Freskon 2023, 
the Fruit and Vegetable International Trade Event organised by TIF-HELEXPO from 23 to 25 April at Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre, recorded its best performance ever as regards attendance, with 4339 visitors and a significant increase in trade visitors in comparison to the previous event.
Exhibitor and trade visitor satisfaction was evident, while there were more than 2000 targeted business meetings between hosted buyer and participating companies, laying the groundwork for trade partnerships. There was no disputing that Freskon succeeded in becoming a valuable springboard for networking and learning about all the developments in the international fruit and vegetable sector, and to confirm that it deserves its label as the largest sector meeting in Southeastern Europe.
FreshCon Market performed particularly well, on 24 and 25 April, with the first partnerships between Greek transporters and the largest supermarket chains in Europe taking their first steps. Sixteen supermarket chains from 11 countries, more specifically, Greece, Cyprus, Serbia, Albania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Belarus, Lithuania, Kosovo, and Ukraine, welcomed fruit and vegetable sector professionals and held 640 trade meetings at FreshCon Market’s spaces. Major focus was placed on the countries of the Balkans and Central Europe this year, with markets such as that of
Poland presenting significant business opportunities for Greeks. FreshCon Market was organised by TIF-HELEXPO and FROUTONEA magazine, and mainly aimed at bringing large supermarket chains into direct contact with professionals of the agricultural sector-Freskon exhibitors.
As far as the side events are concerned, Freskon’s International Citrus Fruit Congress was sold out. Professionals from the entire citrus fruit supply chain attended speeches by internationally distinguished Greek and foreign sector entrepreneurs and executives. From propagation material development, to modern orchard organising, to integrated post-harvest fruit management and marketing, the congress covered a broad range of subjects. The other side events of the event also garnered major interest.
This year’s Freskon attracted 217 exhibitors from 12 countries, more specifically, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, India, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Turkey, 25% more than in 2022. The exhibitors covered 12.500 square metres of exhibition space. Besides exhibitors, FRESKON also hosted 190 international trade visitors from 34 countries, including 115 as individuals and 73 as part of group participations from Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
The Region of Western Greece was the Honoured Region at this year’s event. It had the opportunity to promote its highly nutritious fruit and vegetables and to introduce people to the wealth of its primary sector. Besides the Region of Western Greece, other participants included the Regions of Crete, Western Macedonia, Thessaly, Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, and Attica.