Specialty Coffee in NicaraguaMonday, July 6, 2015 A consortium of national and international agencies has proposed a plan to improve the quality and productivity of Nicaraguan specialty coffees and their promotion in the European market. The plan entitled "Strategies for promoting specialty coffee in Nicaragua" seeks to replicate successful experiences in financing, technical assistance and technological innovation models, in order to strengthen the production process of small and medium producers. Food: International Prices in May 2015Tuesday, June 9, 2015 Cereals, dairy products and meat were the items that registered the largest reductions in May, whereas oils and sugar markets remained firm. From a report on the price index of basic foods by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): The Countries Selling Watermelons to EuropeThursday, May 28, 2015 Turkey and Morocco have increased fruit exports to countries in the European Union by 116% and 260%, respectively. From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer): Europe Bans Ornamental Coffee Plants from Costa Rica and HondurasThursday, May 21, 2015 The phytosanitary measures implemented by the European Union have been in force since May and aim to prevent the entry of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. The rule applies to ornamental coffee plants (not seeds) of the coffee variety and applies to the 28 countries comprising the European Union. The Chamber of Plants, Flowers and Foliage in Costa Rica clarified that the prohibition does not apply to foliage, which can still be exported. Panamanian Pineapples Less CompetitiveFriday, May 8, 2015 High production costs and lack of labor has made the crop less attractive in the agricultural area of La Chorrera, where the 2104/15 harvest fell by 13% compared to the previous harvest. During the last three crop years the amount of cultivated hectares has been reduced. In the 2012/13 1,751 acres of the crop were planted, whereas in 2014/15 the figures fell to 1,504 hectares planted, according to the Ministry of Agricultural Development. $62 million in Deals at Food FairFriday, April 24, 2015 During the AGRITRADE event held in Guatemala there were 1,700 business meetings between international buyers and Central American exporters, with deals $62 million. From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport): Honduras: Coffee Exports Up 21%Wednesday, April 1, 2015 Coffee exports from the 2014-15 harvest reported a 21% increase compared to the previous period, accumulating revenues of $533 million up until March this year. Of total exports, 67% went to Europe, 28% to America, 4% to Asia and 1% to Oceania. "... Germany, the USA, Belgium and Italy are the main importers of Honduran coffee in the world. Korea and Japan are the principal importers in Asia. " Peru Exports Organic Bananas to the USTuesday, March 24, 2015 All of the production from 2015 produced by the union of organic banana growers will be exported to the United States. From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer): Hong Kong Demands More Organic ProductsWednesday, March 11, 2015 Fruits and vegetables, followed by baby food, milk and soy milk are the organic products in demand. From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER): Europe Increases Food Safety ControlsWednesday, March 11, 2015 In the last quarter of 2014 reports of food recalls and notifications of regulatory compliance increased by 16% particularly in fruits, vegetables and fish derivatives. From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER): Sugar: International Price Continues to DeclineTuesday, February 24, 2015 Subsidies on exports to India and improvement in the competitiveness of Brazilian sugar, caused by devaluation of the real, explain part of the decline in international coffee prices. The union of sugar producers in Honduras states that the country currently loses between $25 and $40 per hundredweight exported to the international market, on average a total of $40 million. Demand for Gourmet Chocolate in ChileFriday, January 30, 2015 Imports of this type of chocolates are favored by free trade agreements that Chile has, having allowed the import of chocolates from different countries. From a press release issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER): Colombia Increases Fruit Exports to EuropeTuesday, January 20, 2015 Between January and October 2014 the South American country exported 18% more fresh fruits to the European Union, as a result of the tariff benefits arising from the agreement. From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer): Panama Not Taking Advantage of European MarketTuesday, December 16, 2014 The quotas for duty free export of beef, rice and tuna negotiated in the Agreement with the European Union are not being exploited to the fullest extent by local producers. Lack of certification by the meat processing plants for export, the crisis in the agricultural sector and the absence of incentives to produce exportable foods are some of the factors which, in the opinion of producers, are preventing the country from taking advantage of the tariff benefits granted to country under the Economic Association Agreement (AA). Food Allergen Labeling in EuropeTuesday, December 9, 2014 The European Authority for Food Safety is reviewing in detail allergenic products and substances whose presence in food must be indicated on the label, according to European law. From a press release by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER): |
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