Interview with Miss. Sarah Pettitt, chairman for the National Board for Horticulture and Potatoes
The National Farmers Union (NFU) is a membership organization representing the interests of members and more than 55,000 farm businesses in England and Wales. It undertakes political lobbying and act as a spokesman at a National and International level, to maximize outcomes for its members.... more

The event, organised by FPX, will take place on 21-24 July
The XVIII International Congress of Melon and Watermelon Producers and Exporters, an event organised by the Honduran Federation of Agro-exporters (FPX) with the support of the Honduran Association of Melon Producers and Exporters (APROEXMEH), will be held on 21-24 July in Tela, Honduras, bringing together the most important players in the melon sector from all over the world....more

1.7 million tonnes of fresh fruit was exported in 2009
Turkish melon imports totalled 56,000 tonnes in 2009, an increase of 180% in comparison with 2007, when 20,000 tonnes  were exported, according to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute. In 2008, 45,000 exported tonnes were registered, 125% more than in 2007....more

Weather conditions have delayed most of the melon production
This season Europêch'2010 anticipates that Charentais melon acreage will fall to between 1850 and 2000 ha (-12% compared with 2009). The same source calculates that Charentais acreage in Marrakech, Agadir and Kenitra will total 1500-1600 ha, 14% less than last year....more

The new product will be sold through an exclusive campaign at Tesco
Del Monte is to launch a new range of fresh-cut produce especially aimed at British children. The Fruitini range of bags is available in four varieties, one of which is Luscious Melon Bites....more

Most recent melon harvest yielded 621,000 tonnes
The global economic downturn has affected the Italian melon sector, driving it to put price before quality, according to Bruno Busin, Product Manager Melon and Watermelon for Syngenta Seeds Vegetables. Syngenta, however, “seeks to promote varieties of the highest quality in the market, because if we follow suit and lower prices at origin, this will downgrade the quality of the final product,” Bruno Busin observes....more

“EU programmes of this sort can really help our producers in an increasingly competitive world”
The programmes were approved in 14 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom) to provide information on and to promote agricultural products in the European Union....more

50% of the Spanish population prepared a list and kept to it when shopping in 2009, 1.4% more than in 2006
Shopping frequency remained stable during the period from April 2009 to March 2010, as did the number of items bought on each shopping trip, according to the consultancy group Kantar Worldpanel. It was also found that shoppers are becoming more sensitive to price....more

Report promotes a plant-based diet & physical activity to improve health
June 2010 saw the release of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s Report, which will form the basis of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans published by the USDA and HHS to promote nutrition education activities among the American population. This year’s publication emphasises an urgent need for American society to consume more fruits and vegetables if the goals of changing unhealthy eating patterns and reducing obesity are to be achieved....more

The aim is to offer buyers an efficient and convenient service
Since 1 July, Germans have been able to buy their fruits and vegetables from a new portal launched by the German branch of the international online distributor Amazon....more