Macfrut 2007: growing foreign presence

Rome – The 2007 edition of the Italian fresh produce fair Macfrut will take place in Cesena (region Emilia-Romagna) on April 26-28. Exposition area will measure 30.000 square meters, with 700 stands. The last edition registered 20.000 visitors from 80 countries.

The company Cesena Fiera, which organizes Macfrut, has invested all its efforts in order to enlarge international partnerships and to make foreign presences within the fair more and more significant. Some projects of collaboration have been launched with China, Morocco, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Argentina and Brazil. Bilateral meetings – up to 250 – are scheduled during the fair.

Organic production will play an important role as well. Europe represents almost 50% of this sector’s global turnover (30 bil euro), with Italian leadership as producer and exporter (1 mln ha acreage). Italian organic fresh products turnover amounts 20% of the total turnover for fresh produce sector, with a stable consumption level.

During the meeting which has been organized in order to launch Macfrut new edition, also the last figures about Italian fresh produce sector have been presented (see table below). Italy represents 25% of the total European production, but there are still some structural problems, which will be discussed at the occasion of Macfrut.

Domenico Scarpellini, chairman of Cesena Fiera, underlines: “We need a better organization and less bureaucracy. Production costs are still too high and fresh produce supply is not yet rationally centralized. Problems could arise from EU enlargement also, if we don’t pay attention to equality between different commercial partners.”

Contact:
Cesena Fiera
Via Dismano 3845,
47020 Pievesestina di Cesena (FC)
Italy
Phone: +39 0547 317435
Fax. : +39 0547 318431
Website
Email

Publication date: February 28 2007
Author: Rossella Gigli
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com