The Netherlands - Brexit: Dutch exporters fear fruit will rot if Brexit deal not done

With the clock running down on negotiations over a Brexit trade deal, Dutch fruit and vegetable exporters fear that a failure to strike an agreement could lead to long customs queues and fresh produce rotting in trucks. Slideshow ( 5 images )

Read more at: Dutch exporters fear fruit will rot if Brexit deal not done | Reuters

Sugar and diet: f Sugar Is so Bad for Us, Why Is the Sugar in Fruit Ok?

Sugar in food and drinks comes in various forms. Sugar molecules are classified as monosaccharides (single sugar molecules such as glucose and fructose) and disaccharides (more complex structures such as sucrose and lactose). 

Fruit contains natural sugars, which are a mix of sucrose, fructose and glucose. Many people have heard that sugar is bad, and think that this must also therefore apply to fruits. 

But fructose is only harmful in excess amounts, and not when it comes from fruit. It would be incredibly difficult to consume excessive amounts of fructose by eating whole fruits.

Read more: If Sugar Is so Bad for Us, Why Is the Sugar in Fruit Ok?

Fruit and vegetable exports from Spain to US dropping

According to the datas published by the Spanish General Administrative Office of Customs last September, the exports of fruit and vegetables directed to the United States were 13.016 tons, 9.669 tons of which consisted in fruit, mainly mandarins, and 3.347 tons of vegetables, marking a -5% compared to the same period in 2011. Therefore, the decreasing trend has been confirmed. In fact, in 2011 a -11% compared to 2010 had been registered, for a total of 57.415 tons.

On the whole, the downturn of fruit and vegetables exports towards the U.S.A. doesn’t limit to Spain. All the Community exports destined to the American Country report a slight drop. According to the datas released by Eurostat, the fruit and vegetables exports of European Countries in 2011 was of 113.082 tons, decreasing compared to the 115.825 tons of 2010, while until September of this year the volumes marked 48.872 tons, in line with the ones registered during the same period of 2011 (48.347 tons).

The European Commission is trying to establish a free trade agreement with the United States. A high level group made of representatives of both sides has elaborated a preliminary report last June and is working on a final report to start the negotiations. In 2013, a bilateral meeting will be called during which the terms to start the negotiations will be defined. To reach a free trade agreement would allow an opening from the US market to European fruit and vegetables which is now closed because of phytosanitary barriers.

Read more: Green Med Journal - The Mediterranean Fresh Produce Magazine

Europe: Belgium - Conference pear price breaks record

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Belgium - Conference pear price breaks record

The prices for Conference pears have broken a record. At the Belgian fruit auction BFV, pears have been sold for € 1,00 per kg for the first time. "We have sold 30% more pears and the prices remain high. Because of the shortage on the market we export to almost all European markets," CEO Filip Lowette of the Belgian fruit auction BFV said. Veiling Haspengouw normally sells more apples than pears, but now it is the other way around for the second time in the company's history. The Belgian auctions have less pears in stock, but they still traders not to stop supplying their customers. "We have to keep supplying the markets we have conquered," CEO Renaat Kuiper of Veiling Haspengouw said.