Argentina acuerda medidas con Canadá para exportar ARÁNDANO, CEREZA ,UVA, CIRUELA, DURAZNO, GRANADA y KIWI. Argentina agrees measures with Canada to export BLUEBERRY, CHERRY, GRAPE, PLUM, PEACH, POMEGRANATE and KIWI

Cerezas argentinas (http://www.ar.all.biz/)

El Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (Senasa) acordó con la Agencia Canadiense de Inspección de Alimentos (CFIA, por sus siglas en inglés) aplicar un Sistema de Medidas Integradas para DEC Lobesia botrana por la exportación de fruta fresca argentina hacia ese país. El Senasa debe certificar que cada envío se encuentra libre de la plaga Lobesia botrana.

En el mes de junio, la CFIA comunicó que establecería modificaciones en los requisitos fitosanitarios de importación para fruta fresca, a los efectos de prevenir la introducción a su territorio de la plaga Lobesia botrana, bajo la Directiva D-13-03. Esta última especifica un extenso listado de países y productos vegetales alcanzados por las nuevas exigencias fitosanitarias impuestas por el país de América del Norte.

"Cabe aclarar que la CFIA solo contemplaba el Certificado Fitosanitario emitido por nuestro Organismo como requisito de importación para envíos de productos vegetales procedentes de la Argentina, sin hacer referencia a la regulación de plagas", sostuvo un comunicado del Senasa. 

A partir del cambio, el Senasa debe certificar que cada envío se encuentra libre de Lobesia botrana: "en este marco, y en base al interés comercial del sector exportador, nuestro Servicio nacional elevó a la CFIA una propuesta de Sistema de Medidas Integradas para la plaga en cuestión".

Fue entre las tres opciones de certificación fitosanitaria impuestas por la nación canadiense, la cual fue aprobada por su organismo. El acuerdo abarca los siguientes productos: uva, arándanos, cereza, ciruela, durazno, granada y kiwi y todos los procedimientos operativos para el cumplimiento de esta medida ya se encuentran aprobados y en marcha para la temporada en curso.

"Ya se llevaron adelante exportaciones de arándano y cerezas a Canadá bajo esta modalidad y se espera que en las próximas semanas se realicen exportaciones del resto de los productos involucrados", se dijo. De este modo, "el Senasa logró que la certificación fitosanitaria para la exportación de estos productos tenga una alternativa a la aplicación de un tratamiento cuarentenario con bromuro de metilo, lo que implicaría mayores costos directos e indirectos", destacó el director de Certificación Fitosanitaria, Martín Delucis.

La implementación del cambio se llevó adelante en fases, la primera alcanzó a uva y arándanos, la segunda abarcó a varias especies entre las cuales se distinguen Prunus spp. (cereza, ciruela, duraznos, nectarines, almendras, entre otros) y granada. Existe una tercera fase en la que se incluye el kiwi, pero aún no se encuentra vigente. Las exportaciones de fruta fresca argentina hacia Canadá, entre los años 2012 y 2015, fueron: arándano 2.631 t (79%), uva 463 t (14%), higo 86 t (3%), cereza 79 t (2%), kiwi 72 t (2%) y granada 19 t (1%).

Fuentes: Noticias Argentinas y https://economia.terra.com.ar

'Arctic Fuji', the next GMO APPLE - 'Arctic Fuji', la próxima MANZANA OGM

'Arctic Fuji' apple  (Courtesy Okanagan Specialty Fruits)

After 20 years of development, a Canadian company is expecting its first commercial crop of genetically modified apples in 2016 while awaiting approval to forge ahead with its third and latest variety, 'Arctic Fuji'. Okanagan Specialty Fruits plans to harvest and pack about 50 bins of Arctic Golden Delicious apples and plant its first Arctic Granny Smith apples this year. The Summerland, British Columbia, company develops and produces apples genetically modified to not turn brown when sliced.

Specialty Fruits received approval for Arctic Golden and Arctic Granny apples from food and plant health agencies in both countries early in 2015 and planted about 15 acres of Goldens in Washington, said Neal Carter, company president and founder. Those trees will yield a small crop this fall, while the company plans to plant significantly more acreage of both varieties in 2016, mostly in Washington, with increasing quantities in the following years in other states and Canada.

