• 09 Aug
    Mexico’s citrus Industry

    Mexico’s citrus Industry

    Ricardo Martinez Zambrano, director of sales for North America with Citrofrut, summarizes a Mexican citrus industry report he delivered at the recent International Citrus Business Conference.

    Zambrano says oranges account for about 56% of Mexico’s total citrus production, but that “there is no official source in Mexico that does the estimation.”

    An area of eastern Mexico has about 80% of all Mexican citrus production “with the exception of the Mexican key limes,” which grow mostly on the west coast, Zambrano says.

    “Processing versus fresh (for the orange crop) is very dependent on a year-to-year basis,” he says. “It has to do with the crop size and with the futures prices and opportunity for processors to access that fruit.” He says 55-60% of the orange crop was processed on average in the past five years.

    “A lot of our growers are very small growers, and they don’t tend to the land as a professional grower would,” Zambrano says. “That has a benefit of actually making the grove organic in its natural sense. However, we have to certify that that’s actually the case. And being able to certify hundreds of growers that have small plots gets complicated.”

    “Italian lemon is grown mostly in the northeast,” Zambrano says. “Production is around 120,000 tonnes of fruit if we have the correct conditions.” However, drought and a hurricane last year and a freeze early this year cut production. “So, best estimates for this year range anywhere between 70,000 and 100,000 tonnes.”

    “Conditions have been great for the Persian lime,” Zambrano adds. “We’re seeing a lot of new developments. So we expect a consistent growth in the next few years for this crop.” He anticipates the limes will be 50% fresh and 50% processed.

    “We’re very excited about the potential that we currently have,” Zambrano concludes.

     

    Source: Citrus Industry Magazine

    By Caroline Calder News
  • 09 Aug
    Lassonde Industries announces an agreement to acquire US based Old Orchard Brands

    Lassonde Industries announces an agreement to acquire US based Old Orchard Brands

    Lassonde Industries Inc. has reached an agreement to acquire Old Orchard Brands, LLC, a family-owned juice and beverage company based in Sparta, Michigan, for a total cash consideration of USD146.0 million (subject to working capital and other adjustments) payable upon closing of the transaction. By way of additional consideration, a further amount of up to USD10.0 million may be payable over the next two years subject to specified financial milestones. In addition, Lassonde has agreed to purchase the property, comprised of the plant and land, for USD4.0 million subject to satisfaction of certain regulatory conditions. If the conditions are not met, this property will be rented under a long-term lease.

    The closing of the transaction, expected in May 2018, is contingent on the parties agreeing to an action plan that ensures compliance with certain due care regulatory obligations related to the use of the real estate assets. The closing of the transaction is also subject to standard terms and conditions, including obtaining regulatory approvals.

     

    Source: Lassonde

    By Caroline Calder News
  • 09 Aug
    T.B.Fruit realises 20% rise in organic juice production

    T.B.Fruit realises 20% rise in organic juice production

    T.B.Fruit Group increased organic juice concentrate production by 20% in 2017, to 3,000 tonnes.
    “We have an upward pace of organic concentrated juice production – 20% growth in 2017. Last year, we produced about 3,000 tonnes of juice concentrate and it was all exported to European countries and the United States,” Production Director of T.B.Fruit Group Oleh Mochaliuk told journalists at the second international congress Organic Ukraine 2018.
    According to him, the group recently started production of organic juice concentrate from elderberries.
    “In the juice concentrate industry we occupy about 60% of the Ukrainian market, 12% of the European market and 8% of the global market,” Mochaliuk said.
    The total capacity of the group for the production of juice concentrate is about 100,000 tonnes per year, of which organic is 4%.
    T.B.Fruit Group was established in July 2011, uniting all assets of Taras Barschovsky: Yablunevy Dar, T.B.Fruit Dwikozy fruit processing plant in Poland, Tank Trans Ukraine and Tank Trans Polska, which transport bulk cargo by road, and a fruit-growing complex, which includes apple-trees, cherry-trees, and strawberry and raspberry fields on 700 hectares.
    T.B.Fruit Group owns eight juice concentrate plants in Ukraine, Moldova and Poland.
    T.B.Fruit produces freshly squeezed juice under the Galicia trademark in Ukraine.

     

    Source: Ukraine Open For Business

     

     

    By Caroline Calder News
  • 09 Aug
    EUROPE  UK sugar tax introduced

    EUROPE UK sugar tax introduced

    The sugar tax on soft drinks has come into force in the UK. Manufacturers will now have to pay a levy on the high-sugar drinks they sell.

    Ministers and campaigners believe it has already proved to be a success with many firms reducing sugar content ahead of the change. But others say it is still too early to judge the impact.

    Leading brands such as Fanta, Ribena and Lucozade have cut the sugar content of drinks, but Coca-Cola has not.

    The introduction of the levy means the UK joins a small handful of nations, including Mexico, France and Norway, which have introduced similar taxes.

     

    Source: BBC

    By Caroline Calder News
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