Fruit Logistica

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Egypt showcases its export capacity at Fruit Logistica 2016

Egypt’s agriculture catapulted to international success at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2016

More than 90 Egyptian companies supported the Egyptian Agriculture Export Council by exhibiting under its banner at Fruit Logistica 2016, covering a total exhibition area of more than 1,700 m2.

The official Partner Country for Fruit Logistica 2016, Egypt held more than 700 business meetings during the trade show as the country gears up to expand its agricultural exports beyond its current loyal partners. “We have put our trust in this show since 1999 and this year we’ve broken all participation records,” said Egyptian Agriculture Export Council chairman Ali Eissa.

Egypt boasts vast swathes of new land untouched by pollution or disease. These new areas are ideal for the cultivation of high quality produce and Egypt is now maximising this potential by expanding its agricultural area through major reclamation projects. Furthermore, its unique geographic location is conducive to high quality production, which employs more than 32% of the country’s workforce.

In 2014/2015 the country exported over two billion dollars’ worth of agricultural products, not including rice. Egypt is the world’s largest exporter of oranges, second largest producer of artichokes, fifth biggest producer of tomatoes (specialising in sun-dried and sun-blush tomatoes) and the world’s sixth largest producer of strawberries. Its product portfolio also includes pomegranates, dates, herbs and spices.

Read more about Egypt here: www.eurofresh-distribution.com/news/egypt-fruit-logistica-2016-partner-country-set-export-growth

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Port of Barcelona provides integrated logistics

The Port of Barcelona, the Mercabarna wholesale market and the Italian shipping company Grimaldi Lines will be taking part jointly in Fruit Logistica 2016, in Pavilion 10.2 - stand B-04.

The Catalan port will be participating in Fruit Logistica with a joint stand with Mercabarna and Grimaldi Lines.

Under the slogan “Integrated Trade & Supply Chain”, the Port of Barcelona and its partners, Grimaldi Lines and Mercabarna, will be present for the third year in a row at the fair in Berlin with a range of integrated logistics that is unique in the region.

Their logistics have complete connectivity, supply and distribution solutions to meet the needs of importers and exporters, as well as logistics operators specialising in fresh produce.

The collaboration between these three major players enables them to offer a combination of the biggest supply and variety of fruit and vegetables in Europe, which is currently in Mercabarna, together with logistics solutions adapted to fresh produce, allowing them to transport it with the utmost guarantees via the maritime services offered by the Port of Barcelona.

Among the services the Port of Barcelona will be promoting, the short sea shipping (SSS) lines are particularly noteworthy. Combined with road transport, these sea routes optimize logistics to the maximum for exports to Italy, the countries of Northern and Central Europe, and North Africa. Moreover, the regular container lines with major counterseason fruit source markets have been changed in recent years to improve transit time and make importers more competitive.

This advertorial appeared on page 63 of edition 141, Jan/Feb 2016, of Eurofresh Distribution magazine. Read that issue online here.

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Introducing the Fruit Logistica Tech Stage

Located in Hall 7.1c at stand B-08, the Tech Stage will also be the place to learn about technical solutions in machinery, technology and packaging. Participation is free and all presentations will be simultaneously interpreted into English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.

Modern technology makes it possible to capture more data than ever before across the fresh produce value chain. How this data can be used to protect brands and consumers is the subject of one of six technical solutions to be addressed on the Tech Stage at the Fruit Logistica fair, being held in Berlin February 3-5.

Located in Hall 7.1c at stand B-08, the Tech Stage will be the place to learn about technical solutions in machinery, technology and packaging. Participation is free and all presentations will be simultaneously interpreted into English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.

Other topics include how paper-based packaging can help companies pack their fresh produce safely and conserve natural resources, and details of the winners of the ‘FInish future prize for ICT in the fresh supply chain’ – a chance to learn about innovative software solutions already tackling coming challenges in the fresh supply chain.

Tech Stage themes in detail

How data will protect your brand and your consumer
Wednesday, 3 February, 11:30 – 12:30h
​Compac
Value chains for fresh produce are longer and more complicated than ever as consumers expect safe, consistent and tasty produce regardless of season and location. Modern technology makes it possible to capture more data than ever before across this chain. The chance to add significant value through the intelligent application of data is one of the great opportunities for the global fresh produce industry.