The company will test market the first apples from this year in a few select stores, but as it ramps up production, it will distribute to a variety of locations in both the U.S. and Canada, Carter said. Carter declined to say which growers, packers or retailers will be working with Arctic apples. At the same time, the firm expects U.S. approval sometime this year of its latest variety, the Arctic Fuji, with Canadian approval to follow within another year.

Arctic Fuji

Specialty Fruits applied for U.S. deregulation for the Fuji on Dec. 31, 2015, in the form of an extension to the documents of previously approved varieties. The process should move faster than the original application, filed with the U.S. authorities in 2010 and the year after in Canada. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have regulatory oversight of biotechnology in America. In Canada, the two agencies involved are Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Once approvals are in place, the company may propagate and market the apples as if there was nothing different about them. “What that approval means is it’s treated like any other apple variety,” Carter said. At its laboratory in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Specialty Fruits alters the DNA of apples to silence an enzyme that causes apple flesh to brown when exposed to oxygen, such as when it’s sliced or bitten. Specialty Fruits plans to apply for approval for an Arctic Gala by the end of 2017, with other varieties to follow. The company also is seeking agreements to grow and market its Arctic apples in other countries, a lengthy process just as it is in North America. “The regulatory thing is quite onerous no matter where you are in the world,” Carter said.

In Mexico, the company is seeking a food safety assessment to ship Arctic apples in the country and slice them there, he said, while a group of Australians is discussing growing the apples with the company’s representatives. The company both plants its own orchards and contracts with outside growers. Either way, and no matter where the trees are planted, Okanagan Specialty Fruits will own the trees and apples, unlike the royalty arrangements that usually accompany club varieties, Carter said. Such a structure will give Specialty Fruits more control to prevent cross-pollination and other co-mingling of conventional fruit, one of the biggest objections to the controversial genetic techniques, Carter said.

So far, the company has contracted with two large, well-established growers, one in Washington, one in the Eastern U.S. Carter declined to specify the locations. Okanagan Specialty Fruits was purchased in April 2015 by Intrexon Corp., a biotechnology company based in Germantown, Maryland.

Source: Ross Courtney (http://www.goodfruit.com)

FRUITS and VEGETABLES trading will benefit from Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement - El comercio de FRUTAS y VERDURAS se beneficiará con el Acuerdo Transpacífico de Cooperación Económica

Photo from www.hortidaily.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released a series of fact sheets illustrating how the newly reached Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement can boost the U.S. agriculture industry, supporting more American jobs and driving the nation's rural economy. Created by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the fact sheets graphically depict how each state and individual commodities stand to benefit from increased agricultural trade with the 11 other TPP countries.

Trade ministers from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam concluded TPP negotiations on Oct. 5 in Atlanta, Ga. Trade with these countries accounted for 42% of U.S. agricultural exports in 2014, contributing $63 billion to the U.S. economy.

"Increased demand for American agricultural products and expanded agricultural exports as a result of the TPP agreement will support stronger commodity prices and increase farm income. Increased exports will support more good paying export-related jobs, further strengthening the rural economy," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "All of this activity benefits rural communities and keeps American agriculture on the cutting edge of global commerce."

The United States runs an agricultural trade surplus which benefits farmers, ranchers, and all those who live, work and raise families in rural America. Agricultural trade supports more than one million American jobs. TPP will remove unfair trade barriers and help further the global expansion of American agricultural exports, particularly exports of meat, poultry, dairy, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, grains, oilseeds, cotton and processed products.

The information released today illustrates benefits for key commodities and all 50 states. Learn more about TPP and its benefits to the agricultural economy at http://www.fas.usda.gov/tpp. Here is just a snapshot of how the TPP would boost exports of some U.S. food and agricultural products: 

Fruits and vegetables

Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam will eliminate tariffs on all FRESH and PROCESSED FRUITS, including CITRUS. Malaysia and Vietnam will immediately eliminate all tariffs, and Japan nearly all tariffs, on FRESH and PROCESSED VEGETABLES. All three countries will eliminate tariffs on POTATOES and potato products.

