Editorial
Conspiracy of circumstances
Thinking about my 25 years as a food and agriculture journalist, I realise that I have never seen an autumn-winter like the one that is approaching.
Profile of the month
María José Sánchez, “I’ve got many lives”
“I’ve got many lives.” During the day I spent with her, she said this phrase several times. By the end of the interview, I understood her perfectly.
Fruit Attraction 2022 special edition
Cooperativa La Palma, 50 unstoppable years
Another surprise at Fruit Attraction 2022: the celebration of its 50th anniversary.
Hispatec Agrointelligence: a leader in Smart Agro
At Fruit Attraction, the multinational will present its renewed portfolio of agricultural technology and it will carry out free training workshops in digitalisation.
Fruit Attraction 2022: world horticultural capital
Madrid is once again the world fruit and vegetable capital thanks to the 14th Fruit Attraction fair.
Los Gallombares: full speed ahead
In 2023, Los Gallombares SCA will have its new packaging plant up and running.
FNM puts Spanish genetics on the world map at Berries
Fresas Nuevos Materiales, a company fully-owned by the berry producer and nursery sector, has managed to put its variety catalogue on the world map
Fitó’s new developments inspire consumers
The Wabi-Sabi tomato and the Little Planet melon are the surprises to be presented by Semillas Fitó at Fruit Attraction.
Weather conditions mean relocating watermelons
On its 20th anniversary, Fashion Watermelon is leaping into the search for new production areas in Spain to face up to the problems generated by global warming
The emotional 30th anniversary of Europlátano
The company brought together the founding partners, fruit growers, workers, business representatives and authorities from the agricultural sector to acknowledge their work and engagement.
Estrellas de Internet: all the finalists
With a record participation not seen in previous editions, the jury has had a difficult task to choose the best
Ecoinver: 15 years of hard work
To celebrate this anniversary, the company is coming to the sector’s benchmark trade fair for the first time.
20 years of Zespri Global Supply
Zespri™, the leading marketing company for its kiwis in over 60 countries is about to have a big birthday.
Asparagus: consolidating their union
Cesurca, Espárrago de Granada and Los Fresnos are coming to Madrid together to present new projects in a campaign in which they have already produced 8,500 t of asparagus in conventional crop alone.
UNICA is opting for healthy snacks and dips
Vegetable vending, red berries, purple broccoli or compostable packaging are some of the new developments that they are presenting this year in Madrid.
The French hall is beating records
France will occupy 2,200 m² and will accommodate over 100 fruit and vegetable exhibitors
The saying by Maradona that could boost agriculture
The marketing expert and CEO of TOTEM Branding, Andy Stalman, explained ‘Why brand matters for the fruit and vegetable sector’ at of Rijk Zwaan’s Premiére
Bonnysa, constant innovation
The Valencian company will present its latest developments at Fruit Attraction: this year vegetable spreads.
Once again, Primaflor is presenting its latest developments
At F. Attraction the company from Almeria, Primaflor, will present its new salad format with 100% sustainable packaging
Sustainable innovation
Bejo is working on R&D focused on a real, sustainable demand to encourage the 100% use of the resources and to “harvest and sell 100% of the plants”
Stability against fluctuations
As happens every year, the company from Almeria Agrícola Navarro de Haro is returning to the Fruit Attraction trade fair to meet up with its clients again and attempt to forge new alliances on its stand (Hall 9, 9C01).
Agromark is joining the ready-cooked food market
Alongside Chef Nacho Domenech, with experience at Noma, the best restaurant in the world, the company from Murcia, Agromark, is leaping in to conquer the ready-cooked food market
Three new developments from the MAF RODA Group
These new technological developments are focused on automation, robotics and quality classification
Between a rock and a hard place due to energy prices
High energy costs are leading companies to an extreme situation regarding their financial feasibility
Tropical fruits
Trops is consolidating its dominant position
The SAT is responsible for 55% of mangos in Spain and 50% of avocados, and it is consolidating the transnational producers’ organisation with Latin American producers
A leap in mangos
Bio Procam is extending its mango volume and production window and it is “rejuvenating” its avocado orchards
“Custard apples have a great future”
Novofrut continues opting for a promotion-hungry product to make it popular amongst consumers
Mango: a new production record
Natural Tropic is seeing good prospects for mangos in spite of the small-sized fruit, and the company underscores the importance of the launch of the ‘Mango de Málaga’ brand
Avocados: more competition and war
In Spain, a 30% drop in the harvest is expected, while Peru continues to grow and the Russian war is destabilising the markets via fertilisers.
“The sector must discuss the correct handling of Lamb Hass”
In recent years, the avocado sector in the Valencian Community has experienced considerable growth, and although this year the trend is not as expansive, this does not mean it will stop growing
Axarfruit is launching ready-cooked products
The company from Malaga will present its new line of processed products at Fruit Attraction.
Aguacatera del Sur is growing with Peru
Although the market situation has been complicated due to demand and the increase in costs inherent to imports for delivery to clients, Aguacatera del Sur will close the import campaign from Peru with a growth of around 22%.
