New Zealand apple growers say it is not worth their while to export apples to Australia under tough new quarantine regulations. NZ apple growers say import regulations too tough. The national director of Quarantine has just this week signed off on a decision to approve imports, after an 80-year ban due to the risk of the disease fireblight. Australian growers say they are considering an appeal in the Federal Court. Phil Alison from the Australian Access Action Group in New Zealand says...

Staff Reporter CLOSE on the heels of the rise in the prices of different brands of milk and fruit juices, prices of a number of varieties of fruits have shot up in the local markets, in particular in retail outlets. However, prices are simply just not falling, said one of them. Prices of other varieties of bananas, mainly from northern Indian states, too have shot up. Even at major hypermarkets, they are traded these days for prices between QR4. Some shopkeepers felt that there was a...

But he says some did -- the freeze destroyed the apple crop in central Iowa where his orchard is located, but growers got a crop in western, southern and northern Iowa, as well as Wisconsin. Unlike orange growers in warmer climates, Wilson says apple growers have few options to try and save a crop from freezing. Jay Vermeer at Pella Nurseries has nearly forty acres of apple trees, and he says they took a hit from a spring frost two years ago. He says there's no particular date when a late...

Department of Agriculture decreased the projected forecast Tuesday for the orange crop by 1.3 million boxes to 130. Meanwhile, the overall forecast for orange juice production remains relatively unchanged from March to April, as forecasted yields were increased from 1.62 gallons per box to a record 1.65 gallons per box. Tangelos remained at 1.25 million. Advertisement "Although the original estimate has been reduced, the increase in actual yield is good news for the consumer," said Michael...

The row count survey conducted March 28-29 indicated that 1 percent of the early and midseason orange rows remained to be harvested. All projections of yield assume the processing relationships this season will be similar to those of the past several seasons. Early, midseason, and navel varieties in Florida are forecast at 65. California 's all orange forecast, at 37. Packing houses continue to find some good quality navel oranges. The Texas early and midseason orange harvest was virtually...

Strawberry farmers in the region however saw a major breakthrough when global FMCG giant Unilever placed a 100 tonne order for their Belgium and France processing units. Greater acceptance in the international market and the high demand triggered by the Indian retail boom has sent strawberry farmers of Panchgani on a high as they gear up to double the area under strawberry plantation. The order was completed to the satisfaction of Unilever and they have indicated they will pick up around...

Late last month a fruit and vegetable vendor was found shot to death at the market. The flea market has been the scene of several crimes this year. In January, police arrested 15 people and confiscated an estimated $1 million worth of counterfeit clothes, CDs and movies from the market. Raleigh city officials, unhappy about the trash and traffic associated with Watson's, have talked about declaring it a public nuisance. A fellow market vendor has been charged with the murder. Ad Links Buy...

With temperatures expected to drop into the mid to upper 20s Saturday, peaches and strawberries may be vulnerable to damage if left unprotected. Citrus growers have no way of protecting plants from the elements, Starr said. Strawberry growers can protect their plants by providing overhead irrigation. Strawberry plants are sprayed from above. Home gardeners can protect annuals by bringing them into the house, said Robbin Dorrier, master gardener. I hope the weather produces some thinning...

Florida's crops have been short in recent years because of acreage losses to development, canker and other problems, but as harvests rebound, international markets are expected to buy more fruit, particularly grapefruit. Fresh-citrus tariffs of up to 50 percent would be reduced and eventually phased out for fruit shipped during certain times of the year. California stands to benefit most from the tariff cuts, but "we have an opportunity to get our fair share," Sparks said. In addition to...