Agritrade, Central America’s premier exhibition and conference event for the fresh produce industry, has heralded a successful 2011 edition, which took place in Antigua, Guatemala on 17-18 March.
According to organisers, some 2,000 national and international visitors turned up on the first day alone to attend the trade show, participate in 600 business meetings and sit through five conference sessions, which drew 700 industry representatives.
During the two-day event, around 55 buyers (from retailers, importers, distributors, investors and brokers) visited from a number of countries including, Canada, Mexico, the US, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and for the first time Colombia and Argentina.
Agritrade president Estuardo Castro said that he was sure the target of US$25m in closed deals had been surpassed and noted that the buyers were “very satisified” with the quality and variety of products on show at Agritrade 2011.
More than 50 different Central America-grown fresh fruits and vegetables were on offer at this year’s show, including newer products tamarind, table grapes, mangosteen and raisins as well as traditional produce exports such as sugar snap peas and French beans.
Approximately 38 per cent of the offer on display was from Guatemala, with the remainder from other Central American countries as well as Mexico.
Organisers expect to have welcomed around 3,000 visitors across the two days.