Source: www.hortidaily.com

México se ha consolidado como el exportador número uno de TOMATE a Estados Unidos - Mexico has become the number one exporter of TOMATOES to the US

México se ha consolidado en una década como el exportador número uno de tomate a los EE.UU. y uno de los principales a nivel mundial, al enviar al extranjero casi 2 millones toneladas de la hortaliza y facturar más de $1,000 millones de dólares a partir de 2006. Manuel Antonio Cázares Castro, presidente del Sistema Producto Nacional Tomate Rojo, afirma que en el país se producen alrededor de 3 millones de toneladas en el ciclo que comprende 12 meses, de septiembre a septiembre, y la meta para este año es superar los 2 millones de toneladas de exportación, ya que en este ciclo que concluye en agosto, estimó que la exportación quedó un 30% inferior a lo proyectado.

Sinaloa se corona como el productor principal, al aportar un 42%, y el resto se divide entre los estados de Baja California, Michoacán, Sonora y Jalisco. Cifras de la Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentación (Sagarpa) señalan que las exportaciones de la hortaliza han crecido 81% en los últimos 10 años, este aumento supera al de otros productos agropecuarios, como las flores, que sólo se han incrementado 47%, ganado vacuno con un 40%, o el tabaco con un 17%.

"A nivel mundial somos el número uno, ya tenemos alrededor de una década, generamos más de $20,000 millones", señaló el representante. "Los mexicanos somos buenos para cultivar el tomate, la meta es llegar a enviar 2 millones de toneladas al extranjero y elevar 1.6 o 1.7 millones de toneladas la producción nacional". Dentro de las exportaciones totales agropecuarias dicho producto registró una participación del 13.5% durante 2014, y su valor equivale al 0.4% de las exportaciones totales anuales.

Algunos de los países a los que se envían los productos son EE.UU., donde México representa el 80% de las importaciones totales, además de Canadá, y Emiratos Árabes. El experto agregó que la agricultura protegida les ha permitido aumentar la producción de la hortaliza y en este momento el tipo de cambio les ha beneficiado.
Fuente: Alejandra Mendoza (http://elhorizonte.mx)

Cambio del clima superpone los calendarios de cosecha de MANGO de diferentes regiones - Climate change overlaps MANGO harvest calendars from different regions

Pérdidas por alrededor del 25% de la producción de MANGO experimentó Michoacán (México) en la reciente temporada del fruto, debido a condiciones climatológicas que desencadenaron la maduración simultánea de huertos en diversos puntos del país, lo que, a su vez, contribuyó a la saturación del mercado norteamericano y al desplome de los precios, refirió Xavier Chávez Contreras, presidente del Sistema Producto Mango. De acuerdo con Chávez Contreras, EEUU y Canadá declinaron la recepción de mango previo a la conclusión de la temporada, al registrar saturación de sus mercados, lo que produjo una reducción promedio de 100 millones de pesos en la meta de exportación, en detrimento del 30% de los 4.200 productores de la fruta, así como reducción en los precios nacionales, de $ 3.50 a 2,50 por kilogramo, un 28,57%, e internacionales, de U$S 5 por caja de 4 Kg a U$S 1,50, un 70% inferior. “Tuvimos pérdidas por alrededor del 25% del total de la producción, porque la fruta se nos maduró y ya no se pudo exportar. Los mercados de EEUU y Canadá estaban saturados, al grado que ya no quisieron recibir más fruta, porque el clima favoreció que todos los estados que producen mango saliéramos al mismo tiempo, lo que derivó en sobreoferta que nos pegó a todos”. Destacó que EEUU tiene capacidad para absorber cada temporada 2,5 millones de cajas de 4 Kg de mango, en tanto que este año tuvo oferta por 3,5 millones de cajas, y agregó que la expectativa es recuperar el sector en febrero de 2016, siempre que las condiciones climáticas permitan una floración diferenciada en los estados productores. En 2015, se logró la exportación de 100.000 t de mango cosechadas en 20.500 ha, concentradas en la zona de Apatzingán. 
Fuente: Fátima Paz (http://www.cambiodemichoacan.com.mx)

A new SUPERBERRY soon available also in the UK - Una nueva SUPERBERRY pronto disponible también en el Reino Unido

Leading UK soft fruit supplier, CPM, is gearing up to launch an exciting new ‘superberry’, rich in antioxidants, which will be available in the UK for the first time mid-June next year 

