Fruit Logistica road show arrives in Valencia

Almost 100 industry professionals attended a conference this week in Valencia to discuss new export opportunities for the region’s produce. The event was organised by Fruit Logistica and the regional government, Generalitat Valenciana.

Javier Benito Goerlich, general director of rural development of the Generalitat Valenciana, highlighted Valencia’s great exporting power in Europe and the importance of regional companies attended the trade fair in Berlin, which this year drew more than 2,700 exhibitors from 94 countries and nearly 66,000 buyers and professional visitors from 145 countries, making it the industry’s biggest trade fair.

José Antonio Franco Vila, head of the departmental documentation, publications and statistics service of the Generalitat Valenciana, gave a presentation on the challenges and opportunities in citrus and persimmon, two leading crops in the area. He said its guarantee of food safety, sustainable practices and maximum proximity to destination markets were among the key strengths of Valencian produce.

Finland’s Janne Järvenkallas, purchasing manager for the wholesale operator Vihannesporssi, talked about key trends in the northern European markets. He noted that sustainability – and more specifically the carbon footprint – is a hot topic for Finnish chains. The use of biodiesel, electric trucks or even rail transport are some of the alternatives for Spanish suppliers. Spain maintains a prominent position in Finland, being the second supplier of fruits and vegetables behind the Netherlands.

Next up, Anecoop’s marketing manager Piedad Coscollá share the group’s strategies to achieve growth in international market. These include a solid productive base, with quality and volume all year round; a unique commercial network with subsidiaries in nine countries and three logistics platforms in Europe; as well as constant innovation in both production and business management;

Silvia de Juanes, communications director of Fruit Logistica in Spain, has highlighted the role of the leading fruit and vegetable event as a generator of new business around the world

Finally, José Luis Aguirre Larrauri, minister of agriculture, livestock and fisheries of the Generalitat Valenciana, closed the event with a speech highlighting the importance of this type of event to keep the Valencian agri-food sector strong, united and at the forefront of the world.

The next stop on Fruit Logistica’s Spanish tour will be Murcia on 10 September. Fruit Logistica 2025 takes place on 5-7 February 2024.