International stonefruit sector to meet at 2nd Stone Fruit Attraction Congress

The stonefruit sector has an important meeting on 29 October with the 2nd Stone Fruit Attraction Congress, to be held in the framework of Madrid's fair Fruit Attraction at 10 am.

The biennial event, which held its first edition in 2013 and gathered more than 250 people from many countries, is back this year with a more interactive program.

"This year we have changed the conference model. To make it more compelling and interactive, we will hold two round tables: 'Research and identification of new varieties' and 'The future of Stone Fruit', in which participants and industry representatives may raise their questions to leading breeders regarding topics such as the consequences of opening new markets, the adaptation of new varieties to distant destinations, research on zero waste, etc.," explains Joaquín Gómez, President of APOEXPA and one of the event organizers.

Besides the two round tables, there will be room for presentations on 'Distribution, Production and Marketing' by Bastoni Ilenio, Manager of APOFRUIT, Italy; Luis Flórez, Policy Officer at the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission; Renato Luiz S. Generoso, Manager of the Distribution Chain PAN DE AZÚCAR, Brazil; and Marianna Theyse, Manager of the Association of Importers and Producers from South Africa.

Spain is the world's largest stonefruit exporter, with more than 900,000 tonnes per year, and the European Union, with 85% of the total, remains the most important destination. Spain also has the most extensive production schedule, as it is able to harvest peaches, nectarines and plums from April to October.

"We think Spain, and specifically the growing fair Fruit Attraction, is the ideal meeting place for both stonefruit producers and marketers. We want to bring researchers, marketers and producers together so that they can exchange views," points out Joaquín Gómez.