India’s fresh produce suppliers have never had a better range of market options than they enjoy today. They are seeing renewed interest from established export destinations, the rise of emerging markets in the east and the growth of domestic demand. But how can growers and marketers make the most of the situation?
On hand to answer that question for the country’s table grape industry at Fresh Produce India 2014 will be Geoff Green, group procurement and new business development director of major global fresh produce marketer Capespan.
India’s premier fresh fruit and vegetable conference, which is organised by Asiafruitin association withThe SCS Group, takes place on 24-26 April in Pune,the rapidly growing metropolis east of Mumbai, at the centrally-located Hyatt Regency Hotel.
With plans to source around 500 containers of table grapes from India this season, Capespan is one of the largest players in the business. Addressing the session ‘New market opportunities for India’s suppliers’, Green will discuss the group’s position in India and the work it has been doing with leading table grape exporter Mahindra and other suppliers to explore as many market opportunities as possible. Green’s new role as Capespan’s group procurement and new business director has been key to this process of expanding the global customer network for Indian suppliers.
Green believes Indian table grape exporters must develop new markets in order to expand and avoid the pitfalls of oversupplying any one market. He’ll look at the lessons from other exporting countries including South Africa, Chile and Peru in building a range of markets, and outline what India must do to achieve those goals.
“I’ll analyse what’s needed to build a successful multi-market export industry that can sustain supply for a long period and maximise product diversity, packaging options and logistical services to export consistent high-quality products that are preferred by customers,” he said.
Joining Green on the panel of speakers will be Azhar Tambuwala of Sahyadri Farmers Producer Co. Formerly known as VVS, which is led by Vilas Shinde, a grape grower from the main production region of Nashik, Sahyadri Farmers Producer Co is making major new investments in the business, including the construction of what it expects to become the largest fresh fruit packhouse in India. The company is also seeking to develop new support services and structures for Indian growers ultimately aimed at improving their incomes and livelihoods, and Tambuwala will outline its vision.
For more information or to register for Fresh Produce India, visit www.freshproduceindia.com
