MARKET PRICE INFORMATION

India's summer crop acreage down 2.3%, sowing gap narrows

By Mayank Bhardwaj

NEW DELHI, Aug 23 (Reuters)

EXCLUSIVE-'Dear Vladimir': VTB asks for Putin's help to create Russian grain champion

• VTB has been buying grain sector infrastructure
• VTB has expanded into physical grain exports

CORRECTED-UPDATE 2-China strikes back at U.S. with new tariffs on $75 bln in goods

Fixes to Fox Business Network in last paragraph

• China sets extra tariffs of 5% or 10%

GRAINS-Corn drops for second week, improved crop outlook weighs

• Corn down more than 11% in two weeks of losses

EU set to halt imports of Canadian cherries & other fruits

'We didn't know they were just going to shut down the border to cherries like this'

According to a Canadian government document, starting September 1st, the European Union will halt imports of Canadian cherries and other fresh fruits, enforcing new import requirements related to pests.

Tropical fruit IQF gains popularity

Tropical fruit processors from South East Asia to South America are invested in supplying superior, delicious and economical frozen products. Changes in eating habits in Europe have increased consumption and in turn the demand of frozen tropical fruit. Research has predicted a 5.32% annual growth in the global frozen fruit market, and the number for the growth of tropical fruits is will likely be even higher.

"A year to remember" for California exotic vegetable growers

Growers of exotic vegetables such as bitter melon in California have been enjoying an excellent season in terms of production and market conditions. The season spans around the summer months from around June to October for the majority of commodities, and this year the weather conditions have been very good.

Turkish avocado season has started

Producers aim to grow 50 million avocados this year

Alanya, Antalya, a major city in southern Turkey, grows 80% of Turkish avocados. This year, producers aim to grow 50 million avocados in an area of 4 thousand hectares. The harvest of avocados started in Alanya and producers expect to export them to countries such as Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Iran.

Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports to China plummeted in July

Last July, Vietnam exported $144.2 million worth of fruits and vegetables to China, down 44.2 percent year-on-year. This was the strongest decline among Vietnam’s top 10 export markets for fruits and vegetables, with China the biggest market.

Tropical fruits new alternative for Turkish farmers

On top of the avocados, kiwis and cape gooseberries they are already growing, Turkish farmers continue to lean toward new alternatives, producing different types of tropical fruit that can easily adapt to the Mediterranean region.