Messe Berlin and Fruchthandel Magazine have announced the ten nominations for the 2013 Fruit Logistica Innovation Award (FLIA), which will be handed out on the last day of the Berlin event on 8 February.
The annual award is presented for outstanding innovation in the fresh produce sector and its service industries, as voted for by visitors to Fruit Logistica, and has become the most important award of its kind in the industry.
The FLIA jury, comprising experts from production, quality management, wholesale, retail, packaging and services, has selected companies from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Israel and the UK.
The nominees include:
- 5 am Tag e.V. Servicebüro (Germany) for 'Frische ist Leben' (Fresh if life): A three-year, internationally-based campaign supported by the EU for the generic promotion of the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in Germany under the headline 'Fresh is Life'.
- Abracad Technoworks BV (Netherlands) for its 'High speed counting and packing device': A fast and flexible feeding system which packs small bags into cartons.
- Banken Champignons BV (Netherlands) for 'Mushrooms to combine': Four different fresh mushroom mixes with recipes for the consumer.
- Behr AG (Germany) for its 'Schwarzwurzeln/Steckrüben - küchenfertig geschält' (prepared salsify and swede): An attractive and convenient presentation of ready-to-cook black salsify and turnips.
- Ben-Dor Fruits and Nurseries Ltd (Israel) for 'Coloured Apricots': A colourful range of new, sweet and juicy apricots with different skin and flesh colourings.
- Elbe-Obst Fruchtverarbeitung mbH (Germany) for its 'Apfel-Schiffchen' (apple boat): Cut and dried apple slices produced using a special new technique to maintain crispness and avoid browning.
- GreenWatt SA (Belgium) for 'On-site biogas plant turning organic waste into energy': Small-scale, cost-saving installations suitable for locations such as wholesale markets and packhouses.
- Sofruileg (France) for its 'Nergi' – A sweet tasting berry derived from the kiwifruit with green flesh and a smooth, thin edible skin.
- Staay Food Group (Netherlands) for 'City-Farming': A production concept for urban locations using LED lighting to grow seedlings in 35 days under safe, controlled conditions.
- Tozer Seeds Ltd (UK) for its 'Flower Sprout': A new, small vegetable with attractive, green and purple frilly leaves, a cross between Brussel sprouts and kale.
Previous winners of the FLIA include Salanova lettuce produced by Rijk Zwaan (2006), Vitamini’s vegetable snack from FresQ/Rainbow Growers Group (2007), the Intense beef tomato from Nunhems Netherlands BV (2008), the Sweet Green Pepper produced by Enza Zaden (2009), the Arils Removal Tool (ART) developed by Mehadrin Tnuport Export (2010), the Limeburst Finger Limes citrus fruit from Australia (2011) and the Angelominiature sweet pepper produced by Syngenta Seeds (2012).