Photo form https://en.wikipedia.org

Lonicera caerulea (honeyberry, blue-berried honeysuckle, or sweetberry honeysuckle) is a honeysuckle native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere. Blue honeysuckle, also known as Haskap, has a tangy flavour cross between a blueberry, blackberry and raspberry and will only be available for a maximum of four weeks from farms in the UK from next June. It has at least double the nutraceuticals compared to other berries, according to recognised research from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada in cooperation with Dalhouse University. The berry also has 60% the RDA of vitamin C in a single handful as well as three times the iron content of a blueberry and twice that of a strawberry. The berry is already being grown under contract in Poland and to complement this, CPM is growing it with a number of its partner UK growers, which will increase in availability over the next three years. 

(Left to right) Begnat Robichaud, Commercial Director at CPM with Sandy Booth, Managing Director at The New Forest Fruit Co.

Begnat Robichaud, Commercial Director at CPM, specialist soft fruit supplier to the UK market and supplier of UK blue honeysuckle, said: “This is a really exciting development for the berry industry in the UK, firstly for the berries’ health qualities, and secondly, it looks and tastes different to the current offer. Blue honeysuckle grows well in the UK due to cold winters and rainy spring weather. The fruit is tangy in flavour, which makes it great on its own, or as a refreshing addition to juices or smoothies. It’s also ideal for use in jams, chutneys, syrup or an ingredient within home baking. 

“But, you’ll have to be quick off the mark – Blue honeysuckle berries have a short harvesting window and are only available to buy fresh for 3-4 weeks. However, there are new varieties being planted, which should enable seasonal extension in a few years.” The oblong-shaped fruit, which is dark blue in colour, originates from Japan, where it’s celebrated via ‘Haskap Day’ and is recognised as the ‘elixir of life’. Its literal translation is ‘the many presents on the branch’. 

Bob Bors, Head of the Fruit Program at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan and Principal Investigator of research paper ‘Breeding and Selecting Haskap for Nutraceutical and Agronomic Sustainability’, said: “In our research, released earlier this year, over 15,000 blue honeysuckle seedlings were field evaluated, with the best intensively evaluated in lab tests and additional field studies.

“Antioxidant testing, in cooperation with Dalhouse University, rated our varieties highest in antioxidants compared to other berries and grapes. Additionally, we discovered that some varieties have three times more nutraceuticals than other blue honeysuckle varieties. This is a fantastic health benefit as it means we could easily breed an even healthier berry that could surpass the already high levels that blue honeysuckle has achieved. 

Sources: http://www.freshplaza.com; https://en.wikipedia.org 

The government of Canada launches the "Eat Well Plate" campaign - El gobierno de Canadá lanza la campaña centrada en el plato de comida diaria, llamada "Coma bien"

New public education tools to encourage healthy eating for Canadians 

The Minister of Health, Rona Ambrose, has announced new public education tools to encourage healthy eating for Canadians. These tools include the Eat Well Plate, a visual that suggests Canadians fill half of their plate with vegetables and fruits at every meal. This aligns well with the Half Your Plate program launched by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), The Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Public Health Association in January 2015.

“We are thrilled that Health Canada has shown leadership on this issue,” says Ron Lemaire, President, CPMA. “When we began researching this campaign, Canadians were unanimous in stating that serving sizes could be confusing and that the suggestion to fill half of their plate with vegetables and fruit at every meal and snack was clear and simple to understand and follow. This also translates well to the grocery store, where we suggest that half of their cart be filled with vegetables and fruit so that they have healthier options to choose from at home.”

The Half Your Plate program was developed to empower Canadians of all ages to eat more fruits and vegetables to improve their health while providing simple and practical ways to add a variety of produce to every meal and snack. The Campaign includes a comprehensive website filled with quick meal ideas, information on how to select, store and prepare produce, fun easy recipes, and more. The Half Your Plate program is also featured in many Canadian retail stores, and the logo appears on produce packaging from industry partners.

In addition to the Eat Well Plate, Health Canada will also allow health claims on pre-packaged fruits and vegetables to make it easier to let Canadians know about the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.

