In its anniversary year, Fruit Logistica, the leading industry event for the global fresh produce trade, will attract some 3,100 exhibitors from 86 countries to Berlin from 8 to 10 February 2017.
Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of organiser Messe Berlin GmbH, commented on the milestone: "Fruit Logistica was launched in 1993 in response to an industry demand and has seen impressive development ever since. We started the first year with 100 exhibitors.
In 2017, for the first time, the number of exhibitors will top the 3,000 mark. As a leading global trade fair, Fruit Logistica is a don't-miss event for players across the entire value chain. Not only does the trade fair offer outstanding business opportunities, it has also gained a solid reputation as a platform for information and innovations."
More than 70,000 buyers and trade visitors from over 130 countries will once again have an opportunity to benefit from the widest variety of international exhibitors ever assembled under one roof.
German Partner
In the anniversary year, the host country is, for the first time, also the partner country. It's a well-known fact that Germany represents the largest consumer market in Europe. But there is also a growing demand for fresh produce exported Germany.
This is due in part to the rigorously controlled quality of German products and the reliability of the country's trading partners. At the same time, new markets are being developed and bilateral trade is promoted with the support of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).
Organised by the German Association of Fruit and Vegetable Growers (BVEO), the joint exhibition stand in Hall 20 serves as the first stop for trade visitors from all over the world who are interested in German companies. Other German producers and companies in the value chain are located in the other Fruit Logistica halls.
Fresh Produce Market Figures
According to the latest figures published by the Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft mbh (AMI) in Bonn, Germany, around 1.23 billion tonnes of vegetables (excluding melons) and some 800 million tonnes of fruit (including melons) were produced worldwide in 2016. Nearly 10% of global fruit production and almost 4% of global vegetable production was sold fresh in cross-border trade.
The EU fruit harvest in 2016 reached 38.2 million tonnes, 3% less than in the previous year. The EU vegetable harvest in 2016 is expected to reach roughly 63.5 million tonnes, representing a slight 1% increase compared to the previous year
According to estimates by the AMI and the Federal Statistical Office, Germany's fruit harvest in 2016 totalled around 1.32 million tonnes, roughly equivalent to the previous year. This figure is significantly lower than the record set in 2014, when the harvest was 1.49 million tonnes.
Well-Prepared For The Future: The Professional Supporting Programme
The supporting programme kicks off today with the new Fruitnet World of Fresh Ideas, an event format that creates a multimedia experience and takes participants on an inspiring journey through the global value chain, and the FRUTIC Symposium, an international scientific conference.
Staged for the first time in conjunction with Fruit Logistica, the symposium includes more than 50 scientific presentations and provides an ideal platform for sharing information between experts from the research community and the fresh produce sector.
Four series of events taking place during the trade fair focus on current and future challenges in the industry. The Logistics Hub offers growers, exporters and retailers the information they need to reach the right logistical decisions for transporting their products.
The Fruit Logistica Future Lab presents concepts that, in a few years, will enrich the fruit and vegetable sector with innovations aimed at significantly optimising the value chain.
The Fresh Produce Forum focuses on the latest industry questions with viable answers provided by experts, while the Tech Stage focuses on the great importance of technical solutions for the industry.
An overview of all supporting programme events is available here.
Fruit Logistica Innovation Award (FLIA)
On the first two days of the fair, Fruit Logistica trade visitors will choose their favourites from the display in the passageway between Halls 20 and 21.
The recipient of the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award (FLIA) will be announced in a special ceremony on 10 February 2017. Regarded as the most coveted innovation award in the fresh produce sector, the FLIA honours outstanding new products and services that add new drive to the industry.
Ten candidates from numerous submissions have been selected by jury of experts. An overview of nominees for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award 2017 is available here.
Sponsored content. © 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Karen Henderson. Click subscribe to sign up for ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
