The Fresh Produce Forum, one of the key conference events in the fresh produce calendar, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, once again taking place the day before the opening of Fruit Logistica in Berlin.
Held on 8 February at the ICC Berlin, the event will welcome trade professionals from across the fresh produce value chain, and will have a central theme of 'The true value of food in the discount era'.
Themes to be discussed at the conference include the true value of food when it comes to consumers placing importance on themselves, healthy nutrition versus price, and the long-term quality and procurement of products.
A panel of industry experts will discuss the global relationships that exist and the reasons for supply surpluses in some areas and shortages in others, and the relative costs of investing in sickness and curing disease compared with investing in prevention, including healthy eating.
Leaders from the research and business communities, as well as growers, wholesalers and retailers will provide answers to key questions and explain how nutrition can be permanently positioned in the consumer mindset.
Guest speakers at the Fresh Produce Forum include Dr Gesa Schönberger from the Dr Rainer Wild Foundation for Healthy Nutrition, Sibyl Anwander Phan-huy of Coop Switzerland, Dr Margareta Büning-Fesel of Aid Information Service for Nutrition, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Claudio Scalise of SG Marketing Agroalimentare, and Fernando Gómez Molina of Proexport.
In addition, this year's special guest is popular German chef Alfons Schuhbeck, a nutrition expert with hands-on experience including over 30 books, numerous television appearances, awards and Michelin stars.
Two industry awards will be presented by Fruchthandel Magazine in conjunction with the Fresh Produce Forum, the Fruchthandel Magazine Retail Award 2011 and the prestigious Grüne Merkur.
