Successful second edition of the Amsterdam Produce Show

An intimate event offering space for quality contacts

The Amsterdam Produce Show and conference (APS) returned to the Westergasfabriek for the event’s second edition, held on 15-17 November, bringing together the international fresh produce community in Holland.

The APS organisers are looking back on a successful event that is growing both in terms of the number of exhibitors and the number of visitors. The show will be back for a third edition in 2018.

Dutch and international trade exhibitors that included fresh produce traders, packers, software and transportation companies were given direct access to a range of produce buyers from the retail, foodservice and wholesale sectors. Many exhibitors praised the good quality of the contacts they were able to make during the event.

Cooking demonstrations

A chef demonstration theatre ran alongside the main exhibition showcasing how many of the products on the show’s floor are being used by chefs in a foodservice environment and by consumers.

High-quality seminars

A series of three educational seminars provided the opportunity for knowledge sharing and transfer, exploring high-level global concerns that will drive success in the produce trade in the years to come.

Cindy van Rijswick, senior research analyst at Rabobank (financer of 85% of the Dutch agri-food business) sees a positive outlook for global fruit exporters with an estimated annual growth of 1.7% in the US, 0.9% in Europe and 3.7% in China. Likewise, she sees export growth opportunities for Southern Hemisphere players and up-and-coming export nations like Morocco, Colombia and Kenya. However, she warned that EU importers need to increase their sourcing efforts.

Roberta Cook, emeritus professor at the University of California’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, concluded that both the supply of and demand for berries is growing globally but also observed that the rates of growth in supply and demand are not always aligned. She warned all players to improve arrival quality and consistency with a greater focus on flavour.

“Everybody has to improve and meet consumer expectations,” Cook said.