Sources: http://www.cpma.ca/ and www.hortdaily.com 

LICHI de Vietnam a Canadá - LYCHEE from Vietnam to Canada

El lichi  (Litchi chinensis) vietnamita responde a los estándares de requisitos de la Agencia de Supervisión de Alimentos de Canadá, informó Rex Yu, representante de Manley Sales, empresa importadora canadiense de esa fruta. Dio a conocer que el primer lote de lichi vietnamita fue enviado el l0 pasado al país de América del Norte por vía aérea. El lichi vietnamita es dulce y de buena calidad, valoró Rex Yu y adelantó que su empresa pretende distribuir este producto agrícola en numerosas tiendas en todo el país durante una semana. Expresó el deseo de que la fruta vietnamita pueda lograr una proporción de mercado en Canadá, al igual que la fruta de dragón y el longán frescos de este país indochino importados por Manley Sales.
Fuente::http://es.vietnamplus.vn  

Empresa chilena apuesta por beneficios del ARÁNDANO ROJO - Chilean company is placing a bet on CRANBERRY benefits to health

En Chile poco se sabe de esta fruta, debido a que recién hace quince años se comenzó a cultivar por esta zona. Sin embargo, son numerosos los beneficios que trae este llamativo fruto que usualmente se comercializa en formato concentrado de jugo para consumir de manera diaria.

El arándano rojo o cranberry es un fruto de origen norteamericano reconocido por sus efectos en la salud, ya que cuenta con propiedades que ayudan a recuperar el bienestar urinario y de manera natural aliviar los síntomas de la cistitis. Aunque se pudiese creer que la única forma de adquirir un derivado de esta fruta es en la sección de importados en el supermercado, en Chile existe una empresa que trabaja por hacer llegar de manera accesible este beneficioso fruto a las mesas de los chilenos.
BerryVita, empresa ubicada en Valdivia, lleva tres años trabajando en la comercialización del cranberry. Y si bien lo presentan en formato de pasas, su producto estrella es el concentrado de jugo natural de cranberry.
Los cranberries tienen un importante cultivo comercial en Estados Unidos y Canadá. Aunque pareciera muy lejano a Chile, el proceso de cultivo, elaboración y fabricación de los productos BerryVita es realizado en Valdivia.
El cranberry protege el organismo de infecciones bacterianas, tiene una acción benéfica en la prevención de úlceras estomacales, posee antioxidantes naturales, tiene vitamina C y, debido a su efecto antiadherente, previene caries y parodontosis. En Chile aún existe desconocimiento sobre los beneficios de este fruto y de lo fácil que es adquirirlo a pesar de que están presentes en varias regiones del país.

Fuente: http://www.biobiochile.cl

TPP deal could isolate Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela - El Tratado Trans-Pacífico podría aislar a Argentina, Brasil y Venezuela de la economía global

When President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met in Washington last week to discuss creating the world’s biggest trade bloc with 10 other Pacific Rim nations, most Latin American countries didn’t pay any attention. But they should have.

Image source: http://academic.evergreen.edu

The proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which would include some of the world’s biggest economies on both sides of the Pacific and may seek to counter China’s growing economic clout in the world, could shake up Latin America’s economies. If TPP materializes, it could help some Latin American countries — notably Mexico — and could further isolate Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela from the global economy.

The Obama-Abe meeting at the White House was described by U.S. officials as critical to unlock disputes between the two countries over automobiles and agricultural issues, which were slowing down the three-year-old TPP talks. Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, would be a key partner of the trade, investment and regulatory agreement.

A joint statement at the end of their meeting said that Obama and Abe had made “significant progress” in their negotiations. Obama is trying to obtain “fast-track” negotiating authority from the U.S. Congress to sign a TPP trade deal without subsequent congressional amendments, but faces opposition from some Democrats who fear the agreement could hurt U.S. jobs.

“The politics around trade can be hard in both our countries, but I know that Prime Minister Abe, like me, is deeply committed to getting this done, and I’m confident we will,” Obama told a news conference after the meeting.

If the TPP becomes a reality, it would account for about 40 percent of the world’s economy. In addition to the United States and Japan, the TPP negotiations include Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Peru and Chile.

