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- ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Speakers Row 1
Anna Woronowicz
Grodan
Anna Woronowicz is regional marketing manager of Grodan. With over 50 years of expertise in 70-plus countries, Grodan is revolutionising soilless cultivation and hydroponics. Grodan’s precision growing solutions – including stone wool substrates, sensor systems, and software – can help grow vegetables, fruits, leafy greens, and flowers with 50 per cent less water and 75 per cent less land. As regional marketing manager, Anna will share insights at Fresh Produce India on global trends, local opportunities, and high-tech farming solutions tailored for India.
Avinash Joshi
Reliance Retail
Avinash Joshi is senior vice president and business head of fruit and vegetables for Reliance Retail. He has over 35 years’ experience in fruit and vegetable retail, export trade, organic farming and plantation industries in India. Throughout his career, he has successfully led large-scale business operations, managed international social and business projects, and driven sustainable growth in the fruit and vegetable sector.
B Sumit Kumar
TCI Cold Chain Solutions
B Sumit Kumar is CEO of TCI Cold Chain Solutions, a joint venture between Transport Corporation of India and Japan’s Mitsui & Co. Sumit has 27 years’ experience in leading and managing supply chain operations. A specialist in operations planning and implementation, he has been working closely with multiple large clients with a global footprint for their complete supply chain operations.
Carine Eijkelkamp
Innovation Quarter and Rotterdam Partners
Carine Eijkelkamp is coordinator of PIB HortiRoad2India and trade manager at Innovation Quarter. She is on a mission to connect, collaborate, and co-create a healthy, sustainable food future for India. A true foodie and change-maker, she knows that delicious, nutritious food is the key to success—and she’s here to help get India’s food value chain back in sync. With her passion, strategy, and people-first approach, she’s making impact that matters.
Speakers Row 2
Derek Donkin
South African Subtropical Growers’ Association
Derek Donkin is chief executive of the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop), which manages the affairs of the South African avocado, lychee and mango growers associations. He has extensive knowledge of the avocado, lychee and mango industries having worked in technical and management positions in industry associations over the past 30 years.
Desh Ramnath
NL HortiRoad2India (PPP)
As founder of HortiHeroes, Horizon11 and strategic developer and director India of Dutch Greenhouse Delta, Desh has been at the forefront of innovating the food value chain. His mission is to build collaborative and innovative food ecosystems worldwide providing better income for farmers, improved working conditions for farm workers, healthier food and diets, sustainable farming, and reforestation saving water, arable land, and natural resources.
Dr Anup Karwa
Innoterra BioScience
Dr Anup Karwa is managing director of Innoterra BioScience. With 20-plus years of agbiotech and horticulture farming experience holding 25-plus patents, he leads the Philippines & India InnoScience businesses at Innoterra. At Fresh Produce India, he will discuss innovative biosolutions launched in the Philippines and India through nature-derived mutant banana varieties tolerant to Fusarium-TR4 and an organic 2-in-1 biovaccine combatting Sigatoka and Fusarium-TR4 diseases, thus mitigating pandemics in banana farming.
GVK Naidu
Sam Agri Group
GVK Naidu is managing director of Sam Agri Group, which he founded in 1996. A leader in fresh pomegranate arils and pomegranate value-added products from India, the company also pioneered dried pomegranate arils and fresh-cut coconut for global markets. Committed to innovation and sustainability, he recently partnered with Westfalia Fruits to develop India’s avocado industry.
Speakers Row 3
Jacques du Preez
Hortgro
Jacques du Preez is general manager of trade and markets at Hortgro – the South African deciduous fruit industry’s grower association and knowledge base. He heads up the market access, trade, and market development divisions amongst others and is also closely involved in the logistics sphere.
Jitender Lohani
DJ Exports
Jitender is CEO and director of DJ Exports, which represents premium growers and shippers of fruits in India. He is a third-generation entrepreneur who has helped to revolutionise the fresh produce market in India with over three decades of experience in shipping and marketing fresh fruits. A key achievement has been his role in developing demand for Indian grapes in Asian markets including China.
John Tyas
Avocados Australia
John Tyas is CEO at Avocados Australia, a position he has held since May 2012. He leads all facets of the organisation and implements plans agreed with the board. John has worked in the horticulture industry since 1992. Originally an extension horticulturist, John has spent the majority of his career managing strategic research, development and marketing investments.
Jorben van der Lugt
Hoogendoorn
Jorben van der Lugt is Hoogendoorn’s head of sales in India. At Fresh Produce India, he will showcase how Hoogendoorn’s cutting-edge technology helps growers achieve higher yields, less waste, and stronger plants with optimal climate, irrigation control and its plant empowerment approach. The company’s IIVO climate computer manages climate, irrigation, energy, and data to create the ideal growing environment. By embracing such innovations, India’s fresh food value chain can become healthier, more diverse, sustainable, and profitable.
Speakers Row 4
Manav Suri
Surifresh Extract
Manav Suri is managing director of Suri Fresh Extract. He has more than 14 years’ experience in the fresh produce business and has held primary sales responsibility and sourced fruit from growing regions, liaised with growers, and maintained and developed a growing customer base. As managing director, he is responsible for spearheading Suri Fresh Extract’s operations, ensuring optimal efficiency and productivity across all departments.
Marc Peyres
Blue Whale
Marc Peyres is commercial director of Blue Whale, a cooperative of French growers specialised in producing apples as well as pears, plums and kiwifruit. Blue Whale is a major player in the international market and a leader in new IP and club varieties such as Pink Lady, Candine, Jazz, Envy, and Joya. Blue Whale has been shipping apples to India from France as well as from Brazil.
Michael Schadler
Washington Apple Commission
Michael Schadler is president of the Washington Apple Commission, an industry organisation that represents Washington State’s apple growers and provides marketing support for Washington-grown apples around the world. Schadler, a native of Washington State, has worked for several agricultural industries around the US. Prior to joining the apple industry, he was executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Exchange.
Nicola Zanotelli
IG International
Nicola Zanotelli played a key role to develop sales of Italian apples in key markets around the globe, including India. He recently joined IG international as strategist and consultant, supporting the team to oversee the current global operations and develop new business. The overall goal of the cooperation is to create sustainable value.
Speakers Row 5
Ramlingha Rajoo
Zepto
Ramlingha Rajoo is director imports and exotic fruit and vegetables for Zepto. A fresh food and grocery professional, he has over 20 years’ experience in the retail, quick-commerce, B2B and agribusiness sectors. He helped to transform the fresh food business at Tesco India (Trent/Star Bazaar) by executing strategic initiatives such as ‘Famous of Fresh’.
Richard Mills
Haygrove
Richard has led Haygrove Growing Systems as managing director since 2018. Travelling extensively, he engages with growers across diverse climates and crops, giving him a deep understanding of the challenges faced by growers, and the potential for Haygrove’s innovative growing systems to contribute to the long-term success of their businesses.
Roland Wirth
Softripe-Frigotec
Roland Wirth is technical director of Frigotec. He has over 30 years’ working experience as chief engineer in the field of fruit storage and fruit ripening technologies. He is co-developer of the Softripe innovation.
Sachin Khurana
QuikRelations
Sachin Khurana is director of QuikRelations. He is an experienced trade marketing leader with extensive experience in food and beverage and agribusiness. Specialising in market expansion, trade engagement, and regulatory affairs, he has successfully led international campaigns, strengthened global partnerships, and driven impactful strategies across South Asia and the Middle East to enhance market access and consumer demand for premium food products.
Speakers Row 6
Sarthak Jain
BlinkIt
Sarthak Jain is director for fresh produce at Blinkit, overseeing key initiatives to drive growth and efficiency. He has extensive experience in e-commerce, retail and operational strategy. Previously Sarthak worked with companies at an early stage, playing a pivotal role in their growth and scale-up. He led the International Trade business at Vegrow and held senior leadership positions at Urban Company in the UAE and India.
Steve Alaerts
Foodcareplus & International Fresh Produce Association
Steve Alaerts is a logistics expert specialising in fresh produce supply chains. As partner and director at Foodcareplus, he facilitates global fresh produce imports into India and provides a strong European platform for Indian growers. Chairing IFPA’s Supply Chain Council, he drives innovation, sustainability, and cost-efficient market access solutions.
Tarun Arora
IG International
Tarun Arora, director of IG International, is a second-generation leader who drives the company’s growth in fresh fruit importation and agri-tech services. He manages diverse ventures, including IG Blueberries, and works to pioneer CEA technology and agroforestry for premium fruit cultivation. Tarun also directs IG’s response to climate change challenges through ESG initiatives and strategic partnerships.
Werner van Rooyen
Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum
Werner van Rooyen is chief operating officer of Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum. He has more than 17 years’ industry experience and previously worked in the commercial sector for exporting companies in South Africa. Werner’s interest in international trade and commerce stems from a special interest in macroeconomics.
Speakers Row 7
Yemee Fernandes
Four Pillars Trading
Yemee Fernandes is co-founder and managing director of Four Pillars Trading Australia. She co-founded the company with a team both in Australia and Mumbai to support Australian businesses navigate the complexities of the Indian market and deliver on ground operational support. She continues to work with the likes of the Australian Macadamia Society, Australian Wines, and Summerfruit Australia to name a few in developing and executing their India market programmes.
Gagan Khosla
NGK Trading
Gagan Khosla is managing director of NGK Trading, one of India’s leading fresh fruit importer-distributors. A veteran of the produce industry with over 30 years’ experience, Gagan established NGK Trading in 1990.
Salhath Khan
Flipkart
Salhath Khan is fresh director for Flipkart. He has 20 years’ experience spanning e-commerce, telecoms and fresh produce. He also founded a start-up in the meat industry.
Raunak Shetty
Swiggy Instamart
Raunak Shetty is senior national sourcing and marketing manager at Swiggy Instamart. Swiggy Instamart is an on-demand grocery delivery serviced launched by Swiggy, one of India’s leading food delivery platforms, and it is pioneering quick commerce in India.
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