Italian apple brand Melinda is to market its fruit in Asia for the first time this season. The move is part of a collaboration with Italian export marketer Naturitalia. Rising demand for high-quality fresh produce among Asian consumers and the signing of export protocols are opening up growing opportunities for Europe’s leading fruit companies. During this season, Melinda apples will arrive in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan – the last three only opened to imports of Italian apples this year.

© La Dona Fruit

The state-of-the-art facility will revolutionise the packing of Tahiti limes in Colombia, and launch La Dona’s exports to the USA and the Caribbean.

MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA, 13 OCTOBER 2020 – La Dona Fruit, a leading producer and exporter of fresh golden pineapples and tropical fruits in Latin America, is ecstatic to announce the official opening of its groundbreaking Valle Verde packhouse and coldstore for Tahiti limes in Apartadó, Antioquia, in the north of Colombia.

Peru’s exports fell 13.6% in July, which was seen as a sign of hope after much greater drops in the previous months, due to the ongoing pandemic. The president of the Association de Exportadores (ADEX), Erik Fischer Llanos, said: "The worst was -50.6% in April, followed by -45.1% in May and -30.9% in June; so, in medical terms, we would say that the patient is still in a delicate situation." 

The Chilean Blueberry Committee forecasts stable export volumes in 2020-21 despite the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The CBC is working to diversify its export markets, given the current overdependence on the US and China. Although shipments fell to Chile’s main market, the US (-13%), exports to Asia and Europe were up 20% and 8% respectively. 

The Southern Hemisphere exported 1.315 billion tons of grapes in the 2019/20 marketing year. Even though the Southern Hemisphere 2019-20 grape campaign was hit by the effects of the pandemic, by adapting rapidly, export levels remained fairly stable. Patented varieties are making significant progress compared to classic varieties. Peru's growth continues, while Chile’s crop was smaller due to adverse weather, political and commercial conditions.

Peru continues to target Asian markets with the firm objective of becoming a strategic partner in the export of its fresh products. With an annual growth of close to 5%, Peru is one of the Latin American countries with the greatest international projection. The export of food represents its second generator of foreign exchange and, although its main destination markets are currently North America and the European Union, the growth in trade with Asia in the fruit and vegetable sector has evolved favourably in recent years.

© Réussir Fruits et Légumes

© ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA

The first Chilean oranges have entered China, where they were welcomed with a ceremony at Jiaxing Haiguangxing Market, which has close ties with the Chilean Export Association. Chile, the Southern Hemisphere’s second-largest orange producer, exports about 18 million tons between May and November each year. Chilean oranges and lemons have a great price-quality ratio in comparison with oranges and lemons from other countries and require no refrigeration.