The world’s most intelligent digital sorter
Wednesday, 3 February, 13:00 – 14:00h
Key Technology
Veryx™ is a modular platform of chute-fed and belt-fed sorters, bringing a complete new standard of digital sorting. With its innovative mechanical architecture & sensor technology, state-of-the-art electronic sort engine, advanced machine algorithms and rich information capabilities, Veryx™ delivers a revolution in performance that defines the new standard for digital sorting.

FInish future prize for IT in the fresh supply chain
Thursday, 4 February, 10:00 – 11:00h
Euro Pool System International (Germany)
Presentation of the winners of the “FInish future prize for IT in the fresh supply chain” followed by conferral of the awards by the President of the German Fruit Trade Association (DFHV) and the CEO of Euro Pool System International (Germany) GmbH.

Enhancing freshness & reducing waste through packaging intervention
Thursday, 4 February, 11:30 – 12:30h
​Coveris

Increasing productivity and profit
Thursday, 4 February, 13:00 – 14:00h
​TopControlTargeted optimisation of packaging processes plays a major role in increasing profits in the fresh produce industry. This is crucial for greater added value, especially in times of increasing price pressure on the market and rising resource costs. TopControl helps its clients achieve significant profit increases by reducing the give-away, optimising internal processes and improving operations efficiency.

Paper-based packaging: the environmental choice
Thursday, 4 February,14.30 – 15.30h
Mondi Paper Sales GmbH
​Mondi Paper Sales shows how paper-based packaging helps to ensure safe and reliable delivery of fresh produce while also conserving natural resources.

For more information: Introducing the Tech Stage at Fruit Logistica 2016

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Fruit Logistica forums to cover top issues for fresh produce sector

Fruit Logistica Hall Forum addresses current issues facing the fresh produce industry

What will growth in online sales of fresh produce mean for traditional retail channels and their suppliers? What opportunities are there to move to a more environmentally friendly supply chain? And what are the challenges for one of the world’s most popular fruits – the banana?

These are among the current issues facing the fresh produce sector which will be covered in free forums being held as part of the Fruit Logistica fair, taking place in Berlin February 3-5.

Also to be covered are the issue of varietal diversity versus patent rights, Egypt’s strengths as a modern fresh produce supplier, the importance of food safety at the point of sale, and how to increase product know how at the consumer level.

According to organisers, seven such sessions will take place in the Fruit Logistica Hall Forum (located in ‘Kleiner Stern’), with experts addressing what are very relevant issues facing the fresh produce industry. All presentations will be simultaneously interpreted into English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.

Hall Forum themes in detail

Fresh produce online? – The trade goes digital
Wednesday, 3 February, 11:00 to 12:00h
Speaker Daniel Lucht, ResearchFarm
Online shopping has become a fact of life for many consumers today, certainly in the case of many non-food items, but less so for food products and least of all for fresh produce. Many experts believe this situation will change in the next few years. What does it mean for traditional trading channels, and what does it mean for their suppliers?

Innovation in fresh produce – Sustainability at the POS
Wednesday, 3 February, 15:00 to 16:00h
Speakers Dr. Christian Geßner, ZNU-Zentrum für Nachhaltige Unternehmensführung (Centre for Sustainable Corporate Leadership)
Prof. Dr. Horst Lang, Globus hypermarket
Consumers today not only expect the highest environmental standards for the products they buy but also for the supply chain itself. What opportunities are there to conserve energy and natural resources? How can environmentally friendly logistics work? What can be done at the point of sale? And what are the implications for suppliers?

Varietal diversity versus patent rights – Will product variety suffer?
Thursday, 4 February, 11:00 to 12:00h
Speaker Szonja Csörgő, European Seed Association
Natural diversity is an essential feature of evolution. Does the “broccoli judgement” mean that the previous legal situation guaranteeing an open-source basis for research will change? Will it lead to less product diversity? What does it mean for research institutes? What does it mean for the fresh produce industry and for the consumer?

