The president of HORTYFRUTA, Francisco Góngora, and the managing director of COEXPHAL, Juan Colomina, held a meeting last week in Milan with representatives of the French Interprofessional INTERFEL and the Italian ORTOFRUTTA, where they discussed the need to establish an Interprofessional organisation at European level to defend fruit and vegetable producers. All three countries reached an agreement to take the first steps towards its creation.
It will happen after HORTYFRUTA Spain, the Interprofessional for fruit and vegetables at Spanish level, has been established; a process which is at quite an advanced stage, which, in principle, counts with the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Environment (MAGRAMA) and which will quite possibly be completed before the end of the month. This would be an important step with which Almeria, Andalusia, Spain and the European sector would gain in representation and bargaining power against retail chains operating in the European market.
Next September, a seminar will be organised where information will be provided regarding the steps to be taken and about the project to "our respective representatives in the European Commission."
Later, another meeting will be held between the heads of INTERFEL, ORTOFRUTTA And HORTYFRUTA Spain, as well as with representatives of other countries interested in this ambitious project.
Furthermore, and taking advantage of the trip to Milan, both the president of HORTYFRUTA and the manager of COEXPHAL took part in the EGEA Conference "Healthy eating and environment in the framework of a balanced economy: the role of fruit and vegetables" during the Universal Expo 2015 of Milan, Italy.