Latest news with #Dole
The Independent
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Trump tariffs hit peaches as Greece fears dent in demand
July's peach harvest in Greece 's northern orchards, a period typically marked by meticulous picking and processing for canning, is now shrouded in uncertainty. The industry, which often supplies consumers in the United States, faces a significant threat following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 30 per cent tariff on European products. This new levy has sent shivers through a range of European sectors, from wine and olive oil to the automotive industry. For Greek peach farmers and factory owners, the timing is particularly critical. As they prepare to send their fresh produce overseas, there is growing concern that the tariffs will severely dent demand, leaving them with little time to adapt or find alternative markets for their fruit. Greece is the world's biggest exporter of tinned peaches, about one fifth of which goes to the United States, its second biggest market after Europe. Peaches, like some other goods, are already subject to a U.S. import levy of 17%. The new tariffs could increase the total import duty to 47%. "Now is even worse because it finds us at the peak, where the entire plant and all the production lines are working at full speed," said Lazaros Ioannidis, co-owner of a peach and fruit processing plant near Naoussa that sends about 40% of its produce to big U.S. companies like Dole. The fertile plain of Central Macedonia in Greece is one massive peach orchard. A sea of pink greets visitors in the spring, when the trees blossom. This week, trucks offloaded crate after crate brimming with thousands of yellow peaches at Ioannidis' plant, where they were loaded onto conveyor belts for processing. Greece's annual turnover from exports of tinned peach and other packaged peach products amounts to more than 600 million euros, with about 120 million euros coming from the U.S. market. Exports to the United States represent about 4% of Greece's total exports. Canned peach and peach derivatives, olives and olive oil are the three top exported agriculture products to the U.S., bringing home about half a billion euros annually. More than 20,000 families, farmers and workers make their income from peach farms and peach factories in Central Macedonia, according to Kostas Apostolou, head of the Greek Canners Association. "Our size might be small as a percentage for the country or the EU but for the region its a big source of income, vital for it's survival." "For the past 6 months, since Trump took office, we have been in a period of an absolute turmoil," says Apostolou. He said that the only alternative is to diversify exports to Mercosur countries in South America or to Mexico and India and urged the EU to sign a trade agreement with those countries. The EU was planning to approve a trade deal with Mercosur but has faced opposition from some countries. Still, there are also optimists "Trump is unpredictable. We hope that he will prove that and he will change this decision," said farmer Vangelis Karaindros as he and his employees picked ripe peaches by hand.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs send chill through Greek peach harvest
By Lefteris Papadimas NAOUSSA (Reuters) -July is harvest time in Greece's northern peach orchards, where pickers mount wooden ladders and carefully place the fruit in crates ready for factories that peel, slice and can them, often for consumers in the United States. But this year, the harvest is filled with uncertainty after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 30% tariff on European products that has sent shivers through industries from wine to olive oil and autos. Peach farmers and factory owners are worried that the tariffs will dent demand for their produce just as they are preparing to send their fresh harvest overseas, giving them little time to adapt or find alternative markets. Greece is the world's biggest exporter of tinned peaches, about one fifth of which goes to the United States, its second biggest market after Europe. Peaches, like some other goods, are already subject to a U.S. import levy of 17%. The new tariffs could increase the total import duty to 47%. "Now is even worse because it finds us at the peak, where the entire plant and all the production lines are working at full speed," said Lazaros Ioannidis, co-owner of a peach and fruit processing plant near Naoussa that sends about 40% of its produce to big U.S. companies like Dole. The fertile plain of Central Macedonia in Greece is one massive peach orchard. A sea of pink greets visitors in the spring, when the trees blossom. This week, trucks offloaded crate after crate brimming with thousands of yellow peaches at Ioannidis' plant, where they were loaded onto conveyor belts for processing. Greece's annual