Leading fresh produce industry players travelled to Cape Town last week to discuss key industry issues.
Eurofruit's first southern hemisphere conference addressed topics including emerging trends, and new market opportunities across the world.
Following a presentation of the development of Chile's export industry, a lively panel discussion took place regarding new market opportunities with representatives from three key countries China, India and Russia.
Figures reveal that there is much potential within these markets. In 2002, India imported 2,200 containers of apples and in the same year Russia imported 1.8 million tonnes of fruit. While in 2001, China imported 868,000t of fruit.
Claims that these markets were ideal to send second grade fruit to were refuted.
Alice Chiu Ching, managing director of CCA Group, China, said: "This is not the case, consumers want high quality fruit. Consumers look at firmness of fruit, quality and size."
George Tchistiakov, a senior economist of foreign trade relations in Moscow pointed out that consumers have changed their outlook. He said: "Consumers were once happy to accept low quality goods when there was a food shortage in Russia. However, the Russian consumer is now well educated. They understand the health benefits of eating fruit and want to improve their diets and the diets of their children."
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