Fruit Logistica was as bright and colourful as ever with exciting conversations on every corner. Clearly there were a few nations missing due to travel restrictions, but visitor numbers hadn’t seen any discernible reduction. Fruit Logistica is attended by growers, marketing organisations, buyers and the wider fresh produce industry from around the world with an average attendance annually of around 100,000. It is now the largest showcase of its type in the world, having begun 25 years ago with just three halls – something that the National Fruit show will have to think about in its growth plans!
The machinery and agronomy/technology halls were packed with innovation – prominent were the robotic packