Latest news with #UnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture
Hans India
a day ago
- Business
- Hans India
Gujarat mango exports surpass 3,000 MT in five years, Kesar variety in high demand abroad
Ahmedabad: Gujarat's mango exports have steadily grown over the past five years, with the state exporting 856 metric tonnes in 2024–25, taking the total to more than 3,000 metric tonnes since 2019, government officials said on Monday. The mangoes have been shipped to several international markets, including the US and South Africa, with the Kesar variety drawing particular demand due to its distinct flavour and aroma, according to official information by the Gujarat government. According to state Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel, mango cultivation now covers around 1.77 lakh hectares in Gujarat, accounting for 37 per cent of the state's total fruit cultivation area. Major mango-producing districts include Valsad, Navsari, Gir Somnath, Kutch and Surat, with Valsad alone reporting more than 38,000 hectares under mango farming in 2024–25. The state's export process is supported by the Gujarat Agro Radiation Processing Facility in Bavla, near Ahmedabad. The unit handled 224 metric tonnes of irradiated Kesar mangoes this year and has processed a total of 805 metric tonnes over five years. Certified by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the Bavla facility is Gujarat's first and India's fourth such unit. Before it became operational, farmers had to send their produce to Mumbai for irradiation, increasing transport costs and spoilage. The facility now allows mangoes to be processed, packed, and exported directly from Ahmedabad. It is part of a broader infrastructure push that includes an integrated pack house and a perishable air cargo terminal, all managed by the Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation. This setup has improved shelf life, reduced wastage, and cut costs for mango growers, contributing to a more efficient export pipeline. Mango farming is a significant horticultural activity in Gujarat, particularly in districts like Valsad, Navsari, Junagadh, Gir Somnath, and Bhavnagar. The state is known for its premium varieties, especially the Kesar mango from the Gir region, which has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. As of 2024, Gujarat cultivates mangoes on over 1.3 lakh hectares of land, producing more than 10 lakh metric tonnes annually. Around 75,000 to 80,000 farmers are engaged in mango cultivation across the state. The state government and agricultural universities offer support through schemes, training, and export facilitation.
Fibre2Fashion
15-07-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Global cotton output, stocks & consumption raised for 2025-26: WASDE
Global cotton output for the marketing season 2025-26 is estimated at 118.42 million bales (each weighing 480 pounds or 208.65 kg) in the July 2025 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). It has been raised from 116.99 million bales estimated in the June report. The 1.43 million bale increase is driven by a 1 million-bale rise in China's crop, a 600,000-bale increase in the US crop, and a 100,000-bale rise in Mexico's crop, partially offset by reductions in Pakistan and Egypt. USDA's July 2025 WASDE report raises global cotton production for 2025â€'26 to 118.42 million bales, up 1.43 million from June, led by higher output in China, US and Mexico. Consumption and ending stocks also rose, while imports, exports, and beginning stocks were revised down. US production is forecast at 14.60 million bales. The season-average upland price remains unchanged at 62 cents per pound. However, estimates for cotton imports, exports, and beginning stocks have been revised downward. Global consumption has been raised by 365,000 bales to 118.12 million bales, with increases in Pakistan and Mexico partially offset by reductions in Italy and Germany. Global exports are lowered by 100,000 bales to 44.69 million bales. Beginning stocks for 2025–26 are reduced by 510,000 bales to 76.78 million bales, reflecting lower stock levels in the United States and China and minor adjustments elsewhere. Ending stocks for 2025–26 are projected at 77.32 million bales, up 520,000 bales from the previous estimate, as higher production more than offsets the increase in consumption and the reduction in beginning stocks. The July 2025 