TFNet News Compilation (Page 215)

Since Watson and Crick first revealed the double helix of our genetic code in 1953, scientists have gained the ability to give just about every living thing a genetic makeover. Unsurprisingly, given their humanitarian and economic importance, many of these alterations have been to crop plants. Many are being re-engineeredContinue Reading

by Avi Crane (via Fresh Fruit Portal)   When avocados from Chile first arrived in the U.S. in September 1985, the weekly demand for avocados was under 7 million pounds.  Weekly supply above that level would carry into the following week as unsold inventory and the market would react accordingly.Continue Reading

The project to export national products abroad, especially to the European continent, was analyzed at an inter-agency meeting held at the Committee on Industry, Trade, Tourism and Cooperatives.   Spanish businessmen, representatives of the National Quality and Plant Health and Seeds (SENAVE), the National Institute for Food and Nutrition (INAN),Continue Reading

The Centre’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has allocated Rs 4.6 crore (USD 1M) to support a national multi-institutional project titled ‘A value chain on jackfruit and its products’.   The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) has been identified as the leading centre to be roped in for the same.  Continue Reading

Mango exports from Peru in the period between January and April rose by 25.7 per cent to US$165.2m compared with the year-earlier period, according to figures released by Peruvian exporter association Adex.   The US was the biggest market, absorbing US$64.2m of mangoes, followed by the Netherlands (US$48.1m) and theContinue Reading

Last January, I visited a friend and took pictures of her mango tree that was covered with flowers. A few weeks later we talked on the phone and she told me the flowers had fallen without turning into fruit. She jokingly said that by taking pictures I had put aContinue Reading

In half of the world’s countries, vitamin A deficiency is a scourge that leaves disease and death in its wake.   Every year, it inflicts between 250,000 and 500,000 helpless and malnourished young people with early-life blindness. And in half of those cases, it also brings death, according to theContinue Reading

The first fresh fruit programme to get Primary Growth Partnership funding from the Government is now up and running with the goal of tripling avocado industry productivity in 10 years.   The big vision for the New Zealand Avocados Go Global programme is to triple productivity to 12 tonnes aContinue Reading

Australia will produce its largest avocado crop this year, with a forecast 65,000 tonnes to be harvested.   Avocados Australia chief executive officer John Tyas says the local industry has been growing steadily for a number of years.   “Western Australia, in particular, is a fairly new part of theContinue Reading

Farmers in western Japan have started shipping square-shaped watermelons to locations across Japan and overseas.     A farmer in Kagawa prefecture, southwestern Japan, produced the product about 30 years ago.   The square-shaped watermelons are to be used as display ornaments.   On Wednesday, farmers in Zentsuuji city preparedContinue Reading

The dry weather is driving the prices of watermelon up by at least 40%.   What used to cost about RM1.10 (USD 0.34) per kg for a grade A (the highest grade) watermelon, now costs between RM1.30 (USD 0.40) and RM1.40 (USD 0.44).   Despite the increase in the price,Continue Reading