Egypt, partner of the future: sustainable, qualitative, safe and traceable
Thursday, 4 February, 13:00 to 14:00h
Organiser Agriculture Export Council
Egypt is this year’s official Fruit Logistica partner country. Investments in the Egyptian agricultural sector are high. Measures including the construction of packaging plants based on international standards are aimed at ensuring continuous market growth. In this Hall Forum, Egypt shows how its products meet global standards and international certification requirements.

The global banana market in 2025
Thursday, 4 February, 15:00 to 16:00h
Speaker Frits Popma, Popma Fruit Expertise
Bananas are the most popular type of fruit in many countries. And for many regions, they represent a key source of income. What is the production situation in these countries? What challenges need to be met in future? And how will demand in key consumer markets change?

Food safety at the POS
Friday, 5 February, 11:00 to 12:00h
Speakers James C. Christie, Bryant Christie
Dr. Sven Steinhauer, GBA Gesellschaft für Bioanalytik
The entire supply chain makes enormous efforts to satisfy stringent food safety standards and other certifications. “But no one cares once the product is in the store”, some critics claim. Is this true? We look at how the supply chain cooperates, and the important role of the retail sector.

Product know how – Informing the consumer
Friday, 5 February, 13:00 to 14:00h
Speakers Edouard Balaÿ, selfdata-drive.com
Katja Kamp, Looije Tomaten
A lot has happened at the point of sale. Retailers are making great efforts to train their staff. But the problem remains that many consumers are not familiar with many fresh products and have no idea how to prepare them. How can we change this situation?

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Fruit Logistica’s Logistics Hub

Logistics Hub is a new series of events presented by Fruit Logistica where producers, exporters and traders will find the information they need to help them take the right logistical decisions for the transportation of their goods.

The place to learn the latest on fresh produce handling and logistics, Fruit Logistica’s Logistics Hub will feature a new series of events held over the course of the Berlin fair, February 3-5.

“This is where producers, exporters and traders will find the information they need to help them take the right logistical decisions for the transportation of their goods,” organisers said in a press release.

To be located in Hall B, CityCube, Stand C-04, the Logistics Hub offers presentations simultaneously interpreted into English, German, French, Italian and Spanish and participation is free.

Topics to be addressed include:

  • “Understanding the Ins and Outs of Logistics”
  • “Developing Logistics Solutions for Trade Between Emerging Markets”
  • “Air to Sea Transport: Risks and Pitfalls”
  • “Innovative Perishable Logistics Concepts for the Emerging Produce E-commerce Markets”
  • “Strategic Cold Chain Investments and Examining New Outsourcing Potential”
  • “Reefer Claims: Addressing a Classic Clash of Interests”
  • “Focusing on the First Mile: Country and Produce Case Study Africa”
  • “Focusing on the First Mile: Country and Produce Case Study Latin America”
  • “Frozen Vegetables – Opportunities, Challenges and Threats”
  • ‘Anything, anywhere, anytime’: What does this mean for the fresh produce sector?”

For more details: http://www.fruitlogistica.de/en/TradeVisitors/Events/index.jsp

Pantos Logistics – Sea freigh image: By Romlogistics (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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SanLucar has invested over €7 million in social and environmental projects

Over 2013/15, SanLucar invested more than €7 million in projects in Germany, Austria, Spain, Tunisia, South Africa and Ecuador.

During Fruit Logistica next month, the international fruit and vegetable brand SanLucar will present its 2013/15 corporate responsibility report titled ‘Commitment makes the difference.’

Now in its 4th edition, the report details the initiatives launched by SanLucar’s Corporate Responsibility department and its objectives for between now and the year 2020.

SanLucar Group CEO Stephan Rötzer said corporate responsibility is an essential part of SanLucar’s business and the reason its actions on social and environmental matters are fully integrated into its global company strategy.

“Our daily activity is based on five fields of action: excellent taste of our products, safety and health at work, environmental protection, education and knowledge exchange as well as the fulfillment of dreams for all the members of the communities where SanLucar is established,” Rötzer said.

Social and environmental projects

The group is guided by the philosophy “Taste in harmony with man and nature”.  As a result of this commitment, over 2013/15, SanLucar invested more than €7 million in projects developed in Germany, Austria, Spain, Tunisia, South Africa and Ecuador – all countries in which is has bases.

