The world’s largest food show is now in its 25th year, and 2017’s Fruit Logistica is set to rock Berlin Feb. 8 through 10 at the Berlin Export Center and City Cube.
For convention overview and insight, visit its website at http://www.messe-berlin.de/en/Organizers/MesseBerlinLocations/BerlinExpoCenterCity/
This year will provide some 70,000 visitors access to 2,884 exhibits that cover the full spectrum of fresh produce, from products to services and every link along the way of the world’s supply chain.
As of Jan. 30, the show’s website had 255 exhibitors from around the globe listed for the onion industry.
The produce sectors involved are fresh fruit and vegetables, dried fruit and nuts, packaging and labeling, transport and logistical systems, produce handling and storage, press and media, computer and internet solutions and cultivation systems.
Virtually every aspect of onions is covered at the show, with product exhibited as well as the state-of-the-art advancements in equipment automation. Europe and Asia represent the largest onion exhibit segment. Several of the companies are global, with operations established in the United States. Among them are Tolsma-Grisnich, with facilities in Boise, ID, Eqraft, formerly ERC, with offices in Yakima, WA, and M&P Engineering, which is represented by Modern Produce Equipment in Fremont, MI.
Cameron Skeen, director of Operations and Business Development with Murakami Produce Co. LLC in Ontario, OR, explained the benefits of Fruit Logistica from the perspective of an attendee.
“I attended Fruit Logistica for the first time last year,” he told OnionBusiness.com. “While I don’t think it is something that I will be able to allocate time and resources to attend every year, I do think that the expo is something that I would like to participate in every few years. The Fruit Logistica event is a truly awe-inspiring and humbling experience. Exhibitors from around the world come to one convention center and spend a lot of money to share their information. The massive event brings home the idea the business of food is so important. The world is a big place and no matter what cultural differences we have, we all depend on food.”
Nico Nieuwenhuize with Eqraft, located in the Netherlands, shared his prospective from and exhibitor’s point of view.
“The Fruit Logistica is a great networking opportunity for Eqraft,” Nico said. “It allows us to catch up with the sector and meet new people. We have a completely new booth at Hall 7.1A / Stand A-04, together with our partners from the Onion Tech Alliance (Modesta, Deprez and Symach). We are not taking any equipment, but will show our portfolio though video and our new magazine. The magazine also describes the rebranding process and market outlook.”
At the USA Pavilion, more than 20 produce companies and organizations will be represented. They are APIO Inc., Bard Valley Medjool Date Growers, Blue Book Services, Inc., California Table Grape Commission, Farm Fresh Produce, Inc., Ham Produce Company Inc., Millstream Farms, MS Mango Farm, LLC, Nature’s Way Farms, Inc., Northwest Cherries, Peebles Organic Farms, POM Wonderful, Seven Seas – Tom Lange Co. International,
SUSTA-Southern United States Trade Association, Triple Produce Inc., U.S. Apple Export Council, U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service, USA Pears, Washington Apple Commission, Wonderful Brands, Wonderful Citrus and Wonderful Pistachios & Almond.
