This year, Nergigrowers started picking more than 10 days earlier than usual. Orchards conditions have been particularly favourable for fruit with excellent flavour qualities in our main production areas in France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Market volumes have steadily risen. More than 6 million 125g punnets should be distributed by our 4 approved European Commercial Operators: PRIMLAND, ORTOFRUIT, PORTPRIMLAND, and BFRUIT, according to Jean Pierre Caruel, head of licensing for SOFRUILEG. 
 

The first half of 2020 saw fruit prices in Japan at their highest levels for a decade. The soaring prices have no doubt contributed to the drop in fruit consumption. Between January and June 2020, the average price of fruit in Japan was US$4.86/kg, compared with US$4.34/kg for the period since 2011, according to data from Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. So, as demand has fallen, the average Japanese household spend on fruit has risen. Fruit consumption has dropped to 31.5kg per household, the second-lowest total since 2011 and 5.5% lower than the ten-year average.

© Eurofresh Distribution

Kiwifruit is currently enjoying a spell of great popularity across the world, and its period in the limelight is set to continue. Demand is increasing in the major markets, thanks partly to its central role in the booming fruit juice industry and its attractiveness for health-conscious consumers. The growth in the world’s kiwi markets is also being driven by the sector’s constant innovation. Yellow kiwis have enjoyed great success in Asian markets, particularly in China, where consumers prefer sweet-tasting fruits.

Demand among New Zealand producers to produce SunGold kiwifruit continues to surge. Farmers Weekly reports that once again, the annual offering of 700ha of new licences for producing SunGold was oversubscribed, with bids totalling 1,660ha, reflecting the ongoing optimism among growers about SunGold’s value and prospects. At NZ$400,000/ha, SunGold is the most valuable fruit license, with the next being Envy apples at around $100,000/ha. Licence income has now become an integral part of Zespri’s non-fruit earnings, accounting for $211 million, or 6% of company revenue.

Image source: Origine Group /// PRESS RELEASE

The top-quality brand of Origine Group for the first time in Walmart shops and online in China

Since the brand was founded 22 years ago, Zespri™ has remained true to its original image, but in 2020, the New Zealand kiwi brand decided to make a change to more faithfully reflect its purpose: to contribute to the prosperity of people, communities and the environment by offering the benefits of kiwi, while also continuing to increase its participation in the fresh fruit sector globally.

Alessandro Zampagna (managing director at Origine Group) /// © Eurofresh Distribution

The Origine Group has made exceptional progress with Italian kiwi this season. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic coming in the middle of the season, sales are up sharply.

Press release

As it has done each season for more than 20 years, Primland is supplying its clients with Chilean kiwis. Primland is even offering higher volumes than it has in past years, regardless of the lower national production. This situation has become possible thanks to its special relations with local farmers, despite the COVID-19 epidemic, which is hitting the country hard.

Health and safety are central

A cold snap in Italy has caused sweeping damage to the country’s agriculture in the past month, with asparagus, carrots, artichokes, fennel, turnips and beets all affected. Coldiretti is now fearful for the upcoming peaches, apricots, plums, pears, and apples, which are either in full bloom, budding or with small fruits ready to grow.