Regarding environmental projects, SanLucar has chosen a more efficient irrigation system for its fields in Tunisia, the installation of solar panels for the office in Austria and an energy saving program for its warehouse in Germany. By launching this latest initiative, SanLucar has been able to reduce the CO2 emissions by 61 tons, thanks to a more efficient and environmentally friendly LED lighting system.

“Sometimes it ́s hard to imagine the importance of this type of actions, but to have an idea it would be necessary to plant approximately 5.000 trees to counteract this amount of contaminating emissions” explains Stephan Rötzer.

One of the important milestones of SanLucar during the last two years concerning social management has been the boost given in Germany, Austria and Spain to awareness programs concerning the importance of doing sports and of following healthy nutrition habits. In the same way, education and further training has been one of the priorities for the company. In 2015 has been founded the SanLucar Academy in Ecuador, after the take-off in Spain of this employee training project.

From 3rd to 5th February, SanLucar will give extended information about these and further projects at the Fruit Logistica (hall 6.2-stand C07) where the report will be available in three languages (English, German, Spanish).

This report can also be downloaded from the SanLucar homepage next 15th of February.

For further information: http://www.sanlucar.com/fruit/?lang=en

Image: the cover of SanLucar’s 2013/15 corporate responsibility report
Explanation of the picture: “In Valencia, July 2015, on the second anniversary of our soup kitchen El Puchero, we asked 20 children to draw their idea of a beautiful world.“

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Unitec technological innovation at Fruit Logistica 2016

Unitec, the international group specialising in designing and developing technologies for the processing, sorting, quality selection, grading and packing of more than 35 types of fresh fruit and vegetables, will be at Fruit Logistica, taking place February 3-5 in Berlin.

Unitec, the international group specialising in designing and developing technologies for the processing, sorting, quality selection, grading and packing of more than 35 types of fresh fruit and vegetables, will be at Fruit Logistica, taking place February 3-5 in Berlin.

Unitec president Angelo Benedetti  said Unitec will bring its know-how, acquired over 90 years of history, to Fruit Logistica, “and the competence of a company that keeps thinking of new technological, cutting-edge solutions to improve the results in fresh fruit and vegetables processing.

“These increasingly performing solutions have been developed over the years by an organisation disposed to internationalisation,” he said.

In particular, the innovation presented by Unitec at the leading trade fair of the sector consists of systems for the quality selection and grading of a whole set of fruits, from blueberries to watermelons.

Unitec technologies for the internal and external quality selection of fruits are cutting-edge systems specifically structured and designed for each type of fruit (Cherry Vision, but also Apple Vision, Apricot Vision, Peach Vision, Blueberry Vision, etc.). Therefore, it is now possible to detect accurately and gently not just size and colour, but sweetness (Brix degree), ripeness, external and internal defects as well, in particular to remove soft/overripe fruits which are no longer suitable for export.

Fruits quality selection and grading certainly are key factors, and the systems developed by Unitec allow packing houses to formulate consistent export plans according to fruit ripeness. At the same time, Unitec technologies for quality selection enable fruit grading according to various quality parameters, uniformly and consistently over time. This important feature is the most relevant factor to increase consumer trust, since they are ensured they will always have a product that meets their expectations at every purchase.

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Exciting innovation to be featured at Fruit Logistica

Find out more about six of the ten finalists for the 2016 Fruit Logistica Innovation Award.

Here we profile six of the ten finalists for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award (FLIA) for 2016.

HZPC revives ‘forgotten’ potatoes with its Perupas

“Colourful, tasty and different: a painting on your plate!” That’s how Dutch seed potato breeding and marketing specialist HZPC describes one of its newest concepts – ‘WOW! Colourful Perupas!’ A collection of varieties of unique colours, shapes and/or tastes, these potatoes have their origins in ancient varieties from Peru – mainly found in the Andes mountains – and are intended for professional chefs and home cooks seeking variation, inspiration and taste. Perupas comes in various types:  Magenta Love, Double Fun, Violet Queen, Blue Star, Violetta, Anya.

