Market News

Apple Harvest Underway This Week in New York

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FISHERS, N.Y. – The harvest of New York State’s most popular apple varieties begins this week.  The quality of the fruit this season is outstanding, with continuous sunshine and heat this summer putting high sugar levels into fruit, according to grower reports.

“Consumers should expect super sweet apples from our growers this fall,” said New York Apple Association president Jim Allen.

“Our crop is very early this year, so look for your favorite varieties at least a week sooner than typical,” Allen said.

McIntosh apples are being picked right now across the state.  Other varieties picked this week include Gala and Honeycrisp. The New York Apple Association is again partnering with retailers this fall to help alert consumers to the local aspect of the crop. “Buy local” signage and “New Crop Apple” displays will be in place in most supermarket produce departments.

“We hope New York consumers will pick our local apples versus apples from across the continent,” Allen said. “Our apples taste more fresh and flavorful because they just came off the tree and were shipped directly to your store.”

Apples grown locally taste better, are more crunchy and fresh and leave a smaller “carbon footprint” since they travel shorter distances to market, helping the environment.Growers are predicting a 27 million bushel crop, with outstanding growing conditions throughout much of the summer, especially the past month.

A complete directory of the state’s orchards, as well as variety info, recipes and health facts can be found online at www.nyapplecountry.com.

Availability Dates For 2010 New York Apple Crop:

Jersey Mac                In the barn

Tydeman                   In the barn

Paula Red                  In the barn

Ginger Gold               In the barn

Jonamac                    In the barn

Zestar                        In the barn

McIntosh                   This week

Gala                           This week

Honeycrisp               This week

Cortland                    9/10 – 9/20

Macoun                     9/20 – 10/1

Empire                       9/22 – 10/1

Spartan                      9/25 – 9/30

Jonathan                    9/25 – 9/28

Red Delicious           9/25 – 10/15

Jonagold                    9/25 – 10/8

Lady Apple                9/25 – 10/1

20 Ounce                    9/25 – 10/1

Crispin                        9/30 – 10/10

Golden Delicious       10/5 – 10/15

Idared                         10/10 – 10/18

Fuji                              10/10 – 10/25

Rome                         10/15 – 10/18

Fortune                     10/15 – 10/20

Cameo                       10/15 – 10/25

Stayman                    10/15 – 10/25

Northern Spy            10/15 –

Braeburn                   10/15 – 10/30

About the New York Apple Association:

Based in Fishers, N.Y., the NYAA is the nonprofit agricultural trade association representing the commercial apple growers in New York.  It supports profitable growing and marketing of New York apples through increasing demand for apples and apple products; representing the industry at state and federal levels and serving as the primary information source on New York apple related matters.

Source: www.nyapplecountry.com

Carrefour rethinking Russian move

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According to the group’s CEO Lars Olofsson, Carrefour is considering to begin start-up operations in Russia in the future. The French retailer entered the market in 2009 but then left due to a lack of prospects for expansion or acquisition of local player that would make it a market leader in the short or medium term. “If we go back into Russia, it will be through an acquisition,” said Mr Olofsson in an interview with the Financial Times.

Source: www.fruitnet.com

Russia restricts Moldovan imports

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Russia has reportedly imposed restrictions on the number of companies from Moldova that are allowed to export fruit and vegetables to the country and reduced the amount of these companies from 136 to 36. Moldova, which is Europe’s poorest country, currently exports apples and grapes, among other products to neighbor countries.

Speculation in the media has linked Russia’s move to Moldova’s parliamentary elections in November, claiming Moscow may be attempting to exert greater influence over the country and dissuade it from any attempts to move closer to the European Union.

Source: www.fruitnet.com

Magnit Retail Chain Imports Fruit and Vegetables Independently

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By the end of 2010, Magnit, one of the largest Russian retail chains, is planning to open 30 hypermarkets and 650 convenience stores.  Total investment to exceed $1 billion. So far the company has reported 4 hypermarkets and 260 convenience stores opened this year.  Chain’s IR-director explains that high season for openings will be autumn-winter.

Company is also implementing a new strategy of direct import. Magnit has already started to import some volumes of bananas, as well as other fruits and vegetables. According to Magnit’s management, the logistic chains are well-established and operations have become more profitable.

Source: www.retailer.ru, Vedomosti

Melons from Kazakhstan are potential competitors for other fruits

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After Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan came into force on 1 July, the flow of melons and watermelons from Central Asia has intensified enormously. The share of imported melons in big cities, industrial and resort centers of Russia exceeds 55%. Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan are among major suppliers. During July and the 1st decade of August more than 4,100 tones of melons and watermelons were shipped to Russia – 4 times more than in the same period 2009 – making other fruits face strong competition.

Source: Rossijskaya Gazeta

New Regulations of Russian Retail

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The new Federal law “On the Principles of State Regulation of Trading Activity in the Russian Federation” came into force on 1 February 2010.  However, was postponed till August 1 in order to allow retail chains and suppliers reissue contracts. The Law is supposed to considerably change the rules applicable to trade activities.  The Law restricts the markup of a retail chain to 10% of the price of acquired food products.  This markup is prohibited for a number of socially significant food products.  It also establishes deadlines for payment (10 days for produce) when concluding and implementing supply agreements.  The Law bans certain conditions for supplies, such as: return of unsold goods, requirement for a supplier to undertake marketing, rendering of product promotion services by the retail chain, the requirement to disclose conditions of work with other contractors.  The share of retail chains is restricted by the new Law to 25% of the food market of one region/city in order to avoid monopole situation.

Source: www.russianlawonline.com

Vladimir Putin banned wheat export till the end of year

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Russian prime-minister banned grain export (including wheat, meslin, barley, corn, maize, wheat and rye-wheat flour) due to a poor harvest after fires and extraordinary drought ravaged the national crop. The ban extends till 31 December. Russia harvests almost 8% of the global wheat crop. The total volume of state grain inventories amounts to 21.7 million tones. The ban has already caused a global increase in wheat prices, which have risen by up to 70% in the last two months.

Source: www.top.rbc.ru

Drought May Make for Bigger State Role

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Russia’s record heat wave and worst drought in 50 years may spur inflation and make economic growth more reliant on state support as factories suspend production and consumer demand slows. Agriculture accounts for about 4% of GDP and is the hardest hit part of the economy with the government declaring grain yields down 20% so far this year. At present, grain inventories are sufficient to restrain inflation, but some sort of negative cost impact is expected in third quarter of 2010 for the consumer space.

Source: www.themoscowtimes.com/index.php

Russia is redrafting application documents for WTO

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The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation redrafted application documents for WTO in view of the new Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Russia has been trying to access WTO since 1993. The controversy was mainly connected with fixing quotas for meat import in Russia and state support of the agricultural producers. June 2009 Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan announced their access as a unified customs territory and suspended bilateral talks with WTO. October 2009 they renewed the dialogue on a stand-alone basis but on agreed terms.

Source: www.tks.ru

Летом доля импортных фруктов составляет две трети от общего предложения на рынке России

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По мнению экспертов, рынок свежих овощей и фруктов в России растет очень динамично: ежегодно на 20-30%. В основном, конечно, за счет импорта.

Россия, занимающая 11-е место в мире по производству плодоовощной продукции и 2-е место в мире по объему производства картофеля, слишком мало внимания уделяет развитию собственного плодоовощного производства. Производство фруктов в России развивается медленнее, чем производство овощей, что говорит о перспективах дальнейшего роста доли импортной продукции на рынке.

По мнению экспертов, причины этих тенденций следует искать в опережающих темпах развития оптовой торговли, которая старается обеспечить возрастающие потребности еще более стремительно развивающихся розничных сетей. Оптовикам гораздо проще работать с импортной продукцией, которая соответствует всем требованиям по качеству и упаковке, в то время как большинство российских производителей хотели бы переложить функцию доработки, калибровки, упаковки и даже хранения овощей и фруктов на оптовую компанию.

27/07/2010

Источник: www.lol.org.ua