In W36 in the macadamia landscape, Australia is making its mark in the Indian market with a significant shipment of macadamia kernels. This move comes as India reduces import tariffs on macadamia nuts from 32% to 21.4%, with plans to eliminate them entirely by 2028. The macadamia industry is actively promoting the nut in India, with festivals, tastings, and collaborations with Indian chefs to capture the interest of high-net-worth individuals and health-conscious consumers.
The Kenyan government reported concerns about the continued export of premature horticultural produce, which may compromise the quality and standards of local products on the international market. The Agriculture Cabinet Secretary emphasized the importance of harvesting fresh produce at the right time to meet prerequisite standards, ensuring that the country doesn't lose its market for horticulture products due to exporters seeking higher profit margins by sending immature produce. The Ministry of Agriculture plans to support the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) in enforcing sector rules and requirements to address this issue. The government aims to prevent the horticultural sector from being negatively impacted by unscrupulous exporters trading in immature produce.
Lastly, Florida growers are exploring macadamia cultivation as an alternative to citrus due to challenges like a citrus greening disease. The Florida Macadamia Growers Cooperative reported a shifted focus to macadamia in 2005 and has since developed new varieties. While the cultivation process is less demanding, post-harvest processing, including husking, drying, cracking, and sorting, can be expensive and time-consuming. The industry still requires more infrastructure to thrive in Florida, and a potential substantial growth for macadamia is forecasted in the state.