With precisely 2,950 square metres Spain had the largest display area at this year’s Fruit Logistica.

The 168 companies represented the entire range of fruit and vegetable production on the Iberian peninsular, part of it under the co-ordination of the national export promotion institute and partly through the local governments of the countries 17 autonomous regions.

Andalusia, for example: as the most important fruit and vegetable-growing area in the south of the country the Andalusian province of Almería exports 60 per cent of its production. “Tomatoes are my passion,” said Manuel Berenguel, head of the CASI co-operative, the country’s largest tomato producer.

With its delicately flavoured jams made with tomatoes and paprika the Amargo company gave visitors a taste of something new. “We make use of the fair not only to strengthen contacts with customers but also to show the results of our high quality production to potential customers,” said Javier Salvador, press co-ordinator for the Almería Chamber of Commerce.

The Extremadura region presented its range of topfruit and stonefruit, including the well known picota cherries from the Jerte valley, the largest continuous cherry-producing area in Europe. “It is darker than other cherries, has more fruit flesh and is also very juicy,” was the description of David Carmona of the regional foreign trade promotion organisation.

Valencia, Murcia, Catalonia, the Canary Islands and Granada also presented their regional specialities.

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