As the climate in the EU is not suitable for the production of tropical fruit, the EU relies on imports of tropical fruits such as bananas –the most popular fruit in Europe–, pineapples, kiwifruit, avocados and mangos.
Temperate and sub-tropical species such as citrus fruit, grapes and pears are imported as well, but mainly in out of the European growing season. Countries in the southern hemisphere are able to supply when the countries in the northern hemisphere can not. This is also known as counter-season supply. For fruit products that can be stored, such as apples, the counter season is less evident. With the continual improvements in storage life and storage conditions of fruit products, the off-season is shortened. Read more »
Date: Sunday, February 21, 2010
Categories: CSR, Fruit & vegetables, Marketing, Requirements
The European Commission has officially announced the winner of the EU organic logo competition. Over the past two months, some 130,000 people have voted online to choose the new organic symbol from three finalists. The winning design is by Dusan Milenkovic, a student from Germany, who gained 63 % of the overall vote for his “Euro-leaf” logo. From July 1, 2010, the organic logo of the EU will be obligatory on all pre-packaged organic products that have been produced in any of the EU Member States and meet the necessary standards. It will be optional for imported products. Other private, regional or national logos will be allowed to appear alongside the EU label. The organic farming regulation will be amended in the coming weeks to introduce the new logo into one of the annexes. Read more »
Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Categories: Fruit & vegetables, Market research
The EU market for fresh fruit and vegetables is declining in volume but growing in value. In much of the eastern European Union consumption is still growing and consumers are shifting from basic fruit and vegetables towards more diverse produce, including exotics. At the same time, the availability there of other food products, such as snacks and fast food, is a source of heated competition for fresh fruit and vegetables. The markets in countries such as Germany, Spain, Italy and France are large but nearly saturated. Only certain market niches and product groups provide opportunities for growth.
More and more EU entrepreneurs in this business are opting for offshore outsourcing, i.e. moving parts of the production process to developing countries (DCs). As they face increasing pressure to improve, many of them consider offshore outsourcing a strategic means of lowering production costs, increasing their own company’s capacity for products with a higher added-value outsourcing products with a lower added-value. While the number of fruit and vegetable growers in the EU has been declining for decades, their involvement in offshore fruit and vegetable growing is increasing. Read more »
Date: Friday, October 30, 2009
Categories: Fruit & vegetables
The mango is slowly conquering European markets. Although it still only holds a small share of the total fresh fruit market, demand for this juicy tropical fruit is growing in almost every EU country.
CBI just published an interesting video about the mango value chain illustrating their efforts to assist the Mali sector to step up to European markets standards. The video can be viewed at: mango value chain video Read more »
Date: Friday, October 2, 2009
Categories: Fruit & vegetables, Market research
Three important developments are affecting developing country producers of fresh fruits and vegetables targeting the EU: stricter food safety demands, changing importer roles, and shifting global trade patterns. Read more »
Date: Monday, July 6, 2009
Categories: Fruit & vegetables, Marketing, Requirements
When it comes to food, the EU considers safety a top priority. The slogan ‘From farm to fork’ describes how the whole supply chain is responsible for guaranteeing food safety. For the first link in the food chain, the growers of food products, this concept mainly translates into quality demands and efforts aimed at keeping contaminants and pesticide residues at acceptable levels. In addition to complying with the legal requirements, many companies have joined independent sustainability initiatives or set up their own, stricter environmental and social standards. All of these requirements and preferences together are usually referred to as ‘buyer requirements’ or ‘market access requirements’. Here’s an overview.
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ProVerde carried out feasibility studies and evaluations of CBI’s export coaching programmes (ECPs). The ECPs are designed to help entrepreneurs in developing countries to adapt to – notably West-European – market requirements, in order to create conditions for market entry or market consolidation. These programmes combine different elements: technical assistance on implementing regulations and standards, marketing, organisation of production and operational management, training in export marketing and management and market entry assistance. Read more »