Berlin hosts global fresh produce trade

Berlin is all set for the international fresh produce sector’s premier event of the year. A total of 2,302 exhibitors from 71 countries (2009: 2,283 from 78 countries) will be present at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010 from 3 to 5 February giving an unparalleled overview of global fruit and vegetable production and trade. Exhibitors at the leading trade fair for the international fresh produce trade will include all of the key global players as well as small and medium-sized companies involved in the produce value chain. The largest participations based on exhibitor numbers are made up of the following key European fresh produce trading nations, namely, Italy (413), Spain (311), Germany (244), France (239) and the Netherlands (217). The share of foreign exhibitors this year is over 89%. Some 50,000 trade visitors from 125 countries are expected to attend the trade fair and accompanying conferences. This includes the industry's key decision makers, wholesale and retail buyers, fruit and vegetable growers and import-export business representatives.

Mexico is the official FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010 partner country. The northernmost Latin American nation, which is celebrating its bicentennial year as an independent country in 2010, is planning it's biggest-ever appearance at the world's leading trade fair for fresh produce. Mexico will be represented by a large number of growers, organisations and trade associations in Hall 25 at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. A main focal point will be the largest variety of Mexican fresh fruit and vegetables ever presented in Europe. According to the WTO, Mexico is the world's tenth-largest agricultural exporter. Ms Ana Graciela Aguilar Antuñano, CHIEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ASERCA will be a guest speaker at the FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010 opening ceremony on 2nd February at the ICC Berlin and will officially host the partner country's reception afterwards.

Parallel to FRUIT LOGISTICA, Messe Berlin will be hosting FRESHCONEX 2010, the international trade fair for fresh produce convenience, in Hall 1.1 at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.
 
Fresh produce market figures
 
Nearly 1.5 billion tonnes of fruit and vegetables produced worldwide
According to information from the AMI (agricultural market information service) in Bonn, 800 million tonnes of vegetables (excluding melons) and nearly 700 million tonnes of fruit (including melons) were produced worldwide in 2009. Fruit and vegetable production levels have increased steadily over the past few years. Apples, grapes, oranges, melons and bananas are the world's leading fruit varieties, accounting for around 60% of global production. The range of vegetables is more diverse with the three leading varieties (tomatoes, head cabbage, cucumbers) accounting for only 30% of the total production volume. More than 10% of the global production of major fruit varieties are traded cross-border. For fresh vegetables, this figure is only 3% to 4%. The EU is the world’s largest importing region for fresh fruit and, if trade between the EU member states is taken into account, for fresh vegetables as well. Otherwise, the EU ranks second to the USA as an importer of fresh vegetables.
 
Fresh produce grown in the EU: less fruit, more vegetables

The amount of fruit harvested in the EU declined by 2% in 2009 to 37 million tonnes. While a slight decrease was seen in the size of the apple and citrus harvests in the 2009/10 season, there was an increase for most stone fruit varieties. Vegetable production in the EU increased by 3% to 62 million tones. This was primarily a result of bigger harvests. The area under cultivation remained essentially unchanged. Spain is the leading exporter of fresh vegetables. While the country's exports declined by 6% (3.7 million tonnes) in the 2008/09 fiscal year, the current 2009/10 season has been marked by a significant increase in exports. Supply pressure continued until the second half of December. Cool temperatures and storms in some regions decreased supplies. As a result, exports in the first few months of 2010 are expected to be only slightly above last year's levels.
 
Significant production increase in Germany 
The volume of commercially cultivated fruit in Germany increased by nearly 10% over the previous year to 1.4 million tonnes. Significantly more stone fruit was harvested in 2009 following a series of crop failures in 2008. The commercial production of vegetables exceeded the record set in 2008 by 5% to reach nearly 3.7 million tonnes in 2009. More vegetables were grown on open farmland and in greenhouses. There was also a moderate increase in the production of mushrooms. German imports of fresh vegetables (3 million tonnes) and fresh fruit (5.1 million tonnes) showed a slight increase in 2009. In contrast, exports of fresh fruit and vegetables, which were marked by rapid growth over the past few years, decreased by around 5%.
 
