A good turnout at Cibus Connect in Parma, the event which alternates with Cibus, the fair dedicated to the Italian food sector. FreshPlaza paid a visit on 12th April 2017.
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Areflh con's stand. On the left, Pauline Panegos
The first stand not far from the entrance was that of Areflh, the association of European fruit producer regions. Secretary Pauline Panegos welcomed guests.
Various fresh-cut companies, such as Zerbinati, and processing companies such as Valbona took part as exhibitors.
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Zerbinati fresh-cut bags
Antonio Pavone created the "Fox" dried fruit, snack and chip brand together with his brother Massimo 25 years ago.
"Our facility is located in Abruzzo, in Città Sant'Angelo. We have around 40 employees and a turnover of approximately €10 million. For years, the market required aperitif dried fruit and snacks because it was trendy. Now the new frontier is food that is 100% natural, which is why we are reducing the ingredients used, down to the raw material."
Owner Antonio Pavone, left
Fox also makes chips starting from the fresh produce. "Consumers still like these sorts of products and we try to meet their needs combining them with healthy products. The real challenge is to combine these two aspects: hedonism and healthy products. Let's not forget that our grandparents ate dried fruit because of its high nutritional power."
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Serra from Novi Ligure presented its sweets made with high-quality Pgi and Pdo fruit. Owner Luigi Serra explained that "when you choose to make a sweet range using real fruit, you really makes things difficult for yourself - just for the sake of quality. We chose some Pgi products such as blood oranges from Sicily and lemons from Syracuse. The outcome is so good retailers keep asking for it."
Luigi Serra
Ursini from Fossacesia (Chieti) started as an oil mill and now processes all kinds of vegetables. "We are a small company with around 20 employees. We prepare vegetables in oil, sauces (with or without tomatoes) and pepper, courgette, carrot and aubergine products. 55% of the turnover is made abroad, mainly in France, Germany and US," explains export manager Camillo Bianco.
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Camillo Bianco
Vinegar producer Terra del Tuono in Corticella (Reggio Emilia) displayed its fruit-based "pearls" made with lemons, figs, pomegranates, raspberries and blueberries and a balsamic vinegar from a grape-must base. Each pearl "explodes" in the mouth releasing its liquid content. As explained by Alberto Zini, it is a new frontier of decorations and condiments.
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Camillo Bianco
Vinegar producer Terra del Tuono in Corticella (Reggio Emilia) displayed its fruit-based "pearls" made with lemons, figs, pomegranates, raspberries and blueberries and a balsamic vinegar from a grape-must base. Each pearl "explodes" in the mouth releasing its liquid content. As explained by Alberto Zini, it is a new frontier of decorations and condiments.
Alberto Zini
Over 400 exhibitor as well as 50 producers selected by Slow Food took part.