Market News
In the spring, Albion, NY-based Intergrow plans to begin its fourth phase of construction, adding lights to allow winter production of tomatoes, and increase total acreage to 80 acres, according to a news release, reported The Packer. Full Story
Coffee shipments from Indonesia's southern Sumatra climbed close to a four-year high in September. Shipments from the provinces of Lampung, South Sumatra and Bengkulu rose 72% to 55,470.50 metric tons from 32,263 tons in August, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story
Sugar fell in New York, paring the biggest gain in almost three weeks, on speculation of a record delivery against expiring October futures. Raw sugar for delivery in March rose as much as 2.4% Sept. 30, the most since Sept. 10, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story
Area strawberry growers started planting strawberries at Simmons Farms in eastern Hillsborough County, FL this week. The field is about 19 acres and will be planted with 350,000 Radiant variety of strawberry plants. The grower hopes to start harvesting in November, reported St. Petersburg Times. Full Story
Sugar climbed to the highest level in more than five months as the main growing region of top producer Brazil will make less of the sweetener than previously forecast. Millers in Brazil's center south will make 34.2 million metric tons of sugar in the 2013-14 season started there in April, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story
Sugar, along with soy and palm oil, is driving large-scale land acquisitions and land conflicts at the expense of small-scale food producers and their families, according to a report pubilshed Oct. 2 by Oxfam. Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Associated British Foods and other global food and beverage companies are being urged to establish a zero-tolerance policy on land grabs, reported The Guardian. Full Story
Corn reached a three-year low on an improved outlook for production in the U.S., where farmers are expected to gather a record crop. The U.S. corn harvest may be 14.15 billion bushels, an all-time high, INTL FCStone Inc. stated Oct. 1, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story
Vietnam will take steps to speed up refund of tax to coffee traders after delays slowed exports from the world's biggest producer of robusta beans. The Ministry of Finance will issue detailed instructions on value-added tax refunds by Oct. 15, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story
Grain exports from the French port of Rouen fell 46% in the most recent week on reduced wheat and barley shipments. Total loadings for export fell to 142,486 metric tons in the Sept. 26-Oct. 2 period from 266,300 tons a week earlier, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story
Paramount Farms predicted the 2013 California pistachio crop will be 16% lower than a previous industry estimate. Paramount Farms estimates a 460 million-lb. statewide pistachio crop, about 90 million-lbs. less than an industry estimate of about 550 million-lbs., reported Western Farm Press. Full Story
Soybeans fell on speculation that world supplies will be ample as the U.S. harvest accelerates. Soybean harvesting was 11% complete in the main U.S. growing areas as of Sept. 29, trailing the five-year average, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story
Harvest in Florida's Indian River grapefruit region began Sept. 30, about two weeks later than normal. So far, growth is bringing higher quality fruit than last year, growers stated, reported The Packer. Full Story
A majority of the grass-fed beef sold in the U.S. comes from Australia because of its cost and availability; however, U.S. producers stated that they still have an advantage over the imported meat, reported NPR. Full Story