WORLD FOOD prices fell for the first time in three months in January despite the dizzy heights of the dairy market and a recent rally in grains.

I am writing this as I set out to attend New Zealand Winegrowers’ 2014 Annual Trade Tasting in London. This event has been a key feature of the New Zealand effort in the UK for over 30 years, and once again this year I expect there will be a very strong attendance of trade, media and consumers.

FONTERRA PLANS a $32 million expansion of its slice-on-slice cheese capacity at its Collingwood St site in Eltham, Taranaki.

DAIRY IS perfectly poised to become the most trusted source of protein for diets for all age groups and all markets, says Fonterra director John Monaghan.

FROM A commodity market perspective, the 2013-14 Southern Hemisphere dairy season is increasingly a ‘done deal’. 

A WARNING on heavy reliance on the one market of China has been sounded by Beef + Lamb NZ chief economist Andrew Burtt.

WHEN FARMERS raced Michelin four-star chefs to create the best barbecue lamb dish, the results were mouthwatering. 

INDEPENDENT DAIRY processor Synlait may fall short of its forecast target of infant formula sales due to regulatory disruptions in the Chinese market.

UP TO 1000 visitors are expected to a premier conference and trade show for the fresh fruit, vegetable, and floral supply chains in the Australasian region to be held in Auckland in June.

SYNLAIT MILK has increased its forecast milk price for the 2014 season from $8kg/MS to a range of $8.30 to $8.40/kg/MS as the result of continuing high international commodity prices.