German produce sector generates EUR 19 billion in sales
According to AMI estimates, some 2,350 fresh produce companies in Germany generated turnover of EUR 19 billion in 2008. Due to higher prices, sales figures for 2009 are expected at best to remain at the previous year's level, or may indeed show a slight decrease. While the amount of fresh fruit purchased by private households in Germany decreased by around 1% in 2009, the volume of fresh vegetables remained essentially unchanged compared to 2008. However, consumer spending decreased by 5% for fresh vegetables and by 8% for fresh fruit.
 
Average annual consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in Germany: 68.7 kg per person
The GfK, a market research company based in Nuremberg, analysed fresh produce purchasing and expenditures in 2009 for private households in Germany. According to the survey, each household purchased 82.4 kilos (2008: 83.5 kg) of fresh fruit at an average price of EUR 1.51 per kilo (2008: EUR 1.62). In addition to this, 63.2 kg (2008: 63.5 kg) of fresh vegetables were purchased at an average EUR 1.79 per kilo (2008: EUR 1.88).
Based on per-person consumption figures for 2009, the following fruit are the most popular in Germany: apples (9.0 kg), bananas (7.1 kg), oranges (4.2 kg), clementines (2.5 kg) grapes (2.2 kg), strawberries (1.7 kg), nectarines (1.6 kg), pears (1.4 kg), pineapple (1.4 kg) and watermelon (1.2 kg). As regards the per-person consumption of fresh vegetables the ranking is: tomatoes (4.9 kg), carrots (3.6 kg), cucumbers (3.3 kg), onions (3.1 kg) sweet peppers (2.5 kg), iceberg lettuce (1.6 kg), cauliflower (1.0 kg) asparagus (0.9 kg), leek (0.6 kg) and white cabbage (0.6 kg). The most recent figures from 2008/2009 show that per capita consumption in Germany averages 68.7 kilos of fresh produce: fruit (38.9 kg) and vegetables (29.8 kg).
 
First-class conference programme
FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010 offers an outstanding conference programme with comprehensive background information and valuable insights for international fresh produce trade professionals. Taking place on the day before the trade fair officially opens (2 Feb.), the 29th Fresh Produce Forum addresses the question: "Top image but low returns. Does fresh produce need a relaunch?"
Guest speakers at the opening ceremony include Ms Ana Graciela Aguilar Antuñano, Chief Executive Director of ASERCA (Apoyos y Servicios a la Comercialización Agropecuaria), Mexico, Mr Emmanuel Jacquin, Head of the European Commission Fresh Produce Unit, and Dr Christian Göke, Chief Operating Officer, Messe Berlin GmbH (opening remarks). Keynote speaker at the opening ceremony will be Mr Oliver Weidner, Director International Quality Management, Lidl, Germany.
Six Hall Forums will be presented on the three days of the trade fair. Topics of the seminar series organised by FRUCHTHANDEL MAGAZINE (Düsseldorf) include: "The retail trade in Europe – making the most of the crisis" (3.2.), "Mexico – a partner with great potential" (3.2.), "Agribusiness – partnerships in the produce food chain" (4.2.), "New marketing norms in Europe – How is the trade coping?" (4.2.), "Improving sourcing through product coding and standardisation" (5.2.), "Innovation in the fresh produce business – new trends in packaging" (5.2.) Events at the Fresh Produce Forum and the six Hall Forums will be simultaneously translated in German, English, French, Italian and Spanish.
Outstanding achievements in the fresh produce trade will be honoured with the following industry awards: "Grüner Merkur" (2.2.), the new "FRUCHTHANDEL MAGAZINE Retail Award 2010" (2.2.) and the FRUIT LOGISTICA INNOVATION AWARD 2010 "FLIA" (5.2.).

(Source: Transport Weekly)