International Blueberry Organization Summit 2014 promises packed programme
“The three-day event gets underway on Monday with the IBO’s annual board meeting,” explained the association’s chairman, Andrés Armstrong. “A full day of seminars follows the next day before the event wraps up on Wednesday with an industry tour to visit some Mexican growers."
On Day Two, the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council’s (USHBC) chairman Parm Bains will kick off the presentations by giving an in-depth analysis of the U.S. market for blueberries where demand remains insatiable for the popular superfood.
Host country Mexico will feature in three sessions during which Inés Masallach Armijo of marketing firm Imalinx, Raúl Urteaga Trani from the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture (Sagarpa) and a roundtable of expert speakers will discuss Mexico’s blueberry history, its global opportunities and production potential respectively.
Detailed country presentations will be given by leading representatives from associations and companies in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, South Africa, the U.K., the U.S. and Uruguay.
Portugal and Korea will also come under the spotlight as Sofia Freitas, coordinator at the Association for Small Fruits and Business Innovation in Portugal (AGIM), examines the challenges and opportunities for Portugal’s blueberry sector, and CS Rim from Very Berry Korea gives his insight into the Korean market. Additionally, Dr. Chad Finn from the Oregon State University in the U.S. will reveal the latest in research and development into blueberry varieties.
Last year’s meeting, held in Santiago, Chile, attracted 160 delegates from the world’s main blueberry producing countries. The IBO expects around 200 people to attend in 2014.
For more information:
Nolwenn Gingat
International Blueberry Organization
Tel: +56 (2) 2717 1114
Email: info@internationalblueberry.org
www.internationalblueberry.org