Patience is name of game

Close to 200 produce executives from 20 different countries came together to debate the opportunities and challenges facing the Indian market at Fresh Produce India, which took place in Mumbai’s Trident Nariman Point hotel on 23-25 April.
“The lead will have to be taken by the organised retail sector, then it will trickle down to the other sectors,” said Dave. “Why should the government always set up these practices and standards? Why shouldn’t retailers set up their own?”
Meanwhile, on the export side, opportunities could lie in Russia for India’s grower-shippers, said Niraj Kumar, managing director of JSC Vial Inter, which imports Indian products into Russia.
Russia has shown renewed interest in Indian produce since Western trade sanctions were imposed, and is looking for supplies of exotic fruits and vegetables, as well as potatoes, grapes and onions – all of which India can offer, he said.
“Mangoes, pomegranates, grapes, potatoes, onions and ginger have a good future in Russia,” he said. “There is also demand or oranges, lychees, papayas, coconuts, baby corn and exotic green vegetables.”
 Russia is one of the largest grocery retail markets in Europe, with approximately US$282bn in sales, and modern retail formats account for 64 per cent of the market, Kumar said.
Despite Russia’s current fiscal problems, it is still a market worth exploring, he added, since Russia’s fruit market alone is worth US$5.4bn and food sales are the last to feel the impact of a weakening economy.
Besides the expert presentations and panel discussions at Fresh Produce India, networking was also a key feature, with delegates getting ample time to meet and do business, both throughout the conference and during the networking breaks at Fresh Produce India Expo.
The event concluded with an insightful study tour of two modern retail outlets, Foodhall and Food Bazaar, and one of south Mumbai’s most famous retail markets, Crawford Market.
A range of leading local and international companies and organisations sponsored Fresh Produce India 2015, including Fruit South Africa, Asia Fruit Logistica, the Dutch Embassy, Pear Bureau Northwest, Suri Agro Fresh, Zespri, IG International, From, Washington Apple Commission, Goodfarmer, Port of Koper, Sahyadri Farms, and the event’s supply chain partner ILIP.
At the boutique Fresh Produce India Expo, a select number of companies showcased their wares, including AVI Global, Virginia Dept of Agriculture, Washington Apples, Zespri, Billerudkorsnas, Fruit South Africa and Penwalt.

Foto, press release: Fresh Produce India

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