WASDE report for 2025-26 for the United States also shows higher production and ending stocks, lower beginning stocks, and unchanged consumption and import estimates compared to the June report. Planted area has been raised to 10.12 million acres, based on the NASS June Acreage report. Harvested area is up by 6 per cent to 8.66 million acres, reflecting both higher planting and lower abandonment in the Southwest, which is partially offset by higher abandonment in the Southeast. The national average yield for 2025–26 is reduced by 1 per cent to 809 pounds per harvested acre, as reduced abandonment in the Southwest leads to the harvesting of more lower-yielding dryland acres. As the increase in harvested area exceeds the reduction in yield, the production forecast is increased by 600,000 bales compared to June's projection, reaching 14.60 million bales—up from 14.41 million last year. Beginning stocks for 2025–26 are lowered by 300,000 bales following a corresponding increase in projected exports for 2024–25. These revisions result in an estimated ending stock of 4.60 million bales for 2025–26, up 300,000 bales from last month, translating to a stocks-to-use ratio of 32.4 per cent. The projected season-average upland price for 2025–26 remains unchanged at 62 cents per pound. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
New York Post
03-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Waffle House drops egg surcharge after 5 months as prices plummet across the US
There's no need to pay egg-stra anymore. Waffle House announced 'egg-cellent news' for their customers' wallets. The casual dining chain is dropping the temporary 50-cent surcharge for eggs from its menu after five months, effective immediately. 'Egg-cellent news…as of June 2, the egg surcharge is officially off the menu. Thanks for understanding,' Waffle House wrote in a post on X. Advertisement Earlier this year, the Georgia-based restaurant chain — which has more than 2,000 locations across 25 states — implemented a 'temporary targeted surcharge' tied to the 'unprecedented' rise in egg prices, rather than increasing the price of all menu items. But with the national average wholesale price of eggs being down 7% — at just $2.54 per dozen last week, according to the latest United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Egg Markets report — Waffle House no longer has to upcharge. Advertisement Earlier this year, Waffle House implemented a 'temporary targeted surcharge' tied to the 'unprecedented' rise in egg prices. GIANRIGO MARLETTA/AFP via Getty Images The removal of the increased prices from the menu comes almost five months after Waffle House released a statement announcing the 50-cent-per-egg surcharge. 'The continuing egg shortage caused by HPAI (Bird Flu) has caused a dramatic increase in egg prices,' Waffle House said in a statement on February 3. 'Consumers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions.' 'While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived, we cannot predict how long this shortage will last,' the statement added. 'We are continuously monitoring egg prices and will adjust or remove the surcharge as market conditions allow.' Advertisement The removal of the increased prices from the menu comes almost five months after Waffle House released a statement announcing the 50-cent-per-egg surcharge. Waffle House The ongoing H5N9, or bird flu, outbreak began globally in 2020 and made its way to America in 2022, with cases spiking earlier this year and leading to supply chain issues. As of July 3, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported 70 bird flu cases in the U.S., with 41 being from dairy herds (cattle) and 24 from poultry farms. The other five were from exposure from other unspecified animals or unknown sources. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said egg prices were still more expensive than they were a year prior, but the price has gone down enough for chains like Waffle House to drop their surcharges, CNN reported. Advertisement The USDA rolled out a five-pronged strategy to combat the bird flu outbreak back in March, which could have improved the availability and wholesale pricing of eggs over time. 'Egg prices are falling, farmers are getting the relief they need, and we are seeing meaningful progress in the fight against avian flu,' USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement at the time.
