Berlin fresh produce summit draws record participation

contents

europe

The reputation of FRUIT LOGISTICA as the world's leading international fresh produce trade fair has been underlined yet again this year by the presence of all market leaders, the industry's top decision-makers and a new attendance record. From 9 to 11 February, 2,452 exhibitors from 84 countries (2010: 2,314 from 71 countries) will be presenting a comprehensive overview of all levels of fruit and vegetable production and marketing. Exhibitors at this leading trade fair for the international fresh produce industry include all of the key global players as well as small and medium-sized companies within the international value chain. Around 90% of the exhibitors are from outside Germany. Some 50,000 trade visitors from 130 countries are expected to attend the trade fair and accompanying conferences. This includes the industry's key decision makers, wholesale and retail trade buyers, fruit and vegetable growers and import-export business representatives.

The biggest contingents based on the number of exhibitors are from the European produce trading nations of Italy (437), Spain (296), the Netherlands (247), France (245) and Germany (241). Exhibitors from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Monaco, Nicaragua and Tanzania are present at the trade fair this year for the first time. The main focus in Halls 3.1 and 4.1 is on the machinery sector.

FRESHCONEX 2011, the international trade fair for fresh produce convenience, runs parallel to FRUIT LOGISTICA. The new FRESHCONEX Route, a specially marked route through the FRUIT LOGISTICA exhibition area, guides trade visitors to companies presenting fresh convenience products and also highlights the "Packaging", "Processing Technologies" and "Food Safety" themes.

According to the latest figures from the AMI (Agricultural Market Information Service) in Bonn, 820 million tonnes of vegetables (excluding melons) and 700 million tonnes of fruit (including melons) were produced worldwide in 2010. While 10% of the world's most important fruit varieties sold as fresh produce in cross-border trade, only 3-4% of the world's fresh vegetables were traded internationally. Fruit and vegetable production levels have increased steadily over the past few years, although there was a slight decrease in fruit production in 2010. This was largely due to the smaller banana crop in Latin America and reduced apple production in the Northern Hemisphere. Apples, grapes, oranges, melons and bananas are the world's leading fruit varieties, accounting for around 65% of global production. The range of vegetables is more diverse, with the five leading varieties (tomatoes, onions, [head] cabbage, cucumbers and aubergines) accounting for only 40% of the total production volume.

The EU is the world's largest importing region for fresh fruit. This is only the case for fresh vegetables if trade between the EU member states is also included, otherwise the USA head the table. Russian imports, which have a major impact on the global fruit and vegetable market, recovered in 2010 from the previous year's slump. A smaller domestic crop of pipfruit and storable vegetables is likely to trigger the need for a high volume of imported produce there in the first few months of 2011. The amount of fruit harvested in the EU in 2010 declined by 5% over the previous year to 35 million tonnes. Smaller pipfruit and stone fruit crops are unlikely to be offset by a slightly larger than usual citrus fruit harvest. Vegetable production in the EU declined by nearly 2% in 2010 to around 61 million tonnes. This decrease was particularly evident in Eastern Europe, but some North Western European countries also experienced an above-average decline in production volumes. Smaller crops due to adverse weather conditions were the main reason for the lower yield.

The volume of commercially cultivated fruit in Germany decreased by more than 20% over the previous year (1.45 million tonnes) to 1.14 million tonnes, which is the lowest amount since 2002. Strawberries were the only fruit crop harvested with a volume similar to the previous year. Commercially produced vegetables fell below the record level of the previous year by 9% to just under 3.4 million tonnes. Both open-air and greenhouse crops were down on the previous year, with the only increase being registered in mushroom production. German imports of fresh vegetables increased by 5% in 2010 to 3.1 million tonnes, while fresh fruit imports decreased by 1-2% to five million tonnes. Exports of fresh produce, which have been marked by rapid growth over the past few years, rallied in the case of fresh fruit from a decline in the previous year, while exports of vegetables reached a record new high.

The FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award (FLIA) attracts worldwide media interest in the trade press and is one of the highlights of FRUIT LOGISTICA 2011. Outstanding new products and services in the fresh produce industry that have served as a driving force in the sector will be honoured at the award ceremony on 11 February.

Nominees for the FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award 2011 include (in alphabetical order): Angelle", an especially aromatic baby plum tomato, (Syngenta Seeds, Netherlands), "BIOX-M", a natural sprout inhibitor for potatoes (Xeda International, France), "Jamie Oliver - Grow Your Own", an assortment of herbs and mushrooms for home growing, (Gasa Group, Denmark), "Limeburst Fingerlimes", a unique Australian citrus fruit (Limeburst Fingerlimes, Australia), "Mandelpilz", a mushroom with a special nutty flavour (Prime Champ, Netherlands), "Resealable Freshness Salad Bag", (Florette, France), "RockitTM", a new, small apple variety in a specially-designed clear cylinder, (Plant & Food Research, New Zealand), "StoreNSure Pear", which for the first time enables in-house quality control of the storage time of Conference pears at harvest (NSure, Netherlands), "Sweet Resistants", a family of five new, highly-resistant, extra sweet apple varieties (Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti, Italy) and "Sweet Sensation", an especially sweet pear (The Greenery, Netherlands).

The first-class conference programme at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2011 features a series of informative lectures, seminars and panel discussions on topical issues, problems and trends relevant to the entire industry.

The day before the exhibition opens (8 Feb.) the 30th Fresh Produce Forum will focus on the theme "The true value of food in the discount era". Six Hall Forums will be presented on the three days of the trade fair. Topics of the events organised by FRUCHTHANDEL MAGAZINE (Düsseldorf) include: Retail – potential for profit in the fresh produce department (9.2.), Brands – creating and marketing a new brand (9.2.), Sustainability – value for the long term (10.2.), Water – making the most of a limited resource (10.2.), Logistics – the challenges for road transport? Transportation channels of the future (11.2.) and Innovation in fresh produce – new sales and marketing channels (11.2.).

Outstanding achievements in the fresh produce trade will be honoured with the following industry awards: "Grüner Merkur" (8.2.), the new "FRUCHTHANDEL MAGAZINE Retail Award 2011" (8.2.) and the FRUIT LOGISTICA INNOVATION AWARD 2011 "FLIA" (11.2.).

On 10 February, the side event organised by the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations (OA) and Messe Berlin “The Ukrainian Market for Fruit and Vegetables – Current Situation and Perspectives” will provide an overview of the current situation and the future potential of the industry in the Ukraine. The first Global IFPS Forum focusing on common standards will also take place on 10 February.

write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Exhibition News :: home page