Papaya Trade Focus

USA: Brooks adds papaya box, beefs up laboratory

2010-02-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

The Packer - 2 Feb 2010

Brooks Tropicals Inc., Homestead, Fla., is introducing a new papaya box, has upgraded its quality control laboratory and has brought in some new personnel to help it improve papaya deliveries. ... read more...

EU Imports: Demand Meltdown

2010-01-26T15:15:00.001-08:00

by David Ivanovic (Dakar, Sénégal)

Latest Eurostat figures show a substantial drop in European imports of papayas. For the first ten months of 2009, shipments (26,638 mt) went down by 12% when compared with the same period in 2008 (30,257 mt).

EU-15 Papaya Imports (January to October, in metric tonnes)

Brazilian volumes shrinked by 15%, from nearly 20,000 mt to just under 17,000 tons; La Fruitière interrupted its shipments from Cote d’Ivoire last August, representing a 63% drop (2,900 vs 1,000 mt).

USA: Illinois researchers to develop gender-bending papayas

2009-11-11T15:17:00.000-08:00

Nov 2, 2009 - stltoday.com

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have received a $3.1 million National Science Foundation grant they hope will fund research that leads to the development of papayas that only produce hermaphrodite offspring. ... read more...

India: Lucknow farmers benefiting from papaya farming

2009-11-11T15:15:00.000-08:00

Lucknow, Nov. 9 (ANI): Farmers in Lucknow have taken up papaya cultivation believing it to be a lucrative option over other crops. “Every 3-4th day, we are dispatching seven to eight quintals of papaya while rest of the fruit will give dividends by November only. It is a lucrative option,” said Ashish Mishra, a papaya farmer. ... read more...

USA: September Papaya Harvest Improves

2009-11-11T15:14:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON - Nov 10/09 - SNS -- Hawaii fresh papaya production is estimated at 2.39 million pounds for September 2009, up 3% from August but 3% lower than September 2008, according to the latest crop production estimates from the USDA.

David will be in Japan! Any requests?

2009-07-21T16:25:00.001-07:00

by David Ivanovic

I'll be in Japan for a couple of days, and I'll take that opportunity to meet some key players involved in exotics product imports and to share with you how they are marketed in this 130 million people market.

Mata!

Uganda asks farmers to grow pawpaw for Papain

2009-07-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

July 19, 2009 - Uganda Pulse

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Henry Bagiire has advised farmers in Uganda to start growing pawpaw on large scale. He says the international demand for Pawpaw juice or papain is on the rise. Bagiire says papain, which is extracted from the lattice juice of paw-paws is used in many countries as a meat tenderizer. It is also used ... read more...

Brazilian papayas set for crop recovery

2009-07-17T07:45:00.001-07:00

July 15, 2009 - Fruitnet.com

Brazilian papaya imports are anticipated to bounce back to their pre-winter level by September with a strong deal set to shape the remainder of 2009, following lower-than-expected volume in July caused by ... read more...

Ghana: Export Market Exists For Pawpaw

2009-07-13T07:17:00.000-07:00

July 13, 2009 - Graphic Ghana

Ghana has great potential to reap higher foreign exchange from the exports of pawpaw (papaya) and needs to step up investments in the area. Currently, the world’s fourth largest exporter of the produce to the European Union (EU) market, the country still has enormous room to improve production and overtake major exporters such as Brazil and Ecuador, given Ghana’s favourable soil texture and fertility, as well as cost-effective production and export advantage it enjoys. ... read more...

Ghana: Papaya - a rising commodity in the export business

2009-07-10T07:43:00.000-07:00

July 9, 2009 - The Ghanaian Chronicle

A strategic investment in the commercial cultivation of papaya (paw paw) could boost the country's export earnings and contribute substantially to the country's economic growth, the Federation of Associations of Ghana Exporters (FAGE) has observed. The President of the Association, Mr. Anthony Sikpa, noted that Ghana was endowed with all the natural conditions that could make her become a major producer and exporter of the tropical fruit, if appreciable practices were applied.

He said Ghana's geographical location offers a favourable climate for the production of the commodity, while Ghana's proximity to Europe was also a logistical advantage over major producing countries such as Brazil and Ecuador, who control 65% and 10% of the European market respectively. Mr. Anthony Sikpa made these observations at a day's joint forum, organised by the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters and the Trade Investment Program for a Competitive Export Economy (TIPCEE) on the increasing potential of papaya in Ghana's export business in Accra last Tuesday.

The forum was to expose participants to the potential for papaya as a strong export commodity for Ghana, and recent developments along the supply chain to stimulate stakeholder interests for expanding the production base in Ghana. Notable among the developments have been the successful introduction of golden papaya - a variety of papaya - which has led to increased yields from 45 metric tonne per hectare to 65-80 metric tonne per hectare. FAGE however noted that the need for further investment in the sector was driven by the existing market opportunities, both on the local and export, and high returns on investment resulting from high yielding varieties.

Available figures provided by FAGE indicate that in 2008 the 15 core member states of the European Union imported 35,750 metric tonnes of papaya with a CIF value of 53million Euros. Out of this, Ghana's papaya amounted to 1,061 metric tonnes, representing a market share of only 3%. Roland Adade, Head, Market Access Tteam of the Trade Investment Program for a Competitive Export Economy, said analysing the production of the tropical fruit from the world perspective, there was no reason why investment in its cultivation should not be exploited to boost the agricultural economy of the country.

New US import data available tomorrow!

2009-07-09T06:57:00.001-07:00

by David Ivanovic

Stay tuned as tomorrow I’ll publish the latest US import data for May 2009. EU data will be availalbe a few weeks later.

India: Papaya mealy bug – a new threat to sericulture

2009-07-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

July 9, 2009 - The Hindu

Papaya mealy bug is a polyphagous sucking insect pest and has been recorded on more than sixty host plants in India. But its serious attack was recorded only in a few economically important crops such as papaya, mango, pomegranate, citrus, beans, tomato, potato, pepper and cotton. In other plants it exists as a minor pest. However sudden outbreak of any minor pest ... reade more...

Fiji: The way forward for papaya industry

2009-07-09T06:44:00.000-07:00

July 9, 2009 - The Fiji Daily Post

THE Ministry of Agriculture is calling on the sugar cane farmers to diversify into other exportable crops as Fiji is currently facing an economic catastrophe with the demise of its sugar industry. Deputy Secretary for Agriculture Development Apisai Ucuboi at a workshop on papaya market research findings at Natures Way Cooperative in Nadi said farmers should not rely on the income from their sugarcane farms but also diversify into potential crops such as pawpaw in order to ... read more...

Ghana continues to improve export quality of fruit and veg

2009-07-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

July 8, 2009 - FreshPlaza

Ghana is busy further improving the quality of it's export. Recently they have started to use a cool house at Tema harbour. From here pineapples (MD2) and bananas are shipped by reefer. By using this cool house, Shed9, the expected cold chain from producer to consumer via sea is a bit better. It is the intention ... read more...

Ghana: Pawpaw farmers and exporters want support

2009-07-08T05:59:00.000-07:00

July 8, 2009 - My Joy Online

Pawpaw farmers and exporters want to see more Ghanaians involved in the growing the fruit. They believe increased interests in the sector would improve output and could potentially contribute more to GDP than even the traditional cocoa and timber. The farmers say the favourable climate, the high demand both locally and abroad and the relatively low investment required to grow the fruit makes it a very lucrative venture. Many entrepreneurs however shy away from the sector and the pawpaw farmers and exporters are not too happy. To reverse this trend, the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters, is collaborating with the National Horticultural Taskforce and TIPCEE, ... read more...

EU15: January to April Import Details

2009-07-04T13:43:00.001-07:00

by David Ivanovic

Following the requests of some of you, here is the table highlighting the first four months of 2009. Note that the data is from Eurostat, and that I have processed the information into that pretty meaningful table.

The first for months are showing a significant drop in papaya imports, amounting to a 19% drop in arrivals when compared to 2008.

Papaya Imports in Japan for 2008

2009-07-04T11:06:00.001-07:00

by David Ivanovic

Imports of fresh papayas in Japan amounted to 3,800 tons in 2008, for a CIF value of JPY 970 million.

Filipino suppliers represented more than 75% of shipped volumes, while papaya from Hawaii amount to 23%.

European figures for Jan-Apr 2009

2009-07-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

by David Ivanovic

Imports have further declined in April, amounting to 2,700 t. (3,200 t. in Apr. 2008), bringing total shipment figures down by 19% for the first quarter of 2009. It's interesting to notice that US imports have gone the opposite way, growing by 25%!

Fiji's king pawpaw supplier in region

2009-06-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

June 30, 2009 - The Fiji Times

Fiji represents 90 per cent of the Pacific share of the New Zealand import fruits and vegetables market, says Forum Secretariat's Pacific Island Trade Commissioner to New Zealand Chris Cocker. He said it was a positive to see Fiji retain its market share in New Zealand over the years despite ... reade more...

Malaysia: Papaya prices going up in Penang

2009-06-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

June 27, 2009 - The Star Online

A SHORTAGE of papayas in Penang has led to higher prices with a fruit seller saying he is selling them at 80 sen per slice instead of the usual 50 sen. Street vendor S. Ravi, 47, told Malaysia Nanban that he had not opened his stall for the past week due to the shortage.Ravi, who operates in Market Street (Little India area), said most fruit vendors were now focusing on durians which were in season.Many of his customers, he said, seemed to ... read more...