 

A new, striking striped pepper: Enjoya

This red/yellow striped sweet pepper was first discovered by Dutch grower Wilfred van den Berg in 2013 in his greenhouse in Est. Together with Enza Zaden and 4Evergreen, the optimal way to cultivate it has since been found and it is now on the market under the name Enjoya. Available from speciality greengrocers in the Netherlands last year, Enjoya was supplied to the catering and hospitality trade, where its unique appearance, delicious aromatic flavour and pleasant crispy bite – as well as its high level of vitamin C – make it highly valued.

 

Pearl Herbs the perfect – and piquant – garnish

Pearl Herbs are an innovative new line of tiny fresh herbs “with perfect appearance” and intense flavour currently available in six varieties: radish, pea shoots, sunflower, thyme and red mustard. Ideal for garnishing dishes, this product comes from Israel’s 2BFresh, a subsidiary of Teshuva Agricultural Projects Ltd (TAP), famous for its culinary fresh herbs and lettuces grown in soilless culture. At Fruit Logistica 2016, Olesh-based 2BFresh is presenting 3 product lines: the new Pearl Herbs, hydroponic fresh herbs that are ready to eat, and micro leaves – think of them as “gourmet vegetable confetti” – that are also ready for use and ideal for use in restaurants, catering and at home.

 

QualyCheck app aids quality control

Smartphones and tablets convert into valuable tools for the quality control of fresh fruit and vegetables thanks to this inventive app from Germany company HortKinetix. QualyCheck not only allows users to generate and send a quality control report from their device, it leads them step-by-step through the quality inspection process – just like booking a flight – and generates a report, accompanied by photos, which is then digitally sent to pre-determined contacts, keeping them informed in real-time about produce quality. This low-cost solution also helps users optimise their quality control processes and stay up-to-date with relevant regulations.

 

Genuine Coconut for authentic virgin coconut water

Genuine Coconut makes the most of the fact that nature has already designed the ideal container for coconut water – the coconut. It simply makes the healthy liquid inside easier to enjoy by providing a patented opening and a drinking straw. But Spanish company World’s Coconut Trading is fussy about the coconuts selected for this new product, choosing only fresh ones of the fragrant, naturally sweet Nam Hom variety grown organically in Thailand. Genuine Coconut is already on sale in El Corte Inglés supermarkets and various speciality stores around Spain.

 

Home-harvested cherry tomatoes from Northern Greens

Ideal for the kitchen windowsill or anywhere else in the home, the Kitchen Minis Tomato is a special plant that can yield up to 150 tomatoes over about 6 months. Who wouldn’t enjoy watching their cherry tomatoes grow at their fingertips and harvesting them fresh from the vine? From Denmark’s Northern Greens, a year-round fruit and vegetable supplier, there are plans for this product to soon be available around Europe, tapping growing demand for home-grown produce. Standing about 35cm high, it takes up little space while making an attractive and unique home decoration.

Fruit Logistica Innovation Award

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Meet the finalists for the 2016 Fruit Logistica Innovation Award

From a field of 60 applications, ten products have been singled out as contenders for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award (FLIA) for 2016.

From a field of 60 applications, ten products have been singled out as contenders for the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award (FLIA) for 2016.

Hailing from Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, South Africa, France, Israel and Germany, their innovations will be showcased at Fruit Logistica – being held February 3-5 – in a special exhibition area between Halls 20 and 21 of Berlin ExpoCenter City. Visitors to the show will be able to cast their vote there for the Innovation of the Year. It’s also where the winner will be announced on February 5 at 2.30pm.

A panel of experts representing every segment of the industry selected the following ten candidates:

“Automato” – Stoffels, Belgium: A dispenser for the point of sale: different cherry tomato varieties are dispensed from three boxes directly into paper bags

“Enjoya” – Terra Natura International, Netherlands: Unique: a yellow and red striped sweet pepper.

“Genuine Coconut” – World’s Coconut Trading, Spain: Easy enjoyment: an organic coconut with a patented opening and a drinking straw.

“Harvest Automation” – Hortiplan, Netherlands: A machine for the fully automated harvesting of salad varieties.

“Kitchen Minis® Tomato” – Northern Greens, Denmark: A cherry tomato plant for the windowsill, yielding up to 150 tomatoes.