Pepper
Sanifruit is launching its first post-harvest treatment for peppers
The Valencian company Sanifruit is making its debut in the vegetable world with the first and only post-harvest treatment for peppers currently on the market
Ramiro Arnedo, easy for farmers
“Our work in all typologies involves offering varieties that help farmers to do their work, without losing sight of quality and production”
Intersemillas turns 40
In 2023, the Valencian company will celebrate its 40th anniversary as a reference in watermelon and melon seed production
Enza Zaden is increasing its sales of conical peppers
The seed company keeps gaining market share, mainly in yellow and orange varieties, in a complicated year for the Dutch market
Vilmorin-Mikado is strengthening its main crops
Anakin F1 has been added to Yuko F1, bringing earlier crops and resistance to nematodes.
Arnon and Galiano, a guarantee of yield
Top Seeds continues to add surface area with these pepper varieties, and it will launch new developments over the campaign.
tomato
KWS Hortícolas España is getting ready
KWS, one of the main seed companies in the world, until recently concentrating on sugar beet, corn, cereals, rapeseed and sunflowers, is working to position itself on the fruit and vegetable market.
Karamel Rome, a perfect balance
A study by the UAL emphasises the ideal balance of organic acids, sugars and chlorogenic acid of the KEOPS plum cherry tomato.
A second chance for Spanish tomatoes
The drop in Dutch surface area due to the high cost of inputs is benefitting the Spanish production, which will add another 15% of tomato crops this year.
Maravilla, a new development by Caparrós Nature at Fruit Attraction
The company from Almeria is repeating its commitment to top quality in tomatoes, launching a new reference and underscoring the Caparrós Bio range.
Bacares F1 and Azovian F1 always meet the grade
Nunhems’® varieties have shown that they can rise to the challenge of bad weather, providing yield and quality.
Carbonite rootstock, exceptional behaviour at high temperature
The rootstock from Top Seeds is leaving a very good feeling in short-cycle tomato crops.
Looije is increasing its surface area
In 2022/23, it will add almost 7.5 ha and strengthen its commitment to Kumato cherry tomatoes.
apple
Home of Apples, VOG’s latest concept
Origin, expertise, sustainability, range and brands are the elements that make up tomorrow’s VOG.
Manpower problems in apple preparation centres
Damien Gibson, Global Category Director Apples at TOMRA Food, analyzes the challenges faced by apple packhouses and explains how TOMRA Food’s solutions allow them to reduce the labor required for sorting whilst significantly improving the consistency, accuracy, and packout of the sorted product.
Pink Lady®, over 200,000 tonnes
In spite of the spring frosts and after the summer’s heat and drought, the Pink Lady® Europe Association predicts crossing the barrier of 200,000 tonnes this season (+13.5%vsN-1)
Nufri: a global operator with widespread local roots
Vindicating its local roots without giving up its global business view is essential for Nufri in the current socio-economic circumstances
“The sector’s greatest concern lies in how to pass on the costs”
At a moment when the rising costs are affecting the entire producing sector in the same way, the apple market is no exception and many affirm that they are tired of having to assume the costs without any kind of help or solution
Downward revision of the European apple harvest
From the first valuation, published during the first week in August, to the time of publishing this information (mid-September), the European apple harvest has experienced a downward revision.
Blue Whale’s specialities are beating records
Blue Whale is strongly committed to the club varieties Candine and Envy on the Spanish market.
citrus fruits
“Ailimpo travels to the future and comes back with lessons learned”
In 24 years of existence, the Interprofessional Lemon and Grapefruit Association (Ailimpo) is a real model of success, in which the general good of the sector has taken priority over individuals and personalisms.
The lowest production of the last decade
The latest Spanish citrus fruit harvest will be the lowest of the last ten campaigns, owing to the unusual weather conditions recorded in spring and the summer drought.
“I am the first: it is time”
Sooner or later, citric producers have to decide which variety to choose from the multitude on offer of mandarins, clementines or satsumas, present on the citrus fruit harvesting calendar.
potato
European potato production falls by between 8-12%
The bad weather conditions have affected the potato sector, which will see how its production has dropped in the main producing countries
The campaign in other European countries
With the common trend of smaller yields due to the bad weather conditions, the following lines describe the situation in other non-NEPG countries.
Princesa Amandine is presenting its ready-cooked range
Princesa Amandine is showcasing a new release and, naturally, Fruit Attraction is its chosen setting. After the success of its fresh and microwavable formats, it is now producing ready-cooked dishes.
khaki / persimon
More than 50 million in losses for kaki fruit growers
Forecasts for the recently started kaki fruit campaign are fairly discouraging. Some Valencian regions are seeing decreases in production of 75%.
Arnandis: “We are undergoing a persimmon stabilisation process”
Although persimmon production will be reduced drastically by 50% this campaign, mainly owing bad weather conditions and pests, the sector continues to take on new challenges to maintain the quality and health of the fruit, amongst which is biological control.
Prats: “a problematic start to the campaign”
The low temperatures and non-stop rain during the month of March have caused an important reduction in Spanish persimmon production.
Persimon Bouquet is celebrating 25 years
“A quarter of a century deserves recognition”
Last editions
