The Indian cumin seed fob spot price fell to 14,164 per quintal (USD198.0/quintal) on February 19, 10.6% less than on January 20 at Unjha market, in the state of Gujarat (East India).

The New York-located Sheehan & Associates attorney firm, on behalf of the US citizen Lafremia Powell, has started a class action lawsuit against the US retailer Dollar Tree Stores because the plaintiff claims that the company is misleading information on its labelling about the vanilla content of its almond beverage. 

The Dutch spice, nut, edible seed, tea and food ingredient trader Amsterdam Commodities NV (ACOMO), listed on the Euronext Amsterdam exchange, reported that its sales were flat at EUR701.4 million (USD760.1 mln) in 2019 compared with the previous year, although EBITDA increased sharply by 10% to EUR50.4 mln, led by its companies Catz International and the European edible seed business unit.

The coronavirus epidemic is hitting China's chilli and paprika supply, adding to traditional factors such as limited availability of high-quality paprika and updated varieties still coming into fruition.

Leading Dutch trader Catz International has given assurances that it is able to provide a stable supply of Chinese dried garlic, despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak.

The Indian organic planted area reached around 1.9 million hectares in 2018, 8.4% year-on-year. Spices such as chilli and turmeric are leading the  growth, the executive director of India’s International Competence Centre for Organic Agriculture (ICCOA), Manoj Kumar Menon, unveiled during a conference in the organic fair Biofach, held in Nuremberg (Germany) from February 12-15. 

Cheap and diluted imports from China are threatening the viability of EU honey production, the sector has warned EU policymakers. On February 14, EU farming association Copa-Cogeca called on EU policymakers for a “strong and rapid response” to the “critical” situation on the honey market.

The US flavours house International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) reported total sales of USD5.1 billion in 2019, 29% more than in 2018 with growth in all units, including the contribution of sales related to Frutarom.  

The African agricultural supplier Africorp International (ACI) is extending its organic offerIng, having developed an organic division. 

Spain’s essential oil and flavour company Iberchem has completed the acquisition of the Malaysian and Chinese houses Flavor Inn and Duomei, for an undisclosed sum. 

Argentina will harvest 1.6 million tonnes of lemons this season (which started on January 1 and is effectively the calendar year). This is some 200,000 tonnes less than last year.

Bulgaria’s essential oil manufacturer Bulgarian Rose, listed on the Sofia stock exchange (BSE), has reported that its 2019 sales reached BGN6.3 million (USD3.5 mln), 5% less year-on-year.