MACFRUT 2016, the International Fruit & Vegetable show was held between 14 and 16 September in Italy at the Rimini Expo Centre, Rimini. According to the organizers Cesena Fiera, 38,000 people attended the trade fair in three days, a record number of visitors since its inception 33 years ago.
The fruits and vegetables sector is the mainstay of Italy's agrifood system, with a value of 12 billion euros or 25 percent of the agricultural sector's gross saleable production, announced Italy's Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, Maurizio Martina, after cutting the ribbon and officially inaugurating the event.
The event that ran until Friday, September 16 hosted more than 1,000 of the sector's businesses from all over the world, bringing an international presence from five continents, as well as around 1,000 buyers, according to the organizers. The fair featured 11 exhibition areas spread throughout seven pavilions, covering a surface area of 40,000 square meters.
Concurrent to MACFRUT, the 8th edition of the European Short-Course on “QUALITY AND SAFETY OF FRESH-CUT PRODUCE” was offered to the participants. The course was organized by the University of Foggia in collaboration with Macfrut, DARe-Puglia and Italian association AIIPA-IV Gamma.
During the event, participants also had the opportunity to use specific exhibition areas to hold press conferences, organize their own events and present products and innovative projects.
Within this section, in collaboration with its partners at CESENA FIERA the organizer of MACFRUT, and IFEMA, the organizer of FRUIT ATTRACTION, the International Trade Show for the Fruit and Vegetable Industry in Spain, IFP introduced its Food Africa show and the concurrently held MAC FRUIT ATTRACTION 2017.
Rhea Aoun, Co-CEO of IFP Group, highlighted the existing vast opportunities for international fruit and vegetable producers at Food Africa 2017, as “Egypt has always been an active gateway for trade of fruits and vegetables as a strategic entry point to a home population of 91.5 million and to the larger African market.” “The 2016 edition of Food Africa attracted 8,340 professional visitors and 290 exhibitors from 28 countries covering an exhibition space of 10,000 SQM. Food Africa also hosted +300 buyers from 59 countries, including European and African countries, especially invited by the organizing company IFP within the Hosted Buyers Program.” “Food Africa 2016 also included the concurrent MAC FRUIT ATTRACTION show dedicated to promoting European fruits and vegetables at a strategic market.”
“Egypt is a big producer of fruit and vegetables and Italy represents the main market. Since Italy is the leader in sorting and processing technologies, many machineries are imported in Egypt. Yet, Egypt is the second market for Italian apples especially as of 2015. In any case, the main objective of the show is to get in contact with buyers from Africa and from the Middle East. We are very optimistic and I think that the 2017 edition of the event will be a great success,” said Renzo Piraccini, President of Macfrut Italy.
Participants to the conference-presentation showed great interest in Food Africa and expressed their enthusiasm to take part in next year’s edition. The 2017 editions of Food Africa and MAC FRUIT ATTRACTION will be held from 22 – 24 April 2017 at the Cairo International Convention and Exhibition Center.
Ifpinfo
20 September
