The 38th edition of Prognosfruit, Europe's leading annual event for the apple and pear sector, is coming to Turkey for the first time.
The World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA) and Copa-Cogeca are joining forces with the Turkish Fruit Juice Industry Association (MEYED) to host this year's Prognosfruit Conference, which will take place on 6-8 August in Istanbul.
According to the organisers, close to 200 participants have signed for the event.
“Prognosfruit is a great platform to bring the apple and pear community each year together,' said Mrs Ebru Akdag, secretary general of co-organiser MEYED. 'The 2014 event will be special not only because it will be organised for the first time in Istanbul, where east and west meet, but also because this year the co-organiser will be a juice industry association. It will offer a great opportunity to improve the cooperation between the fresh and the processed side of the fruit chain.”
WAPA will release the apple and pear production forecast for 2014/2015 during the conference, while there will also be a review of some of the latest topical issues relevant for the apple and pear industries.
“Besides the solid business programme, Prognosfruit 2014 will also provide delegates with a good mix of educational and social events, offering excellent networking opportunities prior to the opening of the new season,' noted Hans Van Es, chairman of Copa-Cogeca.
Philippe Binard, secretary general of WAPA, added: “Prognosfruit is a well established event on the agenda of the European apple and pear production. For this 38th edition, we are very pleased that the meeting will take place in Turkey for the first time ever. We are setting up an interesting business agenda that, besides the annual forecast of production and market analysis, includes a discussion on pome fruit sustainability initiatives as well as a review of the international trends on apple juice and the rapidly evolving cider market.”