turnover from exports of tinned peach and other packaged peach products amounts to more than 600 million euros, with about 120 million euros coming from the U.S. market. Exports to the United States represent about 4% of Greece's total exports. Canned peach and peach derivatives, olives and olive oil are the three top exported agriculture products to the U.S., bringing home about half a billion euros annually. More than 20,000 families, farmers and workers make their income from peach farms and peach factories in Central Macedonia, according to Kostas Apostolou, head of the Greek Canners Association. "Our size might be small as a percentage for the country or the EU but for the region its a big source of income, vital for it's survival." "For the past 6 months, since Trump took office, we have been in a period of an absolute turmoil," says Apostolou. He said that the only alternative is to diversify exports to Mercosur countries in South America or to Mexico and India and urged the EU to sign a trade agreement with those countries. The EU was planning to approve a trade deal with Mercosur but has faced opposition from some countries. Still, there are also optimists "Trump is unpredictable. We hope that he will prove that and he will change this decision," said farmer Vangelis Karaindros as he and his employees picked ripe peaches by hand. Sign in to access your portfolio
Sunday World
04-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man who led gardai on high speed chase to border avoids jail
Daniel O'Riordan contested the charges, testifying that he was not behind the wheel. A motorist who led Gardaí on a high speed chase from North Louth to the border during which he overtook other traffic at speed and ignored road signs has avoided a prison sentence. Last April, Daniel O'Riordan (37), Mullacrew, Louth Village, and originally from Bellurgan Point, Dundalk, was convicted of five counts of dangerous driving. He contested the charges, testifying that he was not behind the wheel, nor even in the area where the pursuit commenced. His girlfriend also gave evidence that he was with her the whole time. However, at the conclusion of evidence, Judge Nicola Andrews convicted the defendant of dangerous driving at Jenkinstown Post Office, Bellurgan, Ballymascanlon, Thistle Cross and Carrickaneena, before adjourning finalisation of the case for reports. There were 61 previous convictions, 27 under the Road Traffic Act, including for dangerous driving causing death for which a five-year sentence was imposed in February 2011. Judge Andrews sentenced him to 120 hours community service in lieu of four months imprisonment for dangerous driving at Jenkinstown Post Office along with a two-year driving disqualification. The other charges were taken into consideration. Legal aid was granted. The district court had heard that Gardaí began a surveillance operation at the post office at 8.30am on December 2, 2024, to apprehend Mr O'Riordan who had eight outstanding bench warrants. Gda Ian McDonnell said that he was in an unmarked car and at 4.27pm he spotted a silver Volkswagen Passat arrive. The defendant, whom he knew, was the sole occupant. A high speed pursuit subsequently began, along the main Dundalk Road, past the Ballymascanlon Hotel and through Thistle Cross. It ended when the Passat overtook on a bend under a railway bridge and crossed into Northern Ireland. Gda McDonnell said that he could see it driving dangerously along Edenappa Road. The PSNI was alerted. The pursuit was over 8.6km and lasted approximately eight minutes. On December 10 at 7.10am, the court heard, Mr O'Riordan was arrested with the assistance of the Garda Armed Support Unit at a residence in Mullacrew. Dundalk Courthouse Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 4th The offending car was parked tight to the rear of the dwelling so it couldn't be seen from the road. Daniel O'Riordan testified that he didn't go to Bellurgan that day. His girlfriend drove him to a yard in Culloville, Co. Armagh to collect his wages. He continued that he was in Bellurgan the next day. He gets the 'Dole' in Jenkinstown Post Office. 'I wasn't driving. I wasn't even in Jenkinstown. It's not my car. I don't know who has access to it,' he said. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Sunday World
04-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man who led Garda Armed Support Unit on high speed chase to border avoids jail
