticulture Council open letter urges supermarkets to provide certainty as costs rise for growers
IFPA A-NZ briefing provides Middle East management guidance
Geopolitical-risk expert Duncan Hains shares crisis management tools with the Australasian fresh produce industry
Australian government defers export cost recovery increases
Phased transition was originally set to commence from 1 July 2026, pushing costs up for exporters
New project to tackle Australia’s A$2.5bn food waste losess
National on-farm trials to measure where losses occur, find ways to lift utilisation and identify commercially viable pathways for surplus
MOYA deadline draws closer
One week left to enter Australasia’s premier marketing award for fresh produce and floral industries
Conversations
Fruitbox 116 · Mark Landini, Landini Associates
Sydney-based retail consultant explains how supermarkets can reconnect with customers through better design, storytelling, and a renewed focus on food
Fruitbox 108 · Carlo Magni & Louise Beard, Forward Insight
Chris, Carlo and Louise consider the consumers of tomorrow, the choices they will make and how we can develop fresh produce that will appeal to them
Fruitbox 101 · Alex Garcia-Devis, GlobalGAP
Chris speaks with Alex about the scarcity of water in some of the world’s key production regions, and what this means for the fresh fruit and vegetable industry
Australian horticulture sector calls for government action on cost crisis
Industry highlights potential long-term effects if immediate support not provided
Australian Citrus Congress charts industry future
Australian Citrus Congress provides practical pathways for future growth as industry excellence recognised in Adelaide
Mackays Marketing leases Melbourne ripening facility for tropical fruit
The grower-backed business has secured a 17-room facility in Epping to support its core banana and avocado programmes
Positive global demand drives strong start to T&G’s apple season
Company reports on smooth transition from Northern to Southern Hemisphere Jazz and Envy apples
LeaderBrand integrates Laser Weeder into salad leaf production
New Zealand vegetable producer becomes first in the region to use the technology at this scale
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Japan and Australia strengthen horticulture ties through new knowledge exchange
Hort Innovation initiative launched in early March with Shared Table Gala Dinner with industry, government and research representatives from both countries
T&G Global appoints Goldman Sachs to assist with sale
Goldman Sachs to aid BayWa AG’s plans to sell majority shareholding in New Zealand-based fruit business
McCain and Heinz Wattie’s close New Zealand vegetable processing facilities
McCain to close Hastings plant by January 2027 while Heinz Wattie’s closes four sites across the country
Zespri issues first 2026/27 guidance with strong harvest underway
New Zealand kiwifruit marketer provides early season forecast with returns expected at similar levels to 2025
Australian vegetable supply at risk from input shortages and cost increases
Nearly one-third of growers have cut planting schedules because of the supply chain disruption caused by the Middle East conflict
Montague Farms’ Ambrosia and Kissabel apples hit Australian shelves
New season of distinct apples available to Australian consumers
Fresh produce tariffs cut as Australia and EU finalise FTA
Fresh trade opportunities on offer for exporters of both markets as negotiations on new FTA conclude
New Zealand vegetable industry bodies unify to launch new representative council NZVeg
Refined industry structure will build on existing organisations to represent the vegetable industry better
Australian avocado industry launches in-store ripeness scanner trial
Ripeness scanner developed by Dutch agri-tech company OneThird uses near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to rapidly and non-destructively assess avocado firmness
Hort Innovation announces change in board leadership
Current chair Julie Bird shares plans to retire from the role at the 2026 Annual General Meeting in November, transitioning the leadership to deputy chair John Said