Economists tend to agree that, within Latin America, Mexico would be among the most to benefit from the proposed agreement. Mexico is highly integrated into the U.S. economy, and Mexican factories that produce auto parts and other goods for U.S. multinationals would benefit from greater U.S. exports to Asia.

But Chile and Peru, the other two Latin American countries participating in the negotiations, may not benefit that much. Chile already has trade agreements with all TPP member countries, and would face new competition from Vietnam and other Asian countries for its exports of foods and vegetables to the U.S. market.

But the biggest losers would be Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, and other countries that have relied on commodity exports, and that badly need to diversify their exports to grow in the long term. If they are left outside TPP and other proposed mega-trade blocs in Europe and Asia, they would be further isolated within the global economy.

“Latin American countries that are left outside these global mega-trade blocs will find it more difficult to get access to the world’s biggest markets,” says Osvaldo Rosales, the leading trade expert with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). “They will face customs and regulatory hurdles.”

Central American countries, which already have free trade agreements with the United States, are worried that a TPP deal would put them at a disadvantage with cheaper Vietnamese exports of textiles, coffee, bananas and pineapples to the U.S. market.

Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis told me in an interview that Central American presidents have been talking among themselves about the need to get more information from Washington about the TPP negotiations. The TPP talks have been taking place “in rigid secret,” he complained.

“But we must prepare ourselves because we are small countries with weak economies and small populations. Faced with these big international changes, we must be permanently ready to face these challenges very rapidly,” Solis said.

My opinion: I agree. Latin American countries, which account for only 8 percent of the world’s trade, are running the risk of becoming an even smaller slice of the global trade pie unless they move rapidly to join one or more of the world’s biggest trade blocks.

The world may soon be divided in three mega-trade blocs that are currently being discussed: the Pacific Rim’s TPP, the U.S.-European Union Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the China-Japan-India Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Some Latin American countries — Mexico, Chile and Peru — are already participating in one of them, the TPP. As for Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and others, they will find themselves cut off from the world’s biggest markets if they remain asleep.

Source: Andres Oppenheimer (http://www.desertsun.com); www.freshplaza.com

Biocontrol in greenhouses is State policy in Canada - El control biológico en invernaderos es política de Estado en Canadá

The Canadian government announced an investment that will enable the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to deliver effective new and existing biocontrol products such as biopesticide treatments, demonstrate efficient spraying and trapping techniques, and develop a framework for growers to adopt more biological pest management practices.

 

 

Member of Parliament Dean Allison, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced an investment of $143,260 to the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to conduct research into improving the use of biological controls for pest and disease management for the Canadian greenhouse sector.

The goal is to enhance the sustainability of the Canadian greenhouse industry, delivering economic benefits and growth opportunities along the value chain while enabling the development of more effective and cost-efficient biocontrol products and practices.

 

• The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre Inc. (Vineland) is a not-for-profit organization incorporated by the province of Ontario in 2007 for the purpose of advancing horticultural research and innovation to support the production of healthy foods in an environmentally sustainable way.
• Canada has 23 million square metres of production greenhouses which supply both domestic and export markets, employ thousands and are a significant contributor to the Canadian economy.
• This investment is being made through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's AgriInnovation Program, a five-year, up to $698 million initiative under Growing Forward 2.

"Vineland Research & Innovation Center exemplifies one of the great stories of hard-work and dedication, that the Niagara region has to offer. The Horticultural & Agricultural Industries are growing and is a major economic contributor to our riding of Niagara West-Glanbrook and to Canada. With over 100 years of excellence in research and the development of new technologies, our Government is proud to work with the exceptional individuals at Vineland Research & Innovation Center to help cultivate a competitive, modern and world-class agricultural sector for the future." - Member of Parliament Dean Allison.

"The Canadian greenhouse industry is a world leader in the use of biological control, which now underpins most pest and disease management strategies. Today's investment will allow researchers to further address key plant protection and production efficiency priorities identified by the greenhouse sector." - Dr. Michael Brownbridge, Research Director, Horticultural Production Systems.

Source: www.hortdaily.com

Canadian grocer will sell "ugly" FRUITS and VEGETABLES at a discount - Una firma canadiense venderá FRUTAS y VERDURAS cosméticamente "feas" a precios rebajados

Canada’s largest grocery retailer has set an exciting new precedent in the war against wasted food. Loblaw Companies Ltd. has just announced that it will sell ugly, imperfect-looking produce at prices that are 30 % lower than their prettier counterparts.     

