February 14 2007, 11:32

The world largest produce summit FRUIT LOGISTICA set up new records

The key players of the international vegetable, fruit and mushroom industry, as well as the related branches, participated in the fifteenth international exhibition-summit FRUIT LOGISTICA 2007 on the 8th-10th February in Berlin. This year the products and services were presented by 1,867 exhibitors (in 2006: 1611) from 74 countries (in 2006: 64). The companies rented the exhibition areas of the total size of 72,000 square meters (2006: 60,000 sq. m.). Judging from the mentioned figures, the number of the participants has increased 15%, the exhibition areas have extended 20% since the previous year. Around 40 thousands of visitors from 110 countries attended the event in 2007.

Thirteen pavilions were occupied by the full line of the products and services for the produce business which let the buyers purchase fresh high-quality produce all year round.

D-r Christian Hecke, the Executive Director of Messe Berlin company informed that next year Messe Berlin will conduct FRESHCONEX exhibition simultaneously with FRUIT LOGISTICA 2008. It will be a separate event dedicated to the market of fresh-cut products and the instant food. To his opinion, this event is focused on the quickly growing segment; so a new exhibition will perfectly enlarge FRUIT LOGISTICA 2008.

Netherlands was the official partner of FRUIT LOGISTICA this year. Dutch exhibit space occupied 5,400 square meters. Three countries - Georgia, Honduras and Sudan have presented their products for the first time on FRUIT LOGISTICA 2007. The largest national pavilions were established by European countries including Spain (313 exhibitors), Italy (300 exhibitors), Germany (242 exhibitors), France (203 exhibitors) and Netherlands (168 exhibitors). German pavilion of 8,000 square meters was the largest. Great Britain 77% extended its pavilion this year. Egyptian stands' square was 55% larger than in the previous year.

Ukraine was represented by only one company among the exhibitors of the event. "Ukrainian Fruit company" has come to the exhibition for the second time to search for new business partners. Mr. Denis Podkovyrov, the representative of the company, tells that "It is the most important trade event for us which can not be compared with any other event. We have been exhibiting our products here for the second time already, and we plan to do it each year in the future". The company imports fruits and small shipments of vegetables from the whole world to Ukraine. The company's sales amounted to $127 mln. past year.

Four companies from Georgia were able to present their produce on FRUIT LOGISTICA due to the support provided by AgVantage Project financed by USAID. "Our produce was supplied to Russia in the past, - Mr. David Jugashvili, AgVantage, says. - After Russia banned Georgian produce supplies we have been looking for the new markets. We are focused on the European Union; we are sure that we will be able to establish the necessary contacts in Berlin".

Russian fruit and vegetable importers also do not miss this event; they are taking an opportunity to set business relations. Globus Group, the largest trade company in Moscow oblast, introduced its stand among other Russian companies. "We are looking for new partners to create long-term and fruitful relations", the representative of the company said.

Around 40 companies from Poland introduced their produce on market. The Towarzystwo Rozwoju Sadow Karlowych from Lublin organized the joint stand. The attendees of the stand obtained information about fruit and vegetable production in Poland.

Dozens of the produce business representatives from Ukraine attended the exhibition this year. A part of the exhibition participants managed to come to Berlin thanks to the Agricultural Marketing Project support. The Agricultural Marketing Project organizes the trip of Ukrainian delegation to FRUIT LOGISTICA 2008. If you like to participate in this event, please mail your applications right now to [email protected].