Macfrut launches fresh programme for 2017
Cesena Fiera celebrated Macfrut in September in Rimini with more than 38,000 participants, 9% more than in 2015, and 30% from abroad.
Macfrut president Renzo Piraccini said the 2016 edition saw a significant number of professional visitors from Eastern Europe, Central and South America and Africa.
As the organiser of this international fruit and vegetable sector trade fair, Cesena Fiera is already preparing the 2017 edition, to be held May 10-12 at the Rimini Expo Centre with a focus on building business relationships and international trade.
The fair will have a re-branded, fresh agenda in 2017:
– The strawberry is taking centre stage at Macfrut 2017 as the symbol of the trade show and the emblem of “Strawberry Days”, a series of activities on the theme of strawberries organised in partnership with leading Italian strawberry producers.
– Macfrut welcomes Basilicata, the main strawberry production area in Italy, as a regional partner of the show.
– China sponsors the fair as a country partner. The Asian giant, today a key overseas market for Italian kiwifruit and a major buyer of technology, is projected to become an increasingly strategic market for Italian and European fresh produce.
– Macfrut Bio makes its debut in 2017 with a focus on organic produce and export opportunities to northern European markets.
– Macfrut Gourmet will be an area of the trade show dedicated to artisan fresh produce growers and processors supplying the highest quality products to retailers and specialised shops.
– “Macfrut in the field” brings visitors from the pavilions to some specific test fields on the day before the trade show starts (9 May). This new addition to the programme will showcase the latest technology in a series of field demonstrations.
Green Export: exporting 100% Italian products
Green Export is an Italian company that exports fresh fruit and vegetables. Its products are mainly from the south of Italy, such as grapes, early peaches and nectarines, and it is developing vegetables such as parsley, dill, spring onions and horseradish.
Green Export’s products go directly to the customer at the greatest speed, with Scandinavia and Switzerland the company’s core markets.
Sales manager Jan Schmidt highlighted that the company’s product portfolio mix is 10% organic and 90% conventional. “The organic section has been getting very strong recently, so we expect to raise our rates next year,” Schmidt said.
Global procurement at Macfrut
The Spanish company Fruit Outsourcing Procurement exhibited its comprehensive services at Macfrut, proposing them for big fresh fruit and vegetable producers in the Southern Hemisphere and Europe. Currently, the company is presenting the Arguta kiwi, a small kiwi weighing 125g with a soft, fine skin and sweeter taste.
Although it is still being introduced, it promises to be a great sensation in 2017, since production will increase by 60% in both Italy and Portugal, where it is already on trial.
“These are products that began production three years ago. The company sells in Spain, Portugal, France and the Middle East,” said Pablo Beneite, an independent agent and manager of Fruit Outsourcing Procurement.
Government of San Juan fosters investment in fresh produce
The Argentine Ministry of Production and Economic Development strongly backs fruit and vegetable development in the province of San Juan. This province’s fruit and vegetable production is growing year by year for both fresh consumption or processed.
The need to add value to local fruit production, fostered by the availability of high-quality raw material, a qualified workforce, the availability of soil with exceptional properties, all make the province of San Juan a land of investment opportunities.
“With ideal agro-ecological conditions in the province, we are working to position ourselves as leaders in grapes. Moreover, San Juan is an excellent exporter of white garlic, onions and squash.” said Marisa Fernández, subdirector of the Investment Agency.
Municipality of Villa Regina opens to the world market
The Municipality of Villa Regina belongs to the province of Rio Negro in Patagonia, Argentina. The most significant economy of the city and the region is based on growing fruit trees, with apple and pear trees among the most important.
Villa Regina’s iconic fruit is the Williams pear and all varieties of apple. There are a total of approximately 8,000 ha with an export level of 80% for processed pears and 60% for apples.
Its main market is Europe, with Italy and Rotterdam the main distribution and consumption centres.
“The remaining percentage is for national consumption, much of it for industry, canning and making concentrated juice,” said Villa Regina’s Daniel Fioretti.
