FRUIT AND VEGETABLE NEWS

Von der Leyen announces provisional application of EU–Mercosur deal
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union will move forward with the provisional application of the trade agreement with Mercosur, creating a market of nearly 700 million people

Mexican mango industry bets on greater market diversification
This is the central theme of the interview conducted with agrifood trade negotiations expert Anahí Casillas Godínez

Irritec, cultivating sustainability through art
The group strengthens its commitment to environmental stewardship through Replanting Human Beings™, the project by artist and photographer Giuseppe La Spada. This marks the launch of the 2026 edition of Irritec Stories, which promotes sustainable technology through art

Funds have increased farmland investments fifteenfold since 2005
More than 700 financial firms are now active in the agri-food sector

Organic consumption grows by 4.1% in Europe in 2024
Retail sales reach 58.7 billion euros while organic farmland holds steady at 19.6 million hectares across Europe

SynergiaBIO and GPG expand genetics partnership across Latin America
SynergiaBIO (CHI) and Global Plant Genetics (GPG (UK) have established a new genetics partnership to develop and commercialise the next-generation of raspberry and blackberry genetics across South and Central America

Organic consumption hits record high as farmland area stabilizes
Global sales reach 145 billion euros, while organic agricultural land remains close to 99 million hectares

The European Commission revises residue limits for three key crop protection substances
The European Commission has adopted Regulation (EU) 2026/215 of 29 January 2026, amending Annexes II and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 concerning maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the pesticides dimoxystrobin, ethephon and propamocarb in certain food and feed products

At Macfrut 2026, The Healthy Food Area triples in size
Healthy Food, Spices & Herbs, Organic Produce: these are the core themes to be explored in depth from 21 to 23 April at Rimini Fiera, with exhibition areas, workshops and experiential events

Tomato sector up in arms over missing data on Moroccan imports
According to Efeagro, Spain’s tomato sector is “up in arms” over the apparent disappearance of official data on tomato import volumes from Morocco; a situation that has prompted complaints from producers and exporters, who are calling on the European Commission for “transparency and respect” for European standards

The ONIX™ blood orange stands out on the shelf for its colour
The award-winning super natural blood orange returns for its third season in select markets across the UK, Germany, France, Nordics and other European markets throughout February

EFSA and FAO strengthen cooperation through new Memorandum of Understanding
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 19 February, reinforcing their strategic cooperation for the next three years