Daniel O'Riordan contested the charges, testifying that he was not behind the wheel. A motorist who led Gardaí on a high speed chase from North Louth to the border during which he overtook other traffic at speed and ignored road signs has avoided a prison sentence. Last April, Daniel O'Riordan (37), Mullacrew, Louth Village, and originally from Bellurgan Point, Dundalk, was convicted of five counts of dangerous driving. He contested the charges, testifying that he was not behind the wheel, nor even in the area where the pursuit commenced. His girlfriend also gave evidence that he was with her the whole time. However, at the conclusion of evidence, Judge Nicola Andrews convicted the defendant of dangerous driving at Jenkinstown Post Office, Bellurgan, Ballymascanlon, Thistle Cross and Carrickaneena, before adjourning finalisation of the case for reports. There were 61 previous convictions, 27 under the Road Traffic Act, including for dangerous driving causing death for which a five-year sentence was imposed in February 2011. Judge Andrews sentenced him to 120 hours community service in lieu of four months imprisonment for dangerous driving at Jenkinstown Post Office along with a two-year driving disqualification. The other charges were taken into consideration. Legal aid was granted. The district court had heard that Gardaí began a surveillance operation at the post office at 8.30am on December 2, 2024, to apprehend Mr O'Riordan who had eight outstanding bench warrants. Gda Ian McDonnell said that he was in an unmarked car and at 4.27pm he spotted a silver Volkswagen Passat arrive. The defendant, whom he knew, was the sole occupant. A high speed pursuit subsequently began, along the main Dundalk Road, past the Ballymascanlon Hotel and through Thistle Cross. It ended when the Passat overtook on a bend under a railway bridge and crossed into Northern Ireland. Gda McDonnell said that he could see it driving dangerously along Edenappa Road. The PSNI was alerted. The pursuit was over 8.6km and lasted approximately eight minutes. On December 10 at 7.10am, the court heard, Mr O'Riordan was arrested with the assistance of the Garda Armed Support Unit at a residence in Mullacrew. Dundalk Courthouse Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 4th The offending car was parked tight to the rear of the dwelling so it couldn't be seen from the road. Daniel O'Riordan testified that he didn't go to Bellurgan that day. His girlfriend drove him to a yard in Culloville, Co. Armagh to collect his wages. He continued that he was in Bellurgan the next day. He gets the 'Dole' in Jenkinstown Post Office. 'I wasn't driving. I wasn't even in Jenkinstown. It's not my car. I don't know who has access to it,' he said. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
03-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Louth man who led Gardaí on high speed chase to border avoids jail
Last April, Daniel O'Riordan (37), Mullacrew, Louth Village, and originally from Bellurgan Point, Dundalk, was convicted of five counts of dangerous driving. He contested the charges, testifying that he was not behind the wheel, nor even in the area where the pursuit commenced. His girlfriend also gave evidence that he was with her the whole time. However, at the conclusion of evidence, Judge Nicola Andrews convicted the defendant of dangerous driving at Jenkinstown Post Office, Bellurgan, Ballymascanlon, Thistle Cross and Carrickaneena, before adjourning finalisation of the case for reports. There were 61 previous convictions, 27 under the Road Traffic Act, including for dangerous driving causing death for which a five-year sentence was imposed in February 2011. Judge Andrews sentenced him to 120 hours community service in lieu of four months imprisonment for dangerous driving at Jenkinstown Post Office along with a two-year driving disqualification. The other charges were taken into consideration. Legal aid was granted. The district court had heard that Gardaí began a surveillance operation at the post office at 8.30am on December 2, 2024, to apprehend Mr O'Riordan who had eight outstanding bench warrants. Gda Ian McDonnell said that he was in an unmarked car and at 4.27pm he spotted a silver Volkswagen Passat arrive. The defendant, whom he knew, was the sole occupant. A high speed pursuit subsequently began, along the main Dundalk Road, past the Ballymascanlon Hotel and through Thistle Cross. It ended when the Passat overtook on a bend under a railway bridge and crossed into Northern Ireland. Gda McDonnell said that he could see it driving dangerously along Edenappa Road. The PSNI was alerted. The pursuit was over 8.6km and lasted approximately eight minutes. ADVERTISEMENT On December 10 at 7.10am, the court heard, Mr O'Riordan was arrested with the assistance of the Garda Armed Support Unit at a residence in Mullacrew. The offending car was parked tight to the rear of the dwelling so it couldn't be seen from the road. Daniel O'Riordan testified that he didn't go to Bellurgan that day. His girlfriend drove him to a yard in Culloville, Co. Armagh to collect his wages. He continued that he was in Bellurgan the next day. He gets the 'Dole' in Jenkinstown Post Office. 'I wasn't driving. I wasn't even in Jenkinstown. It's not my car. I don't know who has access to it,' he said.