   

Loblaws is taking a fabulous step toward reducing food waste that will benefit shoppers, farmers, and the planet. The new campaign, launched March 12, is called the “No Name Naturally Imperfect” line and is already available at Real Canadian Superstores. It will soon reach select No Frills supermarkets in Ontario and Maxi stores in Quebec. Currently only potatoes and apples are being sold, but Loblaw has plans to expand if these do well. According to senior VP Ian Gordon:

“We often focus too much on the look of produce, rather than the taste. Once you peel or cut an apple, you can’t tell it once had a blemish or was misshapen. [This campaign] is a great example of Loblaw and our vendors coming together to find an innovative way to bring nutritious food options to consumers at a great price.”

Selling ugly produce has many benefits:

It’s great for all shoppers to get quality produce at cheaper prices, but particularly for low-income households who may struggle to afford fresh food at current prices. Fifteen percent of U.S. household are considered “food insecure” – that’s 50 million hungry Americans.

It reduces the amount of perfectly edible food that gets wasted each year. According to some estimates, this is 24 percent of all calories produced for human consumption and $31 billion-worth of food in Canada.

It’s better for the environment. Eating more ugly produce means less of it goes into methane-emitting landfills. It cuts into the estimated 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions that go into producing, transporting, storing, and preparing food that is never eaten (EndFoodWaste.org).

The grocery store will make a bit more money by selling produce that normally would just get thrown out, and save money on waste disposal costs.

Farmers are able to sell a larger percentage of their harvest because meeting absurd cosmetic standards is no longer the rule.
Hopefully Loblaws' move will inspire other grocery stores to follow suit. Much depends on whether North American shoppers are willing to forego aesthetics for lower prices, but if Europe is any indication, people are starting to move in this direction. 2014 was declared the year to fight food waste and French supermarket Intermarché saw its store traffic increase by 24 percent after introducing its "Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables" campaign.

Source: Katherine Martinko (http://www.treehugger.com), www.hortdaily.com
 

Estados Unidos fue gran comprador de ARÁNDANO en 2014 - The U.S. were great BLUEBERRY buyers in 2014

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estados Unidos se convirtió en el principal importador de arándano, con compras por US$ 676 millones. Sus principales proveedores en 2014 fueron: Chile, que le vendió por el valor de US$ 317 millones, Canadá (US$ 160 millones), Argentina (US$ 94 millones), México (US$ 79 millones) y Perú (US$ 11,4 millones).

 

 

El Centro de Comercio Exterior (CCEX) de la Cámara de Comercio de Lima, resaltó el dinamismo de las exportaciones peruanas de arándanos que al cierre del 2014 sumaron 27,8 millones de dólares, cifra que representó un incremento de 60% en ventas en relación al 2013, y de 73% en volumen de este producto que totalizaron 2.600 toneladas.

Carlos García, gerente del CCEX precisó, el principal mercado destino fue Estados Unidos, que lideró compras por 11,4 millones de dólares, representando el 41% de lo exportado.

"También se registraron otros importantes destinos como Holanda, que valorizó compras por 6,7 millones de dólares, con una participación de 24% en el total exportado; seguido por Hong Kong con 5.9 millones de dólares y una participación del 21%", señaló.

Asimismo destacó que el crecimiento de las exportaciones de arándanos también se debió a la apertura de nuevos mercados como es el caso de Indonesia, Tailandia y Rusia.

"Es conocido que el consumo en Estados Unidos se debe al alto valor nutricional de los arándanos por las fuentes de vitamina A y C que contienen, lo cual genera una gran ventana de oportunidad para que nuestros productores y exportadores incrementen este cultivo", destacó.

Actualmente las zonas de producción son: La Libertad, Lima, Piura, Ancash, Ica y Cajamarca.

Entre los organismos que han promovido su cultivo y exportación se encuentran Sierra Exportadora que, a través del Programa Perú Berries, ha elaborado el directorio de la cadena productiva del 2014 y está articulando la oferta de arándanos en las regiones de Áncash y Lima.

Fuente: http://www.eleconomistaamerica.pe