On his way back from Berlin, Vittorio Gona of the Sicilian company Alba Bio contacted FreshPlaza to provide his experience at Fruit Logistica.
Vittorio Gona
"As always, we are very satisfied with the three days in Berlin," says Gona. "Once again, this turned out to be the most important trade fair event for us and for our sector. The first two days were very intense, and we made many contacts. The third day was a little quieter, because there were - at least as far as we could tell - fewer buyers."
“Unfortunately, there is no similar fair in Italy, which is a pity. Spain has the Fruit Attraction, but our country is also one of the largest growers in Europe. I am talking about an event organized in a big city with the necessary hotel capacity and an international airport, such as Rome or Milan, to accommodate the large flows of exhibitors and visitors from all over the world. And when choosing the city, let's not adopt a narrow-minded mentality with, for example, discussions about first birthright. We just have to look at what is most practical to meet all the needs of such an important event."
"But now let's look back at the Berlin fair. The added value of a dedicated Sicilian pavilion has become abundantly clear over the years. All the major Sicilian players in cultivation and sales are represented jointly. Our collective booth brings together the Sicilian fruit and vegetable supply in one place, making it a reference point for buyers from all over the world."
"While we were in Berlin, unfortunately a cyclone hit Sicily, destroying many growing sites. While we were trying to win contracts for our productions, they were ravaged by bad weather. Alba Bio lost about 20% of its production, but our teams were working since the beginning of the storm to mitigate the damage to structures and crops. That quick response will allow us to minimize any short-term delays. I can also immediately reassure our customers that there will be no problems with supplies and that we will fulfill all contractual obligations."
"What we cannot fix, on the other hand, is the damage to one of our young avocado plants (pictured above). About seven hectares of crop have been destroyed, with losses estimated at €2 million, compared to the investments already made. Now we will roll up our sleeves and somehow deal with this loss too," concluded Vittorio Gona.
For more information: 
Vittorio Gona
O.P. Coop. Alba Bio
Cda Ferranta, SN
97010 Marina di Ragusa (RG) - Italy
+39 0932 239003
info@gruppoalbabio.it
www.gruppoalbabio.it