EVENTI

The general price index of the Italian retail declined. Raspberries down 1.5%, accompanied by blueberries at -3.3%. Stable situation for redcurrants.

In this exclusive interview with Italian Berry, Hamid Ashrafi talks about the history and the achievements of blueberry breeding at North Carolina State University as a testament to almost a century of dedication, innovation and relentless commitment to the advancement of blueberry cultivation.

Is it worthwhile to invest in a refrigerated storage facility as an aid for managing Drosophila suzukii? A recent study offers farmers a way to answer this question with an interactive tool.

The annual meeting of the Portuguese Association of Blueberry Producers (ANPM) concluded with a technical day at Nberry in Sátão, which hosted a meeting where the event's technical sponsors were able to show their solutions live to producers.

Pedro Bras de Oliveira emphasises the urgent need for the sector to reconnect and revitalise existing orchards. The cultivars currently planted in Portugal are obsolete and genetic improvement has led to new, more productive and resistant blueberry varieties.

The two-day event opened in the morning with the speakers' speeches, and will end tomorrow 28 October with a technical visit to a blueberry sorting, grading and packing point.

Considerable damage to farmers was caused by deformation and deterioration of metal structures (15% of tunnels), tearing of plastic (80% of plots), fruit damage (loss of up to 20% of raspberry production) as well as uprooting of plants.

The Global Blueberry Price Index based on 12 global retails audited 25/10/2023 has increased by 0.5% compared to the previous week. Slight decrease for premium segment.

The price index for berries in the Italian retail sector increased by 2.2%: good for currants, similar growth for blueberries and raspberries. The number of units fell by 10% to 45.

The industry has adopted new varieties of blueberries, resulting in a more diverse selection and better product quality. This change is in line with global consumer preferences and has enabled South African producers to meet specific market demands.