Recession hits UK exotics consumption

2009-06-22T12:41:00.001-07:00

note from David: well it's kind of official, look at my earlier posts on the dramatic papaya data for the first three months of 2009.

June 22, 2009 - Reefer Trend
The sales value of tropical fruits such as pineapples, mangoes and melons has dropped by 5.5% with volumes falling even more steeply

A tough start for papaya imports in 2009 (correction)

2009-06-18T16:15:00.001-07:00

by David Ivanovic – June 18, 2009

There was a slight mistake in my table (the years were wrong!) Here’s the good one.

EU15 Papaya Imports in 2008

2009-06-18T06:26:00.001-07:00

by David Ivanovic

Imports of fresh papayas by the EU15 totalled 37,293 tons in 2008, up by 2.5% from levels recorded in 2007, despite important drops from Brazilian (-6%) and Ecuadorian suppliers (-23%).

Papayas from Cote d’Ivoire increased by nearly 100% between the two years, securing 10% of the market share in Europe.

Seasonality of US Imports in 2008

2009-06-05T13:39:00.001-07:00

by David Ivanovic

2008 was a year to forget for the papaya industry in the United States. Imports have fallen by 10% compared to volumes in 2007, from 138,000 to 124,000 mt (excluding shipments from Hawaii).

In 2008, monthly shipments averaged 10,000 mt, with a typical peak between April and May. Mexico and Belize occupy together 90% of the imported papaya market.

‘Perfect’ papaya now being exported to Canada

2009-06-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

The variety of papaya known as “Perfect” or “World’s Best” — the Costa Rican hybrid Pococi — is now being enjoyed by Canadians, and national agricultural officials and agribusinesses hope it will soon find its way to Europe, where samples have been positively received.

In order to make the flavor of these unique Costa Rican papayas known, a group of local agribusinesses took part in a week-long exporters’ mission during the month of May in Toronto, Canada. The mission was supported by the Trade Promotion Office of the Costa Rican Foreign Corporation (Procomer). The activity yielded some 99 business meetings with well-known supermarket chains such as Sobeys, Loblaws and Metro.

The Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) is promoting the cultivation of papayas using good management practices, rational utilization of inputs and good harvesting practices that would guarantee the shelf life of the fruits up to the moment they are sold in their final market destinations.

According to MAG’s non-traditional fruits manager, Alberto Montero Gonzalez, Costa Rica has the ideal conditions to grow the “perfect” papayas, which were developed by ministry experts and are mainly grown in the Caribbean region (Guacimo and Pococi), the Northern Zone (La Fortuna), and the Central Pacific (Orotina and Parrita).

“Costa Rica has some 1,000 hectares of papayas planted, of which 400 correspond to the Pococi hybrid, while the rest has the local variety known as ‘lucia’, among others,” Montero Gonzalez said.

The Pococi hybrid boasts excellent flavor, sweetness, compact pulp, deep orange color, and high productivity — up to 80 tons per hectare per year, with each fruit reaching an average weight of 1 to 1.5 kilograms.

Montero Gonzalez added that Costa Rica is in a great position to increase production and commercialization of the Pococi hybrid, as the country has enough seed at the Los Diamantes Experiment Station in Guapiles (INTA-MAG) and the Fabio Baudrit Experiment Station (UCR-MAG).

The cost of seed per hectare of the Pococi hybrid is about 40,000 colones ($70), with expenses for establishing the crop and production costs totaling some 6 million colones ($10,500) per hectare for an 18-24 production period.

MAG and the National Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer Institute INTA) offers growers field days, technical assistance and technology transfer so that they can be successful in the papaya-growing operations.

A recent outreach event took place last April 28 at the Guacimo Cantonal Agricultural Center in the province of Limon.

Source: insidecostarica.com

Publication date: 5/27/2009

US: Papayas see strong demand, higher prices

2009-04-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

By Andy Nelson

(April 1, 11:05 a.m.) Demand for ample supplies of high-quality papayas should be strong in April and May, importers said.

At the end of March, Princeton, Fla.-based New Limeco LLC was bringing in six to eight loads of papayas from Guatemala per week, about 20% more than last year at the same time, said Eddie Caram, sales manager.

click to read

Sri Lanka: Papaw crop dying out

2009-03-02T18:23:00.001-08:00

A deadly bug attack and warmer temperature from changing climate has wiped out much of the country’s papaw cultivation this year. The result has been the skyrocketing of the price of this popular fruit from Rs. 30-35 per kilo two months ago to Rs. 100 a kilo at present."

According to agricultural officers the mealy bug, which has attacked even other cultivation, is a white insect which spreads over leaves and smothers the growth tree. On the other hand the increase in the temperature directly affects the papaw flower. It is believed the mealy bug has come into the country form the imported varieties of papaw.

