Freskon 2026: More than 2,800 B2B meetings recorded

30 April 2026

Freskon 2026: strong international footprint with a 32% increase in foreign trade visitors

With a significant qualitative and quantitative improvement in its trade visitor profile, a major increase in international attendance, a high number of business meetings, and a multifaceted programme of parallel events, Freskon 2026 – the international trade event for fresh fruits and vegetables – concluded successfully. The event took place from 23 to 25 April at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition & Congress Center and was organised by TIF-HELEXPO.

This year’s edition, which covered 12,500 m² and hosted 230 exhibitors from 10 countries, confirmed Freskon’s strong focus on business and trade networking, further strengthening its position as an important platform for the primary sector in the Balkans and Southeastern Europe.

Total attendance exceeded 4,550 visitors, while the most important development was the improved quality of the visitor profile: trade visitors increased by 10%, and group trade visits rose by 50%. International outreach was also significantly enhanced, with foreign trade visitors increasing by 32%, coming from a total of 37 countries.

Through the Freskon Hosted Buyers Programme, 121 buyers from 30 countries were hosted, while more than 2,800 bilateral B2B meetings took place during the exhibition.

International delegations also played a key role:

Strong Balkan presence:
The exhibition welcomed two large targeted group delegations, including 100 trade visitors from North Macedoniaand 50 from Bulgaria.

Delegation from Madrid’s central market:
Particularly successful was the visit of an eight-member business delegation from Madrid’s central market, consisting of representatives of six Spanish companies (Cultivar, CIA FRU&VER, Frutinter, Frutas Marpa, Verduras Marcafrut, and Champiñones Cumar). The mission, organised in cooperation with the Office for Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Embassy of Greece in Madrid, involved more than 170 pre-arranged business meetings, a visit to the Thessaloniki Central Market, and a meeting with executives of OKAA, opening new export channels for Greek products.

FreshCon Market and parallel events

The dynamic character of this year’s Freskon was also reflected in its rich programme of parallel events, covering multiple aspects of the fresh fruit and vegetable sector:

FreshCon Market:
This successful initiative, organised in cooperation with FRUITONEA magazine, brought producers together with representatives of organised retail. Sixteen retail chains (supermarkets) from Greece and the Balkans took part, offering producers direct access to the shelves of major distribution networks.

2nd International Cherry Conference:
One of the flagship events of the programme, focusing on the latest developments in cultivation and the commercial prospects of a product with strong export potential.

Specialised workshops:
Two targeted workshops were held. The first focused on berries, analysing rapidly growing demand and new production trends, while the second was dedicated to industrial clingstone peaches, highlighting processing and marketing challenges.

Digital future and supply chain:
Special thematic sessions included presentations on the integration of new digital tools in the field, traceability, and the modern challenges surrounding the transport and preservation of fresh produce.

Freskon Greece also present at Fruit Attraction São Paulo

For the second consecutive year, Freskon Greece also participated in Fruit Attraction São Paulo, held from 24 to 26 March 2026, organising the official Greek participation in the exhibition.

The Greek presence included 11 companies, participating either individually or through the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the Region of Thessaly, and the Larissa Chamber of Commerce. The participating Greek companies are active in the production and export of kiwifruit, aiming to highlight the quality and competitiveness of Greek kiwifruit while strengthening trade relations with Latin America.

Committed to the continued development and strengthening of Freskon, TIF-HELEXPO extends its thanks to exhibitors, the thousands of trade visitors, and its partners for the success of this year’s event.