FRUIT AND VEGETABLE NEWS
Fresh Del Monte strengthens portfolio with Del Monte acquisition
Fresh Del Monte Produce has taken a major step toward consolidating the Del Monte brand after reaching an agreement to acquire a substantial portfolio of assets from Del Monte Foods Corporation II Inc and its affiliated companies. The transaction, valued at US$285mn plus the assumption of certain liabilities, involves assets located in the United States, Mexico and Venezuela
Chile and India strengthen fruit and post-harvest ties through 2027
INIA and ICAR will implement a three-year Action Plan focused on research and innovation for nuts, kiwifruit, apples, berries and stone fruit, linking applied science with high-growth markets such as India
Mission Produce acquires Calavo Growers
Mission Produce, Inc. and Calavo Growers, Inc. announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Mission will acquire Calavo in a cash-and-stock transaction (the “Agreement”)
New dietary guidelines for the U.S. population
The new dietary guidelines for the U.S. population have recently been published, under the simple slogan “eat real food”, with the aim of making the United States healthy again (“To Make America Healthy Again”). In addition to a visual change — reversing the traditional food pyramid — the guidelines focus on avoiding highly processed foods in order to reduce the intake of salt, sugars and saturated fats, and to encourage a return to the consumption of fresh foods
Startup World at Fruit Logistica: Fresh produce innovation starts here
Where collaborations are born: 18 startups from 11 countries meet decision-makers in Startup World. Highlights include 15 pitch sessions on the Farming Forward Stage
Andalusia leads European blueberry production
Andalusia accounts for around 32% of the European Union’s blueberry production, a share that positions Spain as the second-largest producer in Europe, behind only Poland, which tops the ranking with 33.7%
European fruit loses ground under Mercosur deal
The EU Council has backed, by majority, the signing of the Association Agreement with Mercosur, which is expected to be formalised on 17 January. The agreement improves access for fresh fruit and vegetables from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay to the EU market, but offers very limited opportunities for EU producers. On the contrary, it risks widening an already unbalanced trade deficit, as in 2024 imports reached €984 million, while exports amounted to just €255 million
Bayer to launch innovative strawberry variety
The new variety Baya Solara directly addresses the pressing production challenges for growers, combining high yield potential, disease resistance, and labor efficiency / Launch represents a cornerstone of the company’s strategic expansion into the strawberry market
Fruit Logistica: Rijk Zwaan showcases innovations
Rijk Zwaan is excited to kick off the year at Fruit Logistica Berlin, the world’s leading trade fair for fresh produce and innovation
ILIP at Marca 2026: a one-stop shop for food packaging solutions
At Marca by BolognaFiere (14-15 January), ILIP presents itself as a ‘one-stop shop’ for food packaging and showcases its solutions for Food Service and Fresh Food Packaging
PML Seafrigo UK & Ireland appoints Sean Smith as new CEO
PML Seafrigo UK & Ireland has announced a leadership transition with the appointment of Sean Smith as its new Chief Executive Officer, following the departure of Mike Parr, who will officially step down from the role on 6 January 2026
Peruvian blueberry exports reach 333,284 tons by week 52
Peru’s 2025/26 blueberry campaign has reached an accumulated volume of 333,284 tons by week 52, representing a 19 per cent increase compared with the previous season. Export activity has remained at elevated levels throughout the peak period, reflecting the scale of supply available to key markets