Miami Herald
03-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
IKEA makes major price cut that will delight customers
Food is expensive. And essential. There's nothing you can do about it. It's not like just another fashion handbag you can skip buying, comforting yourself that it's not that chic, and that your old one is good enough. We all have to eat, and the more careful we are about what we eat, the better we'll preserve our health. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Not everyone can afford nutritious meals these days, especially with the threat of new tariffs. Food prices grew quicker than overall inflation, writes the United States Department of Agriculture. More specifically, the consumer price index (CPI), a measure of economy-wide inflation, for all food grew 0.2% from April 2025 to May 2025 and was 2.4% higher than in May 2024. Related: Costco brings back controversial perk, dividing loyal shoppers Eating at a restaurant was 3.8% more expensive in May this year, compared to the same month of 2024. Even home-prepared meals got notably more costly, which is not something that can be easily ignored. Many retail grocery giants and supermarket chains have already raised prices or plan to, due to higher duty costs of imports. In these expensive times, some retailers are doing the best they can to maintain affordable prices for their customers. One of them is a Swedish giant that has recently announced a generous discount for cost-conscious customers. IKEA recently confirmed it will slash prices by up to half at many of its restaurants globally. The temporary price cuts aim to help consumers at a time of high living costs and economic turbulence. "Consumer confidence has decreased. People are holding on to the money that they have in their pockets or in savings," IKEA Retail COO Tolga Öncü told CNBC. Related: IKEA's new store concept makes its way to this state While the starting date of the price cuts and the participating restaurant locations are not yet confirmed, the furniture behemoth announced an even more generous offer - free meals for children. "Food has always been very important for IKEA, and we wanted to enable even more people to enjoy our restaurant offer while exploring our home furnishing range. Securing the lowest possible price for our products is always our utmost goal, and this is even more important in today's times of economic uncertainties and cost-of-living pressures," Öncü stated. What's more, last year, IKEA lowered wholesale prices by around 15%, enabling retailers to lower their price tags for consumers. These efforts cost the company about $2.1 billion euros ($2.47 billion) last year. More Retail: Huge retail chain suddenly closing hundreds of storesMajor retailer scores huge benefit from Joann bankruptcyHome Depot, Target, Ulta and more strike back at retail crime IKEA is also feeling the impact of higher tariffs, which are expected to increase inflation rates, but Öncü adds the company has managed to "somewhat absorb the impact and not pass on the total impact to customers in the U.S." IKEA said it is planning to open 58 new stores around the globe during the fiscal year 2025 ending in August. Over the last couple of years, the giant has expanded across several states, currently operating around 50 retail locations across the country, and more than 375 IKEA stores in 30 countries around the globe. Related: Iconic mall anchor retail chain closing more stores Just recently, IKEA opened a Plan and Order point store in Oregon. This is a rather new concept that includes smaller stores where customers can get home furnishing advice from professionals. At Plan and Order point stores, as the name suggests, there are no products to buy in-store and take home on the same day, but purchases can be made there and home delivered, or collected from pick-up points. Two years ago, IKEA announced it would invest $2.2 billion to expand across the U.S. over the next three years, making this the biggest investment in almost 40 years since IKEA's first store opened in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, writes TheStreet's Fernanda Tronco. It has already opened five locations in 2025 and plans another six by the end of the year, plus two more for 2026. Related: Iconic fast-food chain begins an unlikely comeback The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Reasons why cauliflower is winter's secret weapon
Cauliflower doesn't exactly scream exciting, does it? It often plays second fiddle to flashier produce, yet winter is when this humble veggie quietly steals the spotlight. With its snow-white florets and superpower versatility, cauliflower is winter's underrated hero. For starters, it's packed with immune-boosting vitamin C—just one cup delivers about 77% of your daily needs, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. That's a handy perk when the cold weather has everyone reaching for tissues. Cauliflower also contains choline, a nutrient that supports brain function and helps reduce inflammation, as noted by Healthline. The above publication claims that what really gives cauliflower its winter crown is its ability to transform into just about anything. If you're craving comfort food, mashed cauliflower feels indulgent but cuts carbs. When going for something warm, roasted cauliflower with spices becomes crispy on the outside, tender inside—a true cosy food moment, says Healthline. BBC Good Food highlights how cauliflower is now used for everything from pizza crusts to vegan wings. It's like the actor who can play every role in the film. Its subtle flavour is believed to make it a blank canvas for hearty stews, curries, soups and even creamy pastas. It's filling without being heavy and blends beautifully with other winter produce like sweet potatoes, carrots, and leeks, the above food publication adds. On a sustainability note, cauliflower is locally grown in many regions during winter months, meaning fewer food miles and fresher produce, according to The Guardian. It is mentioned that seasonal eating also reduces the carbon footprint of your plate. So next time you breeze past it in the grocery aisle, give cauliflower another glance. It may look plain, but in winter's kitchen, it's quietly doing the most. Also see: Top 10 highlights from the Africa Food Show 2025 you shouldn't miss The post Reasons why cauliflower is winter's secret weapon appeared first on Bona Magazine.
