Latest news stories from Fresh Produce Journal
News updates for the UK fresh produce business.
Lidl expands food waste partnership to nearly 200 UK stores
Discounter’s partnership with giving platform Neighbourly and food-sharing app Olio aims to save 5,000 tonnes of food
Defra-funded research developing drought-resilient crops
A collaborative research effort between Harper Adams University and Warwick University Crop Centre is developing drought-resilient lettuce, brassica, carrot and onion crops
Dutch glasshouse growers fear major losses after irrigation ban
Producers in Westland have been restricted from drawing water from dykes for first time ever in response to drought
RedPop brings ‘Snack Me’ spirit to summer
Campaign reaffirms the brand’s status as a convenient, sweet and tasty apple to take with you wherever you go
Moulton Bulb and IPP see onion volumes double in five years
IPP has been supplying sustainable wooden pallets to UK grower Moulton Bulb since 2008, but only in recent years have volumes soared to 120,000 pallets a year
Conversations
Fruitbox 117 · Hein Deprez, Greenyard
Greenyard’s founder discusses the company’s recent privatisation and explains why he sees an urgent need to redefine healthy eating
Fruitbox 116 · Mark Landini, Landini Associates
Sydney-based retail consultant explains how supermarkets can reconnect with customers through better design, storytelling, and a renewed focus on food
Fruitbox 115 · Daniel Sauvaitre & Philippe Binard, World Apple & Pear Association
Recorded live at Prognosfruit 2025, the latest episode of Fruitbox brings you instant reaction to this year’s European apple and pear production forecasts
UK heatwaves hamper bumblebee pollination in glasshouse crops
Bumblebees are struggling to pollinate during heatwaves, affecting glasshouse crops of tomatoes and soft fruits
FPC launches new action pack to help sector reach MPs
Email templates expressing the risks to produce imports from the rest of the world under the new EU-UK reset deal are available at the new hub, along with a petition signed by kitchen staff and catering suppliers to protect diversity of sourcing
91 per cent believe UK food system risk has increased
IGD survey ranks risks to UK food system, helping businesses focus on the ones most likely to affect their ability to maintain supply, manage costs and serve consumers
DP World to take over six grocery depots from GXO Logistics
Sites serving Asda, Sainsbury’s and Co-op add two million square feet of warehouse capacity to logistics company’s UK network
Fyffes bananas strengthen brand awareness
Fyffes says UK consumers are responding to its continued investment in brand-building, including “an emotional message and contemporary marketing”, as aided brand awareness rises to 79 per cent
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Potato growers urged to submit CIPC residue samples
CIPC Residues Monitoring Group encourages fresh sector to participate in potato monitoring programme as one in seven stores still return detectable sprout inhibitor residue
Government hails ‘farm robot revolution’ with £20mn funding round
Growers and agri-tech companies can now apply for funding designed to fast-track field robots and help ease seasonal worker shortages
Water action needed 'immediately' for food security, says NFU
Union calls for flexible abstraction licences, streamlined planning system and investment in on-farm reservoirs
British brassica ‘emergency’ set to continue, according to BGA
Brassica industry body says broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage yields have halved due to severe heat and drought, with continued shortages expected
British apple and pear growers expect best eating quality in years
BAPL expects recent warm weather to help fruit develop excellent sweetness, colour and aroma, with yield around the five-year average
Wilson’s Country trials low-carbon potato production
County Armagh potato packer and processor begins trials using digestate as sustainable crop fertiliser
Taiwanese exporters target UK market with premium fruit
Suppliers set out ambitions for fruit exports to UK at NCGM tasting event, following first shipments of lychees and mangoes in July
Date and sponsors revealed for 2026 Onion and Carrot Conference
Event will take place in November, with sponsorship from plant breeders Elsoms and Bejo and a gala dinner speech by former England rugby star Tom Youngs
Tesco hails ‘melon mania’ as heatwaves drive demand
Total melon sales up by a third as UK’s biggest grocer expands range with new Waikiki variety
Nottingham uni project aims to reduce use of legume fertilisers
Plant scientist awarded £1.9 million grant to explore biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) as sustainable alterative to fertilisers