Fruit and veg producers need to co-operate

More co-operation and better marketing would help strengthen the fruit and vegetable sector was the over-riding message from a recent congress entitled ‘The Future for Breeding’.

Organised by leading seed breeders Rijk Zwaan, the event saw 200 delegates from across the sector attend to discuss the industry’s future.

Jan-Willem Grievink, from the Eramus Food Management Institute, acted as chairman and said the hard discounters were putting increasing pressure on the food chain.

“It is important therefore, that this chain reacts to the various demands from the different retail format, ie also to those of hard discounters.”

José Cánovas, general manager of Spanish vegetable exporters Kernel Export, pointed out the importance of collaboration in a market where prices were only likely to drop.

Investments in the sector are diminishing and the number of producers is reducing. “Only very professional companies are surviving and they will act as service providers,” he added.

He shares this view with Steve Rudge, international commercial manager with Tesco, who said: “Those who want to survive will have to make an in-depth study of the consumer and his wishes and demands.”