FRUIT LOGISTICA in its 15th year. Fresh produce industry summit in Berlin

Berlin, 07 February 2007. The key players in the international fresh produce industry will be in Berlin from 8-10 February 2007 for this year's edition of FRUIT LOGISTICA. Boasting with double-digit growth figures, the annual trade exhibition summit taking place for the fifteenth time since 1993 is expected to set new attendance records. The world's leading international trade fair for fruit and vegetable marketing will host 1,867 exhibitors (2006: 1,611) from 74 countries (2006: 64). The complete fresh produce industry value chain will be presented on an area covering 72,000 sqm (2006: 60,000 sqm). This represents a 15% increase in the number of exhibitors and countries along with 20% more exhibition space. Some 40,000 top-level decision makers from 110 countries are expected at the industry's leading event in 2007. With 86% of the exhibitors coming from outside of the country, FRUIT LOGISTICA is Germany's most international trade exhibition.

Messe Berlin Managing Director Dr. Christian Gke, "The FRUIT LOGISTICA trademark is an international seal of approval and the event itself is a fixed date on the calendars of industry leaders". Under the auspices of this umbrella brand, the first ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA is scheduled to take place this September in Bangkok. Speaking at today's opening press conference, Gke announced plans for a new fresh produce trade fair scheduled for next year. "Parallel to FRUIT LOGISTICA 2008, Messe Berlin will be presenting FRESHCONEX as a separate marketing platform for the fresh-cut and convenience product sector. This rapidly growing industry segment complements FRUIT LOGISTICA perfectly".

A complete range of the products and services that enable consumers worldwide to enjoy top quality fruit and vegetables year round will be presented for three days in 13 exhibi­tion halls at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2007. This comprehensive market overview offers manag­ers specialising in production, import and export, wholesale and retail a perfect platform with a wide variety of opportunities to establish new business contacts. Along with global players from fresh produce companies operating on an international scale, service suppliers specialising in everything from production and packaging, to transport, storage and placement of fresh produce on POS shelves will be represented at this year's trade exhibition. For the first time, products from the Americas will be presented in a special exhibition area (Hall 25).

The Netherlands is this year's FRUIT LOGISTICA partner country. This influential fresh produce industry nation will be present with all of its key produce industry players and its biggest-ever display covering 5,400 sqm of indoor space. Dr. Cees Veerman, the Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality will speak at the FRUIT LOGISTICA 2007 opening ceremony on 7 February (ICC Berlin, Auditorium 3, 18.00 hrs) along with Dr. Gerd Mller, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Nutrition, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. The keynote speaker from the European Food Retailers Association is Dr. Stephan Fanderl, member of the REWE-Zentral AG executive board. The Netherlands will host an official reception following the speakers' presentations.

Three countries, Georgia, Honduras and Sudan, will be presenting their products for the first time at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2007. Major national pavillions will be organised by European countries including Spain (313 exhibitors, 30% more than last year), Italy (300 exhibitors, +15%), Germany (242, +6%), France (203, +3.5%) and the Netherlands (168, +22%). Germany covers the largest area show at FRUIT LOGISTICA with an stands covering nearly 8,000 square metres. The United Kingdom has increased its exhibition space this year by 77%. Egypt will be exhibiting on 55% more space. The Federal Association of Fruit & Vegetable Growers (BVEO) and the German Agriculture Central Marketing Association (CMA) will be presenting their products and services in Germany's largest joint exhibit covering 1,000 sqm.

FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award generates excitement

The coveted FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award (FLIA) will be presented for the second time at this year's trade event in recognition of outstanding new fresh produce sector products and services that have been recently introduced to the market and have had a significant impact on the fresh produce industry. The ten nominated innovations will be presented to FRUIT LOGISTICA trade visitors in a special display located in the passageway between Halls 1.1 and 2.1. The innovation of the year will be selected by ballot and the winner will be announced on 10 February in the Hall Forum (Hall 25).

The latest fresh produce market statistics

Recent figures from the ZMP (Central Market and Price Reporting Office for Agricultural, Forest and Food Industry Products) in Bonn, indicate the following commercial volumes for the fresh produce industry:

German consumers eat an average 122.5 kg of fruit and 85 kg of vegetables per year

According to the ZMP, some 2,500 fresh produce companies in Germany generated annual sales of around €18 billion in 2006. Following the market slump in 2004, turnover has increased for the second year running. The higher prices from growers have been passed on to consumers.

According to the results of a 2006 GfK survey of fresh produce markets, fruit, vegetables and potatoes account for nearly 30% of fresh produce expenditures. Along with meat and sausages, these commodities represent key fields in the fresh product groups (total volume €32 billion in 2006, excluding dairy products). Adverse weather and harvesting conditions led to supply shortfalls for fresh fruit, vegetables and especially potatoes on the German market. This resulted in significant consumer price increases of around 6% for fruit and 10% for vegetables leading to an average 4% reduction in the total volume sold.

Commissioned by the ZMP and CMA, the GfK (consumer research organisation) conducted a survey of fresh produce purchases and expenditures by German households. The results indicated that each household purchased 86.7 kg (2005: 90.8 kg) of fresh fruit at an average price of €1.44 per kilo (2005: €1.36 per kg). And additional 61.4 kg (2005: 64.2 kg) of fresh vegetables were purchased by each household at an average €1.84 per kg (2005: €1.67 per kg).

In the fresh fruit segment, apples (21.0 kg per household) proved to be the most popular fruit, followed by bananas (16.3 kg), oranges (9.9 kg), tangerines and similar fruit varieties (6.3 kg) and grapes (4.9 kg). For fresh vegetables, households were inclined to buy tomatoes (10.4 kg), carrots (7.4 kg), cucumbers (6.8 kg), dry onions (6.4 kg) and sweet peppers (4.9 kg). Based on annual per capita consumption, the latest ZMP figures for 2005/06 indicated that German residents consumed an average 207.5 kg of fresh and processed fruit (122.5 kg) and vegetables (85.0 kg) per year.

Record fruit harvest in the EU, decline in vegetable consumption

Following relatively high production figures in 2004, fruit harvests in 2005 declined slightly (-1%) in the EU-25. According to ZMP estimates, production in 2006 increased by around 2% to reach 37 million tonnes. This is primarily a result of a good citrus harvest and is likely to set a new record. Following a record-breaking harvest in 2004, a reduction of the area under cultivation resulted in a decline in vegetable production. Although the area was increased again in 2006, a late spring season, a hot and dry July, and a cold, rainy August resulted in smaller crops. The ZMP forecast for 2006 vegetable production in the EU-25 is 57 million tonnes, down nearly 4% compared to the previous year's figures. Smaller harvests were especially noticeable in Poland.

As a result of price conditions, the production value for both fruit and vegetables recovered in 2006. At least this is the case in countries north of the Alps and Pyrenees where smaller harvests were overcompensated by significantly higher prices. This was not the case in Southern Europe. Spain, the leading export country in the 2005/06 season, suffered double-digit losses in export sales of fresh vegetables. Citrus growers have also complained about extremely low prices. In contrast, the economic situation for many fruit growers in Central Europe improved considerably in 2006/07.

Worldwide fruit and vegetable production: 1.4 billion tonnes

Nearly 900 million tonnes of vegetables and some 500 million tonnes of fruit were produced worldwide in 2005. While vegetable production has continued to grow, the fruit production trend that had been steadily increasing since 1999, was cut short in 2005 by hurricane- and frost damage. However, signs of growth were seen once again in 2006. While some 10% of the world production of major fruit varieties are traded as fresh products on international markets, this is the case for only 3-4% of the vegetables produced. With very few exceptions (e.g. onions), fresh vegetables are not generally traded in large volumes between continents. For some products, the impact of smaller fruit harvests in 2005 did not become fully apparent in foreign trade until 2006. This applies to storable products as well as to regions where plantations were destroyed by storms. The EU, followed by North America and Japan, is world's most important fresh produce import region.

Conference programme focuses on the latest themes

In addition to the products and services on display in the exhibition halls, the 26th Fresh Produce Forum, daily Hall Forums, seminars, workshops and a number of industry award ceremonies offer visitors valuable opportunities to gather information.

Taking place on the day before the exhibition opens (07.02, ICC Berlin, Auditorium 14.2, from 14.30 hrs) the Fresh Produce Forum will focus on "New Concepts for Adding Value in the Supply Chain". This will be followed by the "Grne Merkur" awards honouring special achievements in the fresh produce industry. The seven Hall Forums (Hall 25) focus on the following themes: "The International Food Retail Sector – Perspectives for 2010: Have Discounters Reached Their Peak?" (08.02), "Reform of the Common Market Organisations (CMO) for Fruit and Vegetables" (08.02), "The Netherlands – Trendsetters and Market Makers for the Fresh Produce Business" (08.02.), "Asia – Key Trading Partner of the Future" (09.02.), "German Produce Takes on the Competition" (09.02.), "Bio-logical! Europe Goes Organic" (10.02) and "Innovation for the Fresh Produce Business – Modern Solutions for Logistics" (10.02).

The Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations will host a seminar on 8th February: "Bulgaria and Romania – New Potential for the EU Fresh Produce Business". Eurocentro Cordoba will sponsor a two-day seminar "AL-Invest – Latin American and European Business Meeting" (08-09 Feb.). A study focusing on "Sustainability of Packaging Systems for Fruit and Vegetable Transport in Europe" will be presented by the Stiftung Initiative Mehrweg (09 Feb.). Bayer CropScience Deutschland is sponsoring a seminar "Green World – Food Chain Partnership to Support Small Holder Agriculture in Kenya" (09 Feb.). The industry association Agrar e.V. is presenting a discussion focusing on "New Regulations from Brussels: Less Pesticides, Less Worries about Residues? (09 Feb.). An information event for ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA exhibitors and visitors will be presented by Global Produce Events on 9th February.

Visitor information at a glance

FRUIT LOGISTICA 2007 Berlin is open daily on 8-10 February from 9.00 to 18.00 hrs (Berlin Exhibition Grounds, South Entrance). One-day tickets are available for €25.00 (online purchases: EUR: 22.00). An event pass costs €60.00 (online: €EURO 53.00). An event pass with access to the Fresh Produce Forum is available for €EURO 85.00. All tickets include a catalogue and admission to the various Hall Forum events.

The exhibition grounds can be reached via public rail transport on S-Bahn lines S75 and S9. Station Messe Sd/Eichkamp. By car, it is best to take autobahn A10 (Berliner Ring) to the A100, A111 or A115 toward the Funkturm interchange and exit at Messedamm. Parking (fee-based) is available in the ICC Berlin garage and across from Hall 26. A free shuttle bus service operates on 7-10 February (daily 8.00-19.00 hrs) between Berlin-Tegel Airport (main hall/bus terminal) and the south entrance to the exhibition grounds.

Preparing for FRUIT LOGISTICA with the Virtual Market Place

The FRUIT LOGISTICA Virtual Market Place web platform (www.fruitlogistica.de > Virtual Market Place) is being presented in 2007 with more information than ever before. This fresh produce industry Internet portal lists profiles along with products and services offered by 1,900 exhibiting companies from 74 countries. Trade visitors, journalists and others interested in the industry can use the Virtual Market Place year round to find out about the products and services offered by companies and arrange direct contacts with them. FRUIT LOGISTICA visitors can also access an online appointment calendar to set up meetings with exhibitors and plan their trade fair schedule ahead of time. The new Virtual Market Place screen design and enhanced search functions make it easy for website visitors to quickly find what they are looking for.