Dutch Horticulture Production Value Grew in 2012

The production of the Dutch horticulture grew by 4% to a value of 7.9 billion Euro in 2012. The export value of horticultural products remained stable with a value of 16.5 billion Euro (2011: 16.6 billion) The value of imports in creased to 9.4 billion Euro, an increase of 2%. This according to estimates by the Productschap Tuinbouw (PT).

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BWG Foods Invests €300k in Cloud-based Supply Chain System

BWG Foods has awarded a €300,000 contract to Atlas Universal to automate its entire purchase to pay process, handling in excess of 4.8m transactions annually. BWG operates the Spar, Eurospar, Mace and XL retail chains in Ireland. BWG has been continually at the forefront of technological innovation in the Irish retail sector over the past two years, becoming the first retailer in Ireland to make its stores ready for contactless card payments, as well as embarking on a plan to deploy Wi-Fi hotspots at more than 200 retail outlets.

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Influencers of Consumer Nutrition Knowledge Highlighted

Researchers from Aarhus University, Denmark, and the European Food Information Council (EUFIC) have analysed socio-demographic and attitudinal determinants of nutrition knowledge of food shoppers from six European countries: UK, Sweden, France, Germany, Poland, and Hungary. Main findings include social grade, country of residence and age to directly influence participants and nutrition knowledge. Furthermore, older people, women and respondents of a higher socio-economic status showed a more active interest in healthy eating.

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Total Produce Aquires Burtons Go Bananas

Burtons Go Bananas Ltd, who supply over 400 customers including local restaurants and hotels, has been successfully sold to Bristol Fruit Sales (Market) Ltd, now trading as Total Produce Bristol, part of the Ireland based Total Produce. The sale was managed by corporate recovery specialists Begbies Traynor.

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SuperValu to Sell Over 110,000 Irish Poinsettias Over Christmas

SuperValu, Ireland's leading independent supermarket, has announced that it expects to sell more than 110,000 Poinsettias over the Christmas period. This will generate retail sales worth approximately €470,000 for Uniplumo, who supply SuperValu with 100% Irish Poinsettias.

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HortiFair Interpolis Quality Cup Won by Stolk Brothers and Kwekerij De Zweetdruppel

The Interpolis Quality Cup 2012 was presented to Stolk Brothers (Bergschenhoek) for its Anthurium 'Rainbow Champion' and to Kwekerij De Zweetdruppel (Roelofarendsveen) for its Chrysanthemum 'Saffina'. The judges of the VKC permanent judging committee: "The quality of the entries for the Interpolis Quality Cup was the highest ever this year."

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Pat Spillane To Be New Chairman of CEDRA

The Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, has announced that Pat Spillane will be the Chairman of the new Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA). Minister Hogan said: "Getting people back to work remains this Government's number one objective. Building on the Action Plan for Jobs, Jobsbridge and the new initiatives I announced in Putting People First which empowers Local Government to drive economic development and create jobs at a local level, I am now establishing a new Commission that will generate a jobs strategy for rural Ireland.

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Greenmount Students Visit National Botanic Gardens in Dublin

Horticulture Foundation Degree student Mary Doris (Ardboe) and Alison Seymour, Horticulture Lecturer from CAFRE met Leigh Morris, the new President of The Institute of Horticulture at the Bord Bia Annual College Lecture in Dublin recently after he had given an inspirational lecture entitled 'Horticulture is Cool'.

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Organic Trust 2012 AGM & Conference Resounding Success!

The 2012 AGM & Conference of the Organic Trust which was held in the peaceful surroundings of the Camphill Community Organic Farm at Grangebeg, Dunlavin, Co Kildare, saw record attendance levels. The excellent facilities provided in 'Colmcille' – the Grangebeg Community Hall – provided the perfect surroundings to conduct AGM official business early in the day.

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Why Sheila Gallagher Thinks GM Potatoes are a Bad Idea

"I think to even consider growing GM potatoes is outrageous. As we move into this new century, we have such an opportunity, on this island of ours, to become one of the world leaders in good healthy organic food. It is frightening to think that a small group of irresponsible people can have the power to destroy this.

Read more: Why Sheila Gallagher Thinks GM Potatoes are a Bad Idea

Coveney Welcomes Record €9 Billion Food and Beverage Exports in 2012

Food Minister Simon Coveney today welcomed the record food and beverage export results announced by Bord Bia for 2012.

Minister Coveney said:

"Passing the €9 billion export mark in 2012 is a great achievement by the industry and has been secured despite very challenging conditions. These exports consolidate the growth of the previous two years and demonstrate the importance of a sustainable and dynamic

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New Opportunities in Emerging Markets - Bord Bia

Emerging markets are playing an increasing important role in the growth of Irish food and drink exports. During 2011 trade to China increased by 47%, South Africa by 43%, Nigeria by 38% and Russia by 30%. Key drivers of exports include increases in consumer purchasing power and urbanisation.

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Europe's Food and Drink Industry Risks Becoming a "Food Museum" Unless it Becomes More Competitive

Europe's food and drink industry risks becoming a "food museum" unless it becomes more competitive. That was the stark warning from a keynote speaker at the 'Food Drink Europe' congress in Brussels on Wednesday. The conference, attended by scores of high profile figures in the food and drink industry, heard that Europe "needs to focus on innovation and boosting its competitive advantage".

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Klasmann-Deilmann Proud Member of European Peat and Growing Media Association

The European Peat and Growing Media Association represents peat and growing media companies and associations in Europe and acts as the interlocutor of the industry at EU level. 

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Current and Future Trends in Agricultural Food Production Symposium

Current and Future Trends in Agricultural Food Production A Public Symposium organised by the Institute of Biology of Ireland Institúid Bitheolaíochta hÉireann in collaboration with NCE-MSTL, University of Limerick, and the National Botanic Gardens, in the Visitor Centre lecture room Thursday, 22nd November 2012, at 8pm.

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Teagasc Offer Advice to Farmers on Traditional Orchards

Teagasc in association with Irish Seed Savers Association are holding Five Hour Countryside Management Courses on Traditional Orchards throughout the country over the next two weeks. Over 2,000 farmers have planted approximately 30,000 traditional apple trees under recent agri-environment schemes.

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Horti Fair Gets Positive Reactions About Moving to Aalsmeer

The organizers of Horti Fair 2012 in the Netherlands look back on a successful trade show this year. High points included the successful HortiSeminars, a convivial atmosphere, an international crowd, the presentation of many new products and services and, above all, the positive reactions regarding the future move to Aalsmeer in 2013.

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Tomato ‘Black Opal’: New Black Cherry Tomato from Dobies and Suttons

More veg growers are now taking an interest in "black" tomatoes. Their flavour is distinctive and they add to the colour palette of summer salads, but the texture can be poor and the skins can be prone to cracking.

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New Extension to Teagasc Advisory and Education Centre in Ballymote

The newly extended and renovated Teagasc advisory and education centre in Ballymote, County Sligo, was officially opened by John Perry TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Small Business, at the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation.

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Students Discover there’s No Waste with Horse Manure

During their studies on Estate Maintenance, the Level 2 Diploma in Horse Care students became curious to discover what happens to all the horse manure that is produced at CAFRE's Enniskillen Campus. The students embarked on the short journey to Maguiresbridge to visit Sue Prenter at Lady Muck organic manure.

Read more: Students Discover there’s No Waste with Horse Manure