“Outspan Sam” – Capespan, South Africa: An initiative for children, including videos showing the journey citrus fruit takes on its way to the dinner table.

“Parmentine’s Cup” – Parmentine, France: A container with 250g of baby potatoes to be cooked in the microwave. Available in two varieties: with basil and tomato or fresh cheese and chive sauces.

“Pearl Herbs” – 2BFresh, Israel: Ideal for garnishing dishes: tiny fresh herbs in ten varieties

“QualyCheck” – HortKinetix, Germany: An app that can generate and send a quality control report from a smartphone.

“WOW! Colourful Perupas®” – HZPC Holland, Netherlands: Different new potato varieties based on ancient varieties found in the Andes. They differ from each other in taste, texture and colour.

 

“The FLIA is regarded as the most important award in the industry,” said Fruit Logistica’s global brand manager Wilfried Wollbold. “It attracts considerable media attention and honours new products and services that will have a positive impact on the international fresh produce sector.”

source: Fruit Logistica 

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Egypt, Fruit Logistica 2016 partner country, set for export growth

the future looks bright for Egypt’s agricultural exports. In the last decade, it has increased the volume of this trade by 226% and now exports to 145 countries. New investments in the sector and its commitment to the establishment of international specifications in packaging will support further growth.

The Egyptian export sector will be out in force at Fruit Logistica 2016 with 89 exporters exhibiting, up from 76 this year.

Egypt is the partner country for the event, a leading international trade fair for fresh produce marketing, which takes place February 3-5 in Berlin. The country’s pavilion in hall 2.1 will host the official Fruit Logistica opening on February 3.

According to a Fruit Logistica press release, the future looks bright for Egypt’s agricultural exports. In the last decade, it has increased the volume of this trade by 226% and now exports to 145 countries. New investments in the sector and its commitment to the establishment of international specifications in packaging will support further growth.

In 2014/2015 the country exported over $2 billion worth of agricultural products, excluding rice.

“The farming industry and its related sectors are vital to the Egyptian economy, with cultivated areas reaching around 9 million acres. They employ 32% of the country’s workforce and account for 14.7% of GDP,” the release says.

New African free trade area

It also says that an important step for Egypt was the agreement of 26 African countries in June this year to create a free trade area. The new free trade agreement Tripartite is integrating the existing agreements COMESA, EAC and SADC. In 2017, when Tripartite is supposed to become effective, it will facilitate the movement of goods between member states.

The safety and quality of food products and water supplies are of great concern to Egypt’s health authorities. They ensure safe, high-quality fresh produce while complying with numerous global standards and international certification bodies and institutions. They carefully monitor farms and exporters to ensure the quality of exported products, it says.

Egypt’s agricultural exports

According to a report by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Egypt was the world’s largest exporter of oranges in 2014/2015, but it also exports a wide variety of other kinds of fruit, and vegetables.

Top farm exports in 2014/2015

  • oranges 1.22 million tons
  • potatoes 650,000 tons
  • onions 492,000 tons
  • dry beans 182,000 tons
  • grapes 111,000 tons
  • tomatoes 109,000 tons
  • pomegranates 55,000 tons
  • green beans 44,000 tons
  • mandarins 36,000 tons
  • strawberries 34,000 tons
  • lemons 33,000 tons
  • peanuts 26,000 tons

Egypt’s agricultural export partners

  • Exports to 145 countries
  • In 2014/2015, 727 Egyptian companies exported 743,000 tons to the EU. During the same period overall exports reached 3.53 million tons.
  • 21% of Egypt’s farming products are exported to the EU where the main markets are the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Germany, Romania, Lithuania, Spain and France.

Egypt’s main non-EU trading partners for its produce include:

  • Saudi Arabia (18% of Egypt’s overall output),
  • Russia (18%)
  • The UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and India.

Logistics and transport

  • Egypt’s unique geographic location in the Middle East combined with an expanding infrastructure base enhances the country’s position as a key global logistics hub for companies looking to do business in, or trade with, Europe, Asia and Africa.
  • About 90% of Egypt’s foreign trade is shipped through ports.
  • The expansion of the Suez Canal is expected to double its capacity to 97 ships a day.