Fruit Attraction 2024 closes record edition

The 16th edition of Fruit Attraction achieved an all-time high in participation levels, with organisers Ifema Madrid and Fepex claiming 117,370 professionals from 145 countries attended the event, an apparent increase of 13 per cent over the previous year.

“The fair registered the participation of 2,201 exhibitors from 59 countries, and an occupation of 70,254 net square metres of fruit and vegetable offer, for the first time, distributed over 10 halls of the trade fair centre, representing an increase of 10 per cent in both parameters over the 2023 edition,” the reported.

“These figures have converted Madrid into the world fruit and vegetable capital as well as ratifying Fruit Attraction as a fundamental tool for the global fruit and vegetable business.”

Spanish producers occupied 55 per cent of the exhibition area, said Ifema and Fepex. Andalusia was the region with the largest number of companies, followed by the Valencian Community, Murcia, Madrid and Catalonia. Other notable national participants also included Aragon, Extremadura, La Rioja, Castile-La-Mancha and Castile-León, as well as Navarre, the Basque Country, Galicia, the Canary Islands, Cantabria and Asturias.

International companies accounted for 45 per cent of total occupancy, the organisers added, attracting participation from 59 countries and expanding its exhibition area by 22.5 per cent.

“One of the most highly rated aspects by the attendees was the quality and professionalism of the international visitors, which grew by 24 per cent, representing 49 per cent of the total number of trade fair visitors,” the organisers said.

“Once again this year, the largest number of visitors came from Europe, especially from Italy, France, the Netherlands, the UK, Portugal and Germany. The most notable were also those from Peru, Chile, South Africa, Morocco and Brazil.”

The International Guest Programme, funded by the trade fair, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and trade promotion body Icex attracted 700 large buyers, retail purchasing managers, importers and wholesalers from 70 countries to Madrid. This year’s Guest Importing Countries were China and Saudi Arabia.

The winners of the Innovation Hub Awards were Rijk Zwaan Iberica in the Fresh Produce category, Agerpix Technologies in the F&V Industry category, and Talleres Daumar in the Sustainability and Commitment Actions category.

This year’s star product was the avocado with several initiatives concentrated around this superfood. In addition to different activities, such as the presentation of the Interprofessional Organisation for Avocado and Mango, workshops and demonstrations, the Global Avocado Congress was held with the attendance of 400 professionals. The Walnut and Pecan Congress also took place within the framework of the fair, with the participation of 100 people.

In addition to these sessions, Fruit Attraction hosted the Biofruit Congress -organised by Ecovalia-, Biotech Attraction, the V Fresh Food Logistic The Summit -organised byAlimarket- and some other interesting conferences, as well as 46 presentations given by exhibitors at the Fruit Next Forums. All the conferences brought together more than 2,300 attendees.

For the first time ever, Fruit Attraction awarded the Best Stand Award in its three categories: Countries and regions, Companies and Autonomous Communities and Institutions, highlighting the aesthetics and staging presented by the exhibitors. The prizes in this first edition were awarded to Brazil, Diputación de Alicante, Ecuador, Fotenstad, Holland Fresh Groupi, Mercajara, Ports of Spain, Total Produce, Xunta de Galicia.

The 2025 edition of Fruit Attraction will be held from 30 September to 2 October.