Fruit/Vegetables & Production Tips

Juice maker Lassonde buys further into U.S. market

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News July 4, 2014

Quebec-based fruit juice processor Lassonde Industries plans to buy its way further into the U.S. juice market — this time in the branded juice business, with a play for a national-level manufacturer. Lassonde and its founding family on Thursday announced an agreement to buy privately-held Apple + Eve, LLC of Port Washington, N.Y. for $150 […] Read more

Orange tree leaves with some symptoms of citrus greening. (Tim Gottwald photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Reuters

U.S. goes into battle against deadly orange disease

By GFM Network News June 12, 2014

Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Thursday a total of US$31.5 million in funding to combat a plant disease that threatens to devastate Florida’s $9 billion citrus industry and has driven up the cost of a glass of orange juice. As many as 70 per cent of Florida’s citrus trees […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Markets

Deal sealed to save Ont. tomato processing plant

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News May 22, 2014

Farmers around Leamington, southwestern Ontario’s tomato-growing capital, will continue to supply tomatoes to the local 105-year-old processing plant under new management. Michael Mullen, senior vice-president of corporate and government affairs for U.S. food processing giant H.J. Heinz, confirmed Tuesday the company has completed its deal to sell the Leamington plant to Highbury Canco, a consortium […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Markets, Potatoes

New rules to ease seed potato exports to U.S.

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News May 22, 2014

New changes to the guidelines meant to keep potato cyst nematodes (PCN) in check are expected to reduce the cost and testing burden on seed potato growers exporting to the U.S. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture announced adoption of their revised guidelines Tuesday. Seed potato growers, effective immediately, can be […] Read more

The old-vintages cellar at Chateau Haut-Brion. Collectors of fine wines such as Haut-Brion could have earned annualized real returns of 4.1 per cent on their investment between 1900 and 2012, a study shows. (DomainClarenceDillon.com)

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Grapes, Markets, Reuters

Red wine a winning investment in 20th century

By GFM Network News May 20, 2014

London | Reuters — Forget government bonds, fine art and even stamps: red wine outperformed them all over the 20th century. At least that’s what research by a team of academics from the University of Cambridge, HEC Paris and Vanderbilt University of Nashville shows. The Warren Buffetts of the fine wine world could have earned […] Read more

Apples, Crops, Fruit/Vegetables

N.S. backs apple orchard renewal plan

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News May 17, 2014

Nova Scotia’s government and apple industry will put up seven figures over the next six years to update over 400 acres of the province’s apple orchards with new varieties. The apple sector will put $6.9 million into the program while the provincial ag department will put up a total of $2.2 million over six years, […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Grapes, Markets, Reuters

U.S. becomes world’s biggest wine market as French drinkers cut down

By GFM Network News May 13, 2014

Paris | Reuters — The United States became the world’s biggest market for wine last year, beating France into second place for the first time as consumption slides in the country long seen as its natural home and Americans develop a greater taste for it. U.S. consumers bought 29.1 million hectolitres of wine in 2013, […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables

CFIA widens plum pox net in Niagara region

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News April 13, 2014

The quarantine area is now slightly larger in southern Ontario’s Niagara region where tender fruit trees are still considered at risk for the yield-robbing plum pox virus. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced Tuesday it has expanded its regulated area for plum pox virus by 800 metres. The expansion is in response to a confirmed […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Markets, Reuters

Zimbabwe bans fresh fruit, vegetable imports

By GFM Network News April 2, 2014

Harare | Reuters — Zimbabwe has banned imports of fresh fruit and vegetables with immediate effect, the agriculture ministry said Wednesday, arguing that increased local production will meet domestic demand. The ban will mostly impact supplies of tomatoes, potatoes, mangoes, grapes and apples from neighbouring South Africa, the ministry said in a statement. South African […] Read more

Heinz has described its Canadian tomato juice products as produced from “high-quality tomatoes grown in Canada from Heinz seed” with “exceptional sweetness and taste.” (HeinzFoodService.ca)

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Markets

Juice supply deal to rescue S. Ont. tomato operations

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News February 27, 2014

Growers in southern Ontario’s tomato capital may soon resume plans for a 2014 crop, as Heinz’s storied processing plant in the region switches from ketchup to juice under a proposal to save the plant from closure. H.J. Heinz Co. announced Thursday it’s signed a letter of intent to sell the U.S. company’s Leamington, Ont. plant […] Read more

Daily Network News

JBS reaches deal with U.S. meatpacking workers who went on strike

Public consultation open on national beef code of practice

Pulse weekly: Indian forecasters predict below-normal monsoon

Fruit/Vegetables