HortiTrends.com - Fresh Produce

HortiTrends is NOW Horticulture Connected

10 January 2014

Management of Farmland Birds on Vegetable FARMS BY HDC

In HDC project FV 385, the influence of vegetable production on farmland bird populations was assessed. This factsheet aims to assist growers in benefiting farmland bird populations further by:

03 January 2014

Cheap Vegetables. Should We Do Something About It? - Dee Sewell

I gasped when I walked into Aldi last week and saw the discounted vegetables for sale at just 8 cent. Dumbstruck was an understatement. As a vegetable grower questions flew around my head. If retailers can sell a bag of Brussels sprouts or carrots so cheaply, what percentage of that would the farmers who produce the vegetables be getting?

27 December 2013

British Consumers Gradually Switching from Fresh to Processed Potatoes

In 2012, the consumption of potatoes in Great Britain (GB) was relatively steady. However, looking across a 20 year trend, the annual consumption of fresh potatoes has declined from 66kg/head to 39kg. At the same time, consumption of processed potatoes has increased to 51kg/head from 42kg/head.

23 December 2013

NI 750,000 Agri Food Research Fund Opens

The Minister was speaking as the DARD Research Challenge Fund reopened, which provides funding for Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the primary production sector to support research and development.

19 December 2013

Have Your Say On Action Plan For Food Sector

The edible horticulture sector across Wales is being urged to contribute to a consultation into an ambitious new blueprint aimed at boosting food and drink sales by almost a third by 2020.

14 November 2013

Food & Drink Ireland Awards 2013

The Branding Award - Keelings, the family owned fresh produce business started producing fruits and salads in the 1930's and today the company employs approximately 2,000 people and has a turnover of €300 million per year. The Keelings brand, with its strapline "Love to Grow", was launched into the produce category in 2010 and has become the most recognised brand for fruit and vegetables in Irish supermarkets.

30 October 2013

IFA to Meet ACC Bank Following Restructuring Announcement

IFA Farm Business Chairman Tom Doyle said farmer customers of ACC would be very concerned at the announcement recently that the bank is to restructure. ACC, which has traditionally been known as a farmer’s bank, has provided banking facilities for thousands of farmers over the years.

18 October 2013

SuperValu to Sell €90,000 Worth of Irish Cox Pippin Apples

SuperValu is expected to sell 140,000 Irish Cox Pippin Apples grown by Cappoquin Estate, Co. Waterford SuperValu, Ireland’s leading independent supermarket has announced that it expects to sell over 140,000 or almost €90,000 worth of Irish Cox Pippin apples this season. This traditional apple variety is grown exclusively for SuperValu stores by David Keane of Cappoquin Estate, Co. Waterford on a 100 acre apple farm with 800 trees to the acre.

17 October 2013

Groundbreaking Research Identifies Multi-Billion Pound Savings for the Grocery Sector

New innovative research launched recently by WRAP, identifies how much food, drink and packaging waste arises in the grocery retail supply chain. It also looks at where in the sector it arises, what the waste is, and how it is managed.

09 October 2013

Ireland and UK Mushroom Conference and Trade Show 2013

On Thursday 17th October 2013, Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan once again becomes the venue for all things “Mushroom” with the All Ireland and UK Mushroom Conference & Trade Show. The theme for this year’s conference “Investing in the Future” reflects an on-going determination to sustain a dynamic, competitive and technologically advanced Industry.

23 September 2013

Symbols Irish Market Share Under Some Pressure

Figures recently released by Kantar Worldpanel for the Irish retail market point to a small increase in the performance of symbols over the quarter to July 7th, 2013. Symbols currently account for 4.6% of the market in value terms at €409m. This is down from 5.3% in 2011.

31 December 2013

Classification, Labelling & Packaging 2015: ACT NOW!

As 2013 draws to a close, and we look back at another busy year, including the 2nd registration deadline and the first authorisation applications under REACH, it is now also time to look ahead and plan for what is coming down the tracks for CLP.

24 December 2013

Regional Food Programme 2013/14 Re-Opens for Applications

Applications are invited from eligible organisations for projects that will be completed by 31 March 2014. State Aid restrictions mean that only not-for-profit agri-food groups representative of producers and/or processors who have local membership, registered charities or regional development agencies can apply. All applications must be received by Friday 10 January 2014.

20 December 2013

Hayes Addresses the Food and Drinks Industry Ireland

Tom Hayes, T.D. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for food safety, recently addressed a conference of the Food and Drinks Industry Ireland on European legislation on Food Information to Consumers.

18 December 2013

Market Analysis: Horticultural Hectares In Wales

The total area of land used for horticulture in Wales fell by 5% over the past year, the first drop in five years, according to an annual analysis by the Welsh Government.

14 November 2013

Fruit and Vegetables Enjoy Growth Despite ‘Stocking Up’ Trend

Fresh fruit and vegetable producers are enjoying steady sales growth, despite the ‘stocking up’ approach currently being adopted by Irish consumers, say industry analysts.

18 October 2013

Minister Hayes Opens Mushroom Conference

Tom Hayes T.D, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine opened the All Ireland Mushroom Conference and Trade Show at the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan recently.

17 October 2013

SuperValu to Sell €2 Million Worth of Irish Apples

SuperValu has announced projected sales of €2 million of Irish apples in the coming season. First in season Irish apples will be supplied by David Keane of Cappoquinn Estate, Co. Waterford and P. McCann & Sons, Portadown, Co. Armagh.

15 October 2013

SuperValu to Sell 85,000 Irish Pumpkins this Halloween

SuperValu, Ireland’s leading independent supermarket, is expecting to sell 85,000 Irish pumpkins this Halloween. Grown by Oisin O’Gradaigh in Louth, SuperValu expects sales of Keelings Irish pumpkins to top €80,000 between October and November.

04 October 2013

Launch of the Supply Chain Initiative: Together for Good Trading Practices

During a special event held in Brussels, seven EU associations [1] launched ‘The Supply Chain Initiative’ with the aim of ensuring fairness in commercial relations along the food supply chain.

21 August 2013

Foster Praises NI Food Companies in Great Taste Record

Fourteen products from seven local companies were awarded the highest accolade of three gold stars for their products in the prestigious annual event organised by the influential UK Guild of Fine Food. Around 70 local companies secured almost 320 gold stars.