Interpoma, the tradeshow that claims to focus on “everything about the apple” will open its doors at the Bolzano Exhibition Centre (BEC) in South Tyrol, Italy, from November 9 to 11.
The fifth edition of the event will be entitled “The Apple in the Globalised World”, and is jointly organised by the BEC, the Department of Agriculture of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, and the South Tyrol Apple Consortium.
Kurt Werth, a fruit-growing expert and show organizer, said the aim is to build on the 8,000 visitors and 800 conference participants who attended the last Interpoma, in 2004. “First and foremost by having once again scheduled attractive topics on the conference program. The conference will be held in three languages, offering the possibility of inviting speakers from all over the world.”
A diverse range of topics will be discussed, he added. “On the morning of November 9, various speakers will comment upon cultivation, storage, consumption, and marketing of apples throughout the world. While the global situation will be outlined in the opening talk, the second lecture will focus more closely on the situation in Europe. ‘Living with Low Prices and Changes in European Consumer Behaviour’ will discuss daily business in the European apple market. One group of themes will deal with restrictions and export barriers on the worldwide apple market from the European point of view, while another will touch upon imports from the southern hemisphere, in particular from New Zealand, Chile, and South Africa.
“We have invited a speaker from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) who will speak about the perspectives of apple cultivation within the framework of WTO negotiations. In addition, experts from China and other countries will be present [to] speak about the ‘new economic areas in the Far East’ and the possibilities and opportunities for new trade flows to and from these countries.
“In that regard, it is China in particular that will be the main focus of interest: a threat or an opportunity for the European apple market?”
Varieties and trademark protection will also be on the agenda. “The Pink Lady variety introduced a new era,” said Werth. “Producers and marketers have learned to accept that these days, varieties and trademarks are protected. But they have also recognised that exclusive cultivation and marketing offers new opportunities and possibilities. In the future, the vast majority of variety innovations will carry variety or trademark protection. This topic will also be investigated in detail.”
Go to www.interpoma.it for more details.
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