Source: nation.lk

Publication date: 3/2/2009

Costa Rica’s key players in fresh produce unite in strength for the first time with a country stand

2009-02-04T14:35:00.001-08:00

Costa Rica at Fruit Logistica 2009

Costa Rica’s bananas, pineapples, papayas and tropical roots and tubers are present for the next three days in Berlin at the 17th edition of FRUIT LOGISTICA, one of the most important European fresh produce fairs.

Europe is the second biggest market for Costa Rica’s agricultural products. Four key players of the Costa Rican fresh produce industry, in cooperation with Procomer, the Foreign Trade Corporation of Costa Rica, will be exhibiting their products at FRUIT LOGISTICA, namely:
CORBANA, the Costa Rica banana producers association
Nutrifresh de Costa Rica, the producer of new hybrid papaya called ‘Pococi’
Nayudel SA, a key pineapple exporter
B&C Exportadores, a specialist in tropical roots and tubers
Due to the fact that the agricultural sector accounts for 21.8% of Costa Rica’s total export revenue and almost half of total agricultural exports go to Europe, participation at the FRUIT LOGISTICA 2009 is crucial for Costa Rica as a country. More importantly, bananas and pineapples are Costa Rica’s second and third most valuable exports respectively, after microprocessor components. In total, all products exhibited at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2009 (bananas, pineapples, papaya, chayote, cassava, malanga and tiquisque) generated a significant €1,023.43 million in foreign currency receipts last year and constituted 64% of total agricultural exports.

Germany is a very important market for Costa Rican agricultural products as it is Europe’s second largest importer of Costa Rican agricultural products: German imports equal 20% of total European imports of Costa Rican agricultural produce. More than half of these imports are bananas and pineapples. In Germany, consumer expenditure on fruit per capita grew almost a quarter (24.4%) since 2003. Thus, fresh fruit supply is increasingly important for Germany. German consumption of fruit totalled €11,930.5 million in 2008 with an average annual growth rate of 4% since 2003.

Costa Rica Bananas, the World’s Best Bananas

CORBANA (the National Banana Corporation of Costa Rica) is a public non-governmental entity that promotes and develops Costa Rica’s banana industry under the slogan ‘World’s Best Bananas’. Its main objectives are to foster the sustainable development of the banana industry, to advise the government in the area of internal policies likely to affect the banana industry and to carry out research in the agricultural sector. For CORBANA, the quality of bananas is not measured just by their taste but also by the social and environmental conditions of their production. In 2008, global exports of Costa Rican bananas reached €517.6 million.

Papaya Pococí, a Novelty in Tropical Fruits

Nutrifresh de Costa Rica produces papaya and is currently exporting 80% of its production. At FRUIT LOGISTICA, Nutrifresh de Costa Rica will be introducing a new hybrid variety of papaya called Pococí, which was developed by the University of Costa Rica and is unknown to the European consumer. Due to its exquisite taste, this new variety of papaya has been very well accepted by Canadian consumers. In 2008, Costa Rican exports of papaya amounted to €847,270,000.

Quality Pineapples

Nayudel S.A. will be exhibiting its quality pineapples, which have been certified with high-standards labels such as FAIR TRADE, ISO 9000, ISO 14000, FDA ORGANICA, EUREP GAP and Rainforest Alliance. In 2008, Costa Rican exports of pineapples increased to €436.9 million. The European Union represents the second biggest market for Costa Rican pineapples and absorbs almost half of all exported Costa Rican pineapples. Of these exports, approximately 8% went to Germany.

The Passion for Tropical Produce

B&C Exportadores specialises in tropical roots and tubers. Among its main exports to Europe are chayote, cassava, malanga and tiquisque, which are EUREP GAP- and BASC-certified. Global exports of these exotic tropical products generated € 66.6 million in 2008.

“Having these four influential players united at this trade fair is very important for Costa Rica because Europe is a key market for our fresh produce and FRUIT LOGISTICA is therefore the place to be,” said Mr. Zacarías Ayub, Commercial Director of Procomer Europe.

Location: Costa Rica stand, Hall 25, Stand B-03 at the Messe Berlin, Messedamm 22, 14055 Berlin Germany.

About Procomer

Procomer is the official Trade and Promotion Office for the export of Costa Rican products and services. Procomer is represented in Latin America, the United States, Canada and Europe. The office falls under the expert guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and helps all local manufacturers communicate with foreign countries regarding exports.

www.procomer.com
www.corbana.co.cr
www.canapep.com
www.nutrifreshcr.com
www.bycexportadores.com

Publication date: 2/4/2009

Tesco calls for lower supplier prices

2009-01-31T09:42:00.001-08:00

Fruitnet.com 31 January 2009

Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy claims suppliers must pass savings made from lower commodity prices on to consumers

Tesco has called on its suppliers to pass savings made from falling commodity prices on to consumers, claiming that it is critically important that savings translate into lower retail prices to ease financial pressures on shoppers.

