Citrus, stonefruit, table grapes, persimmons and melons are among the products identified by Spanish companies as having the best potential in Asia which were on display at last week’s Asia Fruit Logistica trade fair in Hong Kong.
Murcian grower-exporter Hortiberia already ships broccoli and other vegetable lines to Malaysia and Singapore and sees good potential for the company’s El Abuelo-branded Piel de Sapo melons in the region. Speaking at the event, Hortiberia’s sales manager Rosa Mingorance said the product had received a lot of interest from visitors.
“We believe there is an excellent opportunity to develop a melon programme in Asia as they would be able to withstand the long journey times involved,” she said.
Hortiberia was one of five Murcian companies exhibiting at the fair under the umbrella of exporter association Apoexpa and Spanish trade institute Icex.
Fermín Sánchez of Gruventa, one of the other companies present, said the Russian ban had sharpened exporters’ focus on the Asian market. “Given the economic growth and consumption potential we see excellent prospects in the medium to long term for Spanish fruits and vegetables.”
Sánchez said a recent visit by AQSIQ to inspect stonefruit and table grape production in Murcia was a “highly promising” development that could result in an import protocol being signed by April 2015, ahead of the new season.
