Freshplaza.com reports that Vietnam and Cambodia are now allowing imports of fresh produce from South Africa. The Vietnamese agricultural department announced this week that fruit imports from South Africa were compliant.

The new export markets have been welcomed by exporters who are finding traditional markets increasingly challenging.

Crontje Scheepers from Cape Citrus said, “Every new market which opens is very interesting for companies as well as for South Africa as a whole.”

The clearance unfortunately will come too late for this season’s grape exports as packing is almost complete on the desired varieties. But providing the phytosanitary demands are met it could be a promising option for next season for various fruit exports.

Jamaica’s rural cocoa industry gets a much needed shot in the arm with the official launch of the “Re-Engineering the Cocoa Rural Economy through Agro-processing, Eco-Tourism & Entrepreneurship” Project (RECREATE), jointly funded by the European Union, through The European Union Banana Support Programme, and the Coffee Industry Board.

RECREATE launches Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at 10 AM, at the Ministry of Agriculture, Hope Gardens, Kingston 6. Special guests include the Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries the Honourable Roger Clarke, Ambassador Paola Amedei of the European Union, and CIB Chairman Mr. Frank Phipps.

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Alivando Group of companies has invested over Sh400 million to boost avocado farming in Central Kenya. Chief executive officer Gary Hannan said they have engaged 1,030 farmers in quality production of the commodity. Speaking during a workshop at Kenyatta University, Hannan said they have started a pilot factory in Murang’a to boost production.

He however decried rampant exploitation of farmers by middlemen. He said the company will sign contracts with the suppliers as a way of eliminating the middlemen.

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The Olivado group of companies has invested more than Sh400million to boost avocado farming in Kenya.

The company’s CEO Gary Hannan said they have engaged 1,030 farmers in avocado production and plan to raise the number to over 2,000. Speaking during a workshop at Kenyatta University, Hannan said they have started a pilot factory in Murang’a but the farmers cannot meet the demand.

He decried rampant exploitation of farmers by middlemen and stated that those who would be contracted by the company for supply would be receiving proceeds three month prior to harvest. The CEO said central Kenya was well placed to produce high quality avocado products noting that bushes grown in hot, humid climates were found to have high saturated fat and too much wax for oil production.

Hannan said in fire years time Kenya would be producing 0.3 Million litres of high quality avocado oil for export and local consumption, if all went well.

Source: allafrica.com

Ghana exported 62,000 tonnes of bananas into the Eurozone in 2011.

Bananas are the most exported fruits from the country in terms of volume and they rank second after citrus in terms of value. The European banana market is the largest in the world, with about 5.5 million tonnes imported per year.

Since 2006 when the European Union opened its market, there has been a rise in exports of between 2 and 5% every year.

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