In a keynote address at the prestigious City Food Lecture in London this week, Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy (pictured) told an invited food industry audience that rising demand for discount goods underlined the need for lower prices for consumers.

“Commodity prices are down by over 50 per cent from their peak, while the price of oil is down by over US$100 – these lower prices need to be passed into the supply chain and fed on to consumers who are under growing financial pressure,” he said.

Sir Terry said that Tesco wanted to ensure that all its suppliers understood this and was “going to great lengths to speak to them about the pressures consumers are under”.

The Tesco chief executive argued that although the adjustment “would be difficult for some”, it was “critical if consumers are to be given what they need”.

As evidence of the demand for lower prices, Sir Terry claimed that the retailer was now Britain’s biggest discounter and said sales of Tesco’s discount and value ranges had increased by 65 per cent compared with a year ago.

He also delivered a robust defence of free market economics, claiming that agricultural subsidies were “too high”, reducing the efficiency of agriculture production and keeping food prices in protected markets “artificially high”.

But environmental concerns were also tackled in the speech and the Tesco chief claimed that government backing for biofuels had backfired, causing forests to be cleared and leaving “less land was available for other crops”.

Papaya production falls in November from year ago

2009-01-28T13:57:00.000-08:00

Hawai'i papaya production fell 14 percent in November from the same month a year earlier, but was still 1 percent higher over the first 11 months of the year compared with the same period the previous year, according to the latest estimates from the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Farmers produced an estimated 2.6 million pounds of papaya in November. Production for the first 11 months of the year totaled 28.1 million pounds.

Growers received an estimated 39 cents per pound of fresh papaya in Novemberr, 4 cents less than in October but about 1 cent more than a year earlier.

Although production was good for some growers, poor economic hampered sales, the NASS said.

Source: honoluluadvertiser.com

Publication date: 1/28/2009

India: Nalgonda farmer’s effort bears fruit

2009-01-26T11:48:00.001-08:00

A progressive farmer has shown the way to cultivate imported variety of papaya and export the same to far off places by adhering to a prudent water, pest and marketing management.

Aruri Swamy, a 38-year-old young farmer of Aregudem village in Chityal mandal, earned a name for himself in papaya cultivation and bagged the district level best farmer award at the Sankranthi Puraskaralu ceremony held here last week. Swamy who started papaya cultivation on a small scale several years ago expanded and diversified his agriculture venture by importing Red-lady variety of papaya seeds from Taiwan through a Pune-based agency.

“I have cultivated Red-Lady variety of Papaya in eight acres as there is huge demand for the fruit in the market”, said Swamy. On an average I sell most of my produce at the fruit market in Gaddiannaram in Hyderabad from where the fruits are exported to far off places including Dubai, he said. “Though I completed my degree from City College in Hyderabad, I switched over to agriculture which I consider a noble occupation”, Swamy remarked. “I am earning a minimum of Rs. 3 lakh on cultivation of papaya per acre in a span of one-and-half year. It is respectable as well as a rewarding profession”, he said with a sense of pride.

The use of bio-fertilizers like vermin-compost and neem-based pesticides besides drip irrigation helped me achieve high production, he said. The red-lady variety of papaya is the most sought after fruit in the market due to its delicious taste, nutritious contents and economic price, he explained. “The growing health consciousness among the people came as a boon for papaya cultivators like me,” he said jubilantly.

The entrepreneur skills of Swamy motivated several other farmers in the village to take up papaya cultivation. More farmers should emulate Swamy who has shown remarkable aptitude in papaya cultivation and its marketing, said the district Assistant Director (Horticulture) V. Sarojini Devi.

Source: hindu.com

Publication date: 1/26/2009

Malaysia: MAFC's papaya processing centre to be ready by April

2009-01-15T10:44:00.001-08:00

Khazanah Nasional Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary Malaysian Agrifood Corporation Bhd (MAFC) is set to make a significant impact on the papaya production in the country.

It expects to complete its new collection, processing and packaging centre for papaya in Lanchang, Pahang in April this year.

Its chief executive officer Azizi Meor Ngah said the new centre will have a capacity of sorting, grading and packaging 80 tonnes papaya per day.

He said the company invested RM16 million to set up the centre.

"The construction of the new centre has started and it is expected to complete by April this year," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the launching of Permanent Food Production Park and Modern Agriculture Park in Lanchang, Pahang on Tuesday.

Currently, the company exports about one metric tonne of papayas to United Kingdom every week.

It also exports the fruits to Singapore.

Azizi said MAFC was also planning to export papayas to the Middle East and China.

MAFC was established in 2006 with the specific aim of restructuring Malaysia's agrifood production and distribution system through an integrated value adding management that gives priority to global standards of food safety, quality and sustainability.

In 2007, the company, which is the anchor tenant in Lanchang Permanent Food Production Park, set up a seed garden and a 20 hectare model farm at the park to grow the unique papaya variety called frangi hybrid.

The model farm has been producing two tonnes of papaya daily. It also serves as a model farm to campaign and woo contract farmers, and at the same time provide training in growing the frangi papaya under good agricultural practices.

Source: bernama.com

Publication date: 1/15/2009

UK: Environment secretary on food labelling

2009-01-15T10:38:00.000-08:00

UK’s Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said that supermarkets and companies needed to label products more clearly to show consumers exactly where their food was coming from. Under current European regulations, a product's country of origin was the place where it had undergone its last significant process, but this could hide where it had really come from. Mr Benn suggested a voluntary labelling scheme for retailers and caterers that would show the country of origin. The Food and Drink Federation, however, said it would be an expensive move to label products like pizza or pies that had a number of ingredients. Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference, Mr Benn said consumers could help boost the agricultural industry by eating healthier, locally produced food that was also more environmentally friendly because of less transport.

Robin Maynard, Soil Association Campaigns Director, commented that Hilary Benn should know there was already a label that delivered what he was calling for: the Soil Association's organic symbol, which offered a 'one-stop shop' for consumers wanting food free from bad ingredients, providing high animal welfare and care for the environment. Given organic farming used 26% less energy to produce the same amount of food as non-organic agriculture, organic farmers would be top contenders for Mr Benn's 'low-carbon farming award'. Robin Maynard continued that it was time the Secretary of State and Defra finally acknowledged that there was a burgeoning body of British farmers doing exactly what he and the public said they want, producing sustainable, climate-friendly food that was what our long-term food security depended on above all.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

14.01.2009

Malaysia: Papaya to fare well at food park

2009-01-14T10:53:00.001-08:00

Papaya will be among the main products of the proposed food park in Lanchang.

A total of 32 companies were allocated 40ha of land each in the park set up under the East Coast Economic Region masterplan.

For a start, 20ha will be planted with the Pailo papaya (a hybrid species) together with crops like dragon fruit, guava and star fruit.

The initiative has been carried out by Malaysian Agrifood Corporation Bhd (MAFC) aggressively since last year.

MAFC corporate communications vice president Raja Zalila Raja Safran said that five farmers were groomed by the corporation to supply Paiola papayas under a contract-farming scheme.

Raja Zalila said that MAFC was a government-linked corporation formed to restructure agrifood production and distribution in 2006.

It was among the 32 companies allocated 40ha in the park and the anchor company for the production of papaya as a commercial fruit.

Raja Zalila said the project started with a seed garden and a 20ha model farm growing the frangi papaya hybrid.

“Paiola is a commercial name coined for the hybrid by combining the word papaya and the expression of ‘oo la la’.

“Overseas customers are attracted by the name because of its easy pronunciation,” Raja Zalila said in an interview recently.

“Coincidentally, it means nutritional in the Polynesian language,” she said.

Raja Zalila said the papaya was perfect for the project as it had high demand locally and abroad.

“It is petite and palm-sized with golden yellow skin and firm, sweet, deep crimson flesh.

“It can be kept a week longer than ordinary papayas and this makes the exporting process favourable,” she said.

The 3,600ha park has 400ha of gazetted land for the participation of smallholders. The remaining areas are allocated to companies, including big corporations, which act as anchors for the smallholders.

With supply from selected farmers, Raja Zalila said that MAFC could export eight tonnes of Paiola papayas daily by the middle of next year and 13 tonnes by yearend.

She said the Paiola was sold in Singapore, Hong Kong and Britain and fetched RM12 per fruit.

Participating farmer Shahriman Akma Shabudin, 29, said the opportunity allowed him to focus on producing papayas as seedling production and marketing was handled by MAFC.

“The company provides technical assistance and helps us deal with plant diseases and other problems,” said Shahriman, who has a degree in information technology.

Another participant, Norizan Osman, 47, said she joined the project to penetrate the international market.

“I will have no problems as MAFC has an extensive network locally and globally,” said the mother of four, who was previously involved in producing organic vegetables in Lanchang.

Source: thestar.com.my

Publication date: 1/14/2009

November Papaya Crop Drops

2009-01-13T10:04:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON - Jan 12/09 - SNS -- Hawaii fresh papaya production is estimated at 2.65 million pounds for November 2008, down 11% from October and 14% lower than a year ago, according to the USDA's latest crop production estimates.

Total crop area for November is estimated at 2,425 acres, up 10% from October and up 15% from November 2007. Harvested area totaled 1,460 acres, up 8% from the previous month and 7% higher than November 2007.

Weather conditions during November were generally dry, but periods of heavy showers helped replenish soil moisture levels in a few locations. In orchards exposed to prolonged dry weather, gaps in fruit columns remained evident. Young orchards made steady progress and regular spraying programs kept weeds and insects under control. Although production was good for some growers, low demand hampered sales, resulting in unsold fruit.

UK: Imported fresh produce prices to soar

2009-01-08T09:06:00.001-08:00

David says: Will exotics be affected? Of course

The cost of fresh fruit and vegetables will soar this year as European farmers shun the plunging pound. British importers believe shoppers will face increases as high as 20 per cent in coming weeks, with some produce disappearing from our shelves altogether. All sorts of fresh produce is affected but potatoes, onions and tomatoes are particularly at risk from fluctuating prices.

Producers and growers on the Continent are losing out because of sterling's slide and are putting up their prices for the UK market to compensate or bypassing it altogether in favour of their eurozone neighbours who have not been hit by sterling’s currency slump.

In weeks the pound has lost almost a quarter of its value against the euro, creating a nightmare for importers.

While independent shops will be hardest hit because they don’t have the commercial muscle of the major supermarket chains, even retail giants like Tesco and Sainsbury’s will be forced to up prices, if pressure on margins continues.

Some analysts believe even more greengrocers will disappear from our high streets. Simon Lane, managing director of importers Fruco plc, said: “The problem is that the producers and growers have the option to sell to other markets in the EC. “Margins when dealing with sterling are being squeezed all round and inevitably people here will have to pay more for their fresh produce.” More than 3,000 greengrocers have vanished from Britain’s high streets in the past decade.

Alex Liasi, of wholesalers 4degreesC in London’s New Spitalfields market, said: “One of our farmers in Spain says he is currently losing £500 on every lorry load of fresh produce he sends to the UK. “A lot of produce is now being shipped to Russia because they are prepared to pay more than we are.

Fruit and vegetable prices are already at risk from controversial European Union rules which would see many of the pesticides used by UK farmers outlawed.

Source: internationalsupermarketnews.com

Publication date: 1/8/2009

Malaysia: Big payoff in paiola papayas

2009-01-06T09:48:00.001-08:00

"Paiola" is a strange word to many but not to farmers here, particularly those involved in the Lanchang Fruit Park project.

Paiola is a papaya hybrid developed and promoted by the Malaysian Agrifood Corporation (MAFC).

Five local farmers are now being groomed by the corporation to supply the paiola papayas under the contract farming scheme.

MAFC is a government- linked corporation that has since 2006 been entrusted with restructuring the country's agrifood production and distribution system.

It is among the 32 companies being allocated at least 40ha in the Lanchang Fruit Park and has been the anchor company for the production of papayas in the commercial fruit orchard under the East Coast Economic Region.
MAFC vice-president of corporate communications Raja Zalila Raja Safran said the project in Lanchang started with the setting up of a seed garden and a 20ha model farm to grow the papaya variety.

"Paiola is the commercial name for our hybrid which we coined from the word papaya and the expression of 'oo la la'. It also means 'nutritional' in Polynesian," she said.

Raja Zalila said paiola was the perfect fruit for the project as it had high demand locally and abroad.

"It is small, like the size of a palm, with golden yellow skin and sweet and deep crimson flesh.

"It can also be kept a week longer than ordinary papayas," she said when met at the MAFC seed garden in Lanchang.

Raja Zalila said the farmers were selected under a programme to develop local agro-entrepreneurs in the Lanchang Fruit Park.

The 3,600ha fruit park contains 400ha gazetted as permanent food production park to allow the participation of local smallholders.

The remaining areas are allocated to companies, including big corporations which act as the anchor for the smallholders.

With the supply from the selected farmers, Raja Zalila said MAFC would be able to export eight tonnes of paiola daily by the middle of next year and 13 tonnes by the year-end.

She said the paiola were now sold in Singapore, Hong Kong and London and could fetch RM12 each.

One of the farmers involved in the project, Shahriman Akma Shabudin, 29, said the opportunity had allowed him to focus on growing the papayas as the production of seedlings and marketing were handled by MAFC.

"They also provide technical assistance and help us deal with diseases and other problems," said Shahriman, a graduate in information technology.

Another participant, Nori- zan Osman, said she decided to join the project as it would allow her to penetrate the international market.

"I have no problem marketing my produce as MAFC has an extensive network locally and globally," said the 47- year-old mother of four who was previously involved in the production of organic vegetables in Lanchang.

The Lanchang Fruit Park will be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Jan 13.

Source: nst.com.my

Publication date: 1/6/2009

Exotic fruit sales plunge in Italy

2009-01-05T10:14:00.001-08:00

CIA reports 25 per cent year-on-year fall in sales of pineapples, bananas, avocados and mangoes during festive period

The amount of exotic fruit consumed in Italy over the festive period fell dramatically compared with the same period of 2007, according to Italian farming organisation CIA.

In a statement, the group reported a year-on-year downturn of more than 25 per cent in sales of fruits such as pineapples, avocados, bananas and mangoes eaten in the country over Christmas and New Year.

Overall sales of fresh fruit and vegetables fell by 1.5 per cent compared with the year before, according to CIA. However, sales of dried fruit and nuts rose by 2.5 per cent, while vegetable sales grew by 3.5 per cent on the back of increased demand for lentils and beans.

Before Christmas, Italy's Minister of Agriculture Luca Zaia called on consumers to boycott pineapples and other imported food items over the holiday period in favour of traditional domestic products.

The calls were met with dismay from the trade, however, with industry body Fruit Imprese labelling the minister's comments "misguided".

According to CIA, the majority of Italy's 23m families did their shopping in retail stores (56 per cent), followed by traditional stores (24 per cent), local markets (18 per cent) and the internet (2 per cent)

www.fruitnet.com 5 January 2009

India: Developing genetically modified papaya

2008-12-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) is developing a Genetically Modified Papaya that would resist "ring spot virus" responsible for destroying Papaya cultivation in thousands of acres in the country. "Tissue culturing work had been completed and the gene had been identified. We have to cross some steps before fully developing the GM papaya", TNAU Vice Chancellor Dr.C.Ramasamy said.

"We have to develop our own variety as the virus, casued by white fly is peculiar to India", he said while talking to media here on the sidelines of Second International Symposium on Papaya here on Tuesday. He said The Department of Biotechnology had allocated funds for the project and it would take another three years for coming out with GM Papaya.

He said Papaya had attained a status of industrial crop across the world in view of its commercial uses. The area of Papaya cultivation had increased by three fold in the last ten years and India emerged as the fourth largest papaya producer. Another area where papaya had to be given focus was the genetic purity of seeds. Though Germ plasm conservation and development of new varieties were vital activities of papaya improvement, genetic purity of the seeds should not be compromised in the interest of above objectives, he said.

hindu.com, 12/10/2008

The Australian papaya and papaw grower’s national industry body

2008-12-08T11:04:00.000-08:00

Very nicely done, with some great definitions (papaya vs papaw) and juice pictures!

http://www.australianpapaya.com.au/

Relevant papaya links

2008-12-04T20:23:00.000-08:00

Papaya Crop Guides

* Malaysia Ministry of Agriculture
* UC/Davis Fruit and Nut Research and Information Center
* California Rare Fruit Growers Fruit Facts
* University of Florida
* Purdue University
* UC/Davis Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center
* Papaya Post Harvest Handling Guide

U.S. Groups, Businesses and Organic farmers overwhelmingly oppose engineered papaya

2008-11-27T19:25:00.001-08:00

Organizations came together with scientists, businesses, organic farmers, bee keepers and others to oppose a U.S. Department of Agriculture proposal to allow the commercialization of genetically engineered (GE) papaya trees in Florida. Over 12,000 people opposed the commercialization while only 17 people submitted statements supporting the commercialization of GE papaya.

The STOP GE Trees Campaign, which initiated the call for opposition, includes 137 organizations across the world that have united in the demand for a global ban on GE trees of all types.

GE papaya trees were previously commercialized in Hawaii where Hawaiian activists and scientists charge they have been a disaster, with one study demonstrating 50 percent contamination of backyard, wild and organic papayas only a few years after being released on the Big Island of Hawaii. Another study found that GE papaya, engineered to resist the ringspot virus, are increasingly susceptible to black spot fungus, leading to use of fungicides to control the problem.

Dr. Neil Carman, of the Sierra Club's Biotechnology Committee stated: "The use of GE papaya trees in Hawaii caused a rapid contamination of backyard and organic papaya. The USDA admits that release of GE papaya in Florida will also cause contamination, yet they continue to pursue it. They argue such contamination would be beneficial, ignoring the fact that it could wipe out the organic papaya farmers in Florida. In addition, their Environmental Assessment was completely inadequate. It did not assess the potential impacts on human health, pollinating insects like honey bees, or wildlife."

Anne Petermann, Coordinator of the STOP GE Trees Campaign and Co-Director of Global Justice Ecology Project said: "That the USDA continues to promote destructive genetically engineered trees and foods, despite the documentation of over 140 cases of genetic contamination [4] is disgraceful. The approval of GE papaya trees in Florida would set a very dangerous precedent that could open the door to commercialization of GE forest trees in the U.S. It could help pave the way for huge plantations of non-native and invasive GE eucalyptus trees across the U.S. South that would increase destruction of our native forests and devastate the communities that depend on them."

The STOP GE Trees Campaign teamed up with the Sierra Club, the Center for Food Safety and Florida Organic Growers to publicize the USDA's plans to deregulate GE papaya in Florida and generate comments opposing it.

The decision by the USDA on genetically engineered papaya trees could occur anytime, but the STOP GE Trees Campaign expects the USDA will make their decision sometime in early December of this year.

Source: huntingtonnews.net, 24 Nov 2008