• 11 Nov
    Global – Diabetes Diet: this Karela-Palak juice may help manage blood sugar levels

    Global – Diabetes Diet: this Karela-Palak juice may help manage blood sugar levels

    Bitter gourd contains an insulin-like compound called Polypeptide-p which has been shown to control diabetes naturally. In recent years, diabetes has risen to be one of the most prevalent lifestyle diseases around the world. According to WHO, in the year 2014, 422 million people were diagnosed with diabetes across the world. It also pointed out the rapid increase of the condition in the past 3 decades.

    A diet full of foods with low glycaemic index, low on carbs and whole-grain foods is often suggested to those with the condition. Aerated sugary drinks are a strict no-no but certain fresh juices can be a good option.  However, one juice can load up on and that may also help regulate your blood sugar levels naturally- Karela juice.

    Karela (or bitter gourd) is one vegetable that has been lauded by experts for its many health benefits, one of it is regulating the blood sugar levels. Dr. Anju Sood, a Bangalore-based Nutritionist, echoes the fact and says “Karela juice makes your insulin active which in turn uses the sugar adequately and not convert into fat, which would eventually help in weight loss too”. Various studies have also found a few active substances with anti-diabetic properties in Karela like ‘charantin’ which is famous for its blood glucose-lowering effect. Food.ndtv

    By Caroline Calder News
  • 11 Nov
    South African – Citrus exports to set record

    South African – Citrus exports to set record

    South African citrus exports, both globally and to the US, are expected to reach record levels in 2020, according to a report from the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS). The expected record is based on the pace of exports up to August 2020, increased production, a spike in demand for health reasons and limited logistics disruptions from COVID-19.

    The United States is considered a premium market for South African citrus. Exports to the United States are expected to reach record levels of above 70,000 metric tonnes in 2020, up 10% from the previous record of 63,544 MT in 2018. South African citrus enters the United States duty-free under the African Growth Opportunity Act.

    South Africa exports its citrus from the end of March to August. This period coincided with the national lockdown due to COVID-19 in 2020. However, all agricultural production, including citrus, was considered an essential service during the national lockdown and remained operational. While there were initial challenges at some of the ports in Cape Town and Durban, such as congestion, shortage of containers and closures of ports for limited periods due to COVID-19 cases, the citrus industry was able to work around these challenges. The citrus industry established a COVID-19 Response Committee, and the joint efforts from government, port authorities and shipping companies were critical in ensuring that South Africa could achieve peak export volumes.

    South African citrus imports account for 4% of total US citrus imports. South Africa is the fifth largest supplier of citrus to the United States. South Africa is only permitted to export citrus to the United States from official citrus black spot-free areas. CitrusIndustry

    By Caroline Calder News
  • 11 Nov
    EU – ACE reports increased recycling rate for beverage cartons

    EU – ACE reports increased recycling rate for beverage cartons

    Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) has announced that the recycling rate for beverage cartons in the EU28 rose to 51% in 2019. “We are pleased that the steady annual increase of the recycling rate for beverage cartons in 2019 surpassed 50%,” said Annick Carpentier, director general of ACE. “This is proof of our industry’s efforts and enhances the message that beverage cartons are recyclable and are being recycled at scale in Europe.” Beverage cartons, made largely from renewable materials, contribute positively to a low carbon circular economy. The industry is driving beverage carton recycling across Europe, committed to efforts that support the increase of the recycling rate in all EU Member States. The industry calls on policymakers at the European and national levels to assure that beverage cartons are collected for recycling separately, and to support a collection target to ensure beverage cartons are collected for recycling.

    “With an upcoming EU legislative agenda towards more sustainable packaging, the beverage carton is well positioned with a 51% recycling rate. This is an opportunity to inform policy-makers at all levels that beverage cartons are a safe, circular and sustainable packaging solution with a low carbon footprint, and how the beverage carton you use at your table can be easily collected and recycled,” continued Carpentier. PackagingNews

     

    By Caroline Calder News
  • 11 Nov
    Brazil – Concerns over crop development reported

    Brazil – Concerns over crop development reported

    The dry weather and high temperatures in São Paulo State are concerning Brazilian citrus farmers. Besides limiting the supply of higher quality fruits in the current crop (2020/21), this scenario may affect the output next season (2021/22), since trees are very weak, and the current stage (fruit settlement) is very critical – some farmers have already reported fruitlet drops.

    Data from Somar Meteorologia (weather forecast agency) show that it rained in southwestern SP (Avaré and surroundings) between May and June, while in central and northern state, precipitation was extremely low. In July, the scenario became worse, with mostly dry weather in all the areas – the monthly average of rains was below 10 mm.

    In August, rains returned to SP, but were concentrated in the southwestern region – in some areas, the monthly rain volume hit 140 mm. Thus, this area is the least affected by the weather, with larger-sized fruits and, so far, higher flower settlement (for the fruits from the 2021/22 season). On the other hand, northern SP (Bebedouro and surroundings) has been the most affected region, mainly non-irrigated groves, with many trees almost totally dry and weak. In central SP, the scenario is concerning too, while in eastern SP, the situation is intermediate.

    It is worth to mention that, concerning the output in the 2021/22 crop, the current development period is critical and largely influenced by the water availability in the soil, temperatures and air moisture. Although it is still early to confirm, farmers have reported that settlement of the first flowering (which occurred mostly in mid-July) has been compromised in most regions. New flowering may occur if rains are enough to interrupt the water stress (more than 40 mm). In this context, flowering may be heterogeneous, depending on the region and plants conditions, which would result in trees with fruits in different development stages. Cepea

    By Caroline Calder News
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