Fruit Attraction 2016

The 8th edition of FRUIT ATTRACTION 2016 is over, after proving that it is one of the sector's main international events.

Fruit Attraction 2016 is over, after the 8th edition proved that this is one of the main international events in the fruit and vegetable sector in a key month for business meetings between the offer and demand. A total of 58,150 professionals took part, that is 18% more than last year, and 1,238 companies, an increase of 20%. The trade fair fulfilled its objective of being an effective business scenario for agents in the sector. Organised by IFEMA and FEPEX, Fruit Attraction 2016, which was held from 5 to 7 October, was the biggest and most complete of all the editions, with an exhibition area covering 40,000 square metres – that is 19.5% larger than last year’s event.

In terms of international participation, there was an increase of more than 17%, with a total of 10,085 trade professionals from 102 countries. Among foreign visitors, Europeans predominated, particularly those from Italy, France, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Belgium, confirming the fair as a key business event for European production, marketing and distribution. There were also numerous trade professionals from Brazil and Morocco at this edition.

From Spain, the five best-represented Autonomous Regions were Andalusia, Madrid, Valencia, Murcia and Catalonia, accounting for 40% of visitors.
In terms of exhibitors, international participants made up 31% of the total, with 383 foreign companies from 25 countries. Participation was strong from Italy, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey and the United Kingdom, reflecting the strength of the European and Spanish production area. The eighth edition also welcomed representatives from new countries like Costa Rica, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Lithuania, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia and Vietnam.

In the domestic area, there were representatives from all Spain’s autonomous regions at Fruit Attraction 2016, with the exception of the Balearic Islands. A total de 855 companies, 69% of the total, took part in the trade fair on an area of around 32,000 square metres.

Once again, the producers’ exhibition area, Fresh Produce, was the segment with the largest number of participants, with 912 exhibitors. The auxiliary industry was also out in force, with 326 companies showing the strength of the entire fruit and vegetable chain. For the first time ever, this year the trade fair had a specific section in this area called Smart Agro, focused on the use of technologies to generate new agri-food products and services for improving farm productivity.

Technical Seminar Programme
At the same time as the trade show, Fruit Attraction hosted an extensive schedule of technical seminars and activities, which offered professionals a space for debate and exchange of knowledge.

One of these was the 4th International Congress of table grapes, Grape Attraction, organised by APOEXPA in collaboration with FEPEX, as well as others organised by the Federation, such as Access and opening up new markets for fruits and vegetable exports; Apple and Pear Attraction: promotion and marketing; Innovative varieties in the value chain, in collaboration with ANOVE and Ways to improve the availability of plant protection products in minor crops, organised in collaboration with AEPLA.
The trade fair also hosted the SMART AGRO workshop. The application of technology for the generation of new food production products and services, organised by AMETIC - COMISION SMART AGRO and TECHNOLOGY ATTRACTION: The future of technology in plants, courtesy of BIOVEGEN. The 5th Alimarket Fruit Chain Workshop, Alimarket, also took place within the Fruit Forum programme.

Pasarela Innova and Foro Innova
Yet again this year, another leading initiative was the fifth edition of the Pasarela Innova, a space that highlights the latest products, varieties and brands launched for the first time by exhibiting companies to the fruit and vegetable market. This time, a total of 43 innovative products were exhibited in the area.

In the meantime, Foro Innova hosted different talks, presentations and technical seminars on new developments and solutions launched by participating companies for the fruit and vegetable sector.
The sector’s most important trade exhibition also featured Fruit Fusion, a space set aside for dissemination, innovation and interpretation of the best fruit and vegetable products used in catering. This was the gastronomic area of Fruit Attraction, featuring attractive demos and cooking shows.
Organised by IFEMA and FEPEX, the 8th edition of Fruit Attraction took place in Halls 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 at Feria de Madrid, from 5 to 7 October and was opened by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Isabel Garcia Tejerina.

The 9th edition of Fruit Attraction will take place from 18 to 20 October 2017.

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