The Banana Hybrid That Will Change Everything

🌱 Good afternoon, and welcome to today's fresh newsletter! 

👉 In today's email:

• Chiquita and Yelloway Unveil Disease-Resistant Banana Variety

• California Avocado Crop Set for Significant Growth in 2025

• USDA Commits $466.5 Million to Enhance Global Food Security and Promote Agricultural Development

INNOVATION

Chiquita and Yelloway Unveil Disease-Resistant Banana Variety

Chiquita Brands, in partnership with KeyGene, MusaRadix, and Wageningen University & Research (WUR), has announced a breakthrough in banana cultivation with the introduction of Yelloway One, a new banana hybrid resistant to the fungal disease Tropical Race 4 (TR4) and partially resistant to Black Sigatoka.

These diseases pose significant threats to global banana production, causing major financial losses annually. The Yelloway initiative, launched in 2020, aims to secure the future of bananas by developing resilient varieties while maintaining the characteristics of the popular Cavendish banana.

Yelloway One, achieved through crossbreeding, represents the first banana hybrid with resistance to both TR4 and Black Sigatoka. It has reached flowering and fruit-bearing stages in greenhouse settings and is set to undergo field trials in the Philippines and Indonesia, areas heavily affected by these diseases.

These trials aim to confirm the hybrid's commercial viability in real-world conditions.

The collaboration between Chiquita and its partners is rooted in advanced scientific research and breeding technologies. The Yelloway project combines traditional crossbreeding with DNA sequencing and genetic analysis to accelerate the development of disease-resistant bananas.

This innovative breeding platform uses diverse banana species to create hybrids that meet sustainability and quality standards.

Dr. Fernando García-Bastidas of KeyGene, who led the project, highlighted the comprehensive strategy used to create Yelloway One, leveraging genetic diversity, plant biology, and advanced genetic tools.

The accelerated breeding process has effectively shortened the typically long timeline for developing new banana varieties while ensuring disease resistance and retaining key traits like taste, appearance, and shelf life.

The sustainability focus of Yelloway aims to support banana production and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers worldwide.

Professor Gert Kema of Wageningen University emphasized the importance of disease-resistant bananas for supporting farmers across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, enhancing biodiversity, and offering more resilient crops.

Yelloway One's innovation is also expected to benefit public initiatives, leading to the development of disease-resistant, non-export banana varieties to support sustainable global production.

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AVOCADOS

California Avocado Crop Set for Significant Growth in 2025

The 2025 California avocado crop is expected to be larger than in recent years, thanks to favorable weather conditions and significant investments by growers over the past decade.

This forecast is based on higher fruit set across multiple growing regions, indicating a potentially larger harvest. However, environmental factors like heatwaves, wind, or frost could still affect the final outcome.

In 2023 and 2024, heavy rains resulted in smaller crops and delayed harvests. Nonetheless, these rains improved soil and tree health, contributing to the positive outlook for 2025.

California Avocado Commission (CAC) Vice President of Marketing, Terry Splane, expressed optimism about the larger crop but also cautioned that it’s too early to guarantee the results.

The expected growth in avocado crop size is partly due to efforts by growers to expand and improve their orchards. Over the past decade, they have planted approximately 3 million new avocado trees, averaging around 265,000 annually.

Growers have also replaced older trees, adopted high-density planting models, and introduced various rootstocks and varieties to enhance crop quality and yield. These initiatives have led to improved per-acre yields in recent years.

Looking forward, the CAC plans to leverage this momentum by expanding its 2024 advertising program. The campaign will emphasize the premium quality of California-grown and sustainably farmed avocados.

The Commission aims to differentiate California avocados in the market through strategic marketing that highlights these unique advantages.

CAC is also preparing for the International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce and Floral Show in Atlanta, where representatives will meet with retail partners to discuss the upcoming crop and potential retail programs.

Splane expressed enthusiasm about engaging with both loyal and new California avocado customers, emphasizing the benefits of merchandising locally grown, responsibly sourced avocados.

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USDA

USDA Commits $466.5 Million to Strengthen Global Food Security and Support Agricultural Development

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $466.5 million allocation to enhance global food security, as shared by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 meeting.

The funds will support two major international development programs aimed at addressing hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture in developing nations.

The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program will receive $248 million in fiscal year 2024. This initiative focuses on primary education and literacy through school meal projects, particularly supporting girls' education.

It will operate in nine countries: Angola, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Laos, Malawi, and Rwanda, benefiting an estimated 1.2 million children and their families across over 2,800 schools.

Additionally, $218.5 million will be allocated to the Food for Progress program to support agricultural development in seven countries: Benin, Cambodia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Tunisia.

Approximately 200,000 farmers will benefit from climate-smart agricultural practices, enhanced food security, and access to international trade markets.

Vilsack highlighted that the McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress programs embody USDA’s comprehensive strategy to combat hunger, poverty, and climate change globally.

Both programs partner with private and public sectors to promote sustainable growth, resilience to climate change, and food security by improving trade capabilities.

These programs purchase U.S.-grown commodities, which are distributed to partner organizations like the UN World Food Program. These partners either use the food directly in feeding programs or sell it locally to fund development projects.

The McGovern-Dole program dedicates $24 million to local and regional food procurement, aligning with the 2018 Farm Bill's provisions.

The McGovern-Dole program is a significant contributor to global school feeding efforts, providing over 37,000 metric tons of U.S. commodities this year.

The Food for Progress initiative will utilize 315,000 metric tons of U.S. commodities for projects that promote climate-smart technologies, food security standards, and better access to capital for farmers, aiming for long-term impacts on agricultural productivity and market access.

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TIP OF THE DAY

Use Community Events To Market Your Produce

Have you thought about tapping into the power of local community events to market your produce?

Participating in or sponsoring local events like farmer’s markets, food festivals, or community fairs allows you to showcase your products directly to your target audience in an engaging and personable way.

Feature these events in your newsletters and social media, inviting customers to come meet you and sample your freshest produce. Offer special discounts or promotions that are exclusive to event attendees to create a sense of urgency and excitement.

Bring visuals, like attractive displays and banners, and be prepared to share your brand story, farm practices, and what makes your produce unique.

Connecting face-to-face with your community not only drives sales but also builds relationships, making your brand memorable and trusted within the local market.