FRUIT AND VEGETABLE NEWS
Kroger to close 60 stores over the next 18 months
Supermarket chain Kroger has announced plans to close around 60 stores nationwide within the next 18 months, as well as implement changes to its executive leadership following the abrupt resignation of CEO Rodney McMullen. The company aims to optimize operations and enhance the customer experience through internal restructuring and reinvestment of resources
Sambóa: the countdown to the new season has begun
The wait is almost over: the harvest of the first Sambóa apples has just started and, from September 1, they will once again be available at points of sale. Consumers will be able to enjoy a sweet, crunchy, juicy apple with an intense and attractive color
Good prospects for the start of VOG’s apple season
The new apple harvest has begun for the Consortium’s more than 4,000 members. High quality and availability all 12 months of the year, and a good outlook for the start of the campaign
Zespri forecasts record per-hectare returns for most categories in 2025/26
Strong sales in Europe and North America support positive outlook, as the company addresses inventory challenges in China and redefines its long-term strategy to 2035
M&S announces £340m investment to future-proof its food supply chain
Retailer unveils plans for a high-tech, sustainable National Distribution Centre that will create over 3,000 jobs and support its goal to double the size of its food division
Spanish exports increase in value by 9%
Despite stable volumes, Spain’s fruit and vegetable exports hit €10.97 billion in the first half of 2025, driven by higher prices and increased demand from core EU markets
UK food exporters burdened with £65m in post-Brexit licensing costs
British food and agricultural exporters spent up to £65 million in 2024 on licensing fees to ship goods to the European Union, a burden the current UK government now aims to eliminate as part of a new trade agreement with Brussels
Vietnam boosts fruit and vegetable exports to the EU
Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable trade with the European Union is experiencing a remarkable upswing in 2025, driven by rising demand, improved product quality, and favorable trade conditions. According to the General Department of Customs, Vietnam exported fresh produce worth 47.4 million USD to the EU in June 2025 alone, marking a 56.3% increase compared to the same month last year
How much fruit and vegetables does the EU harvest?
Spain (14.8 million tonnes), Italy (13.9 million tonnes) and France (5.8 million tonnes) were the EU’s top producers of fresh vegetables, together accounting for 55% of the total harvest
Westfalia Fruit at Asia Fruit Logistica 2025
“The appetite for avocados in Asia is growing rapidly, making this an exciting time to collaborate with customers and partners to develop the category,” says Hans Boyum, Customer Director – Developing Markets
Wildfires devastate the agricultural heart of Spain’s Valle del Jerte
With over 17,355 hectares scorched and a 170-kilometre perimeter, the Jarilla fire has become the largest recorded forest fire in Extremadura, severely impacting cherry, chestnut, and olive production. The blaze also devastated areas of high environmental value, including the Garganta de los Infiernos Nature Reserve, the Natura 2000 network in the Sierra de Gredos, and the Jerte Valley itself
Green kiwifruit receives the First EU-approved health claim for fresh fruit
With the authorization now in effect, all green kiwifruit growers and exporters worldwide will be able to include the health claim in their communications within Europe, boosting their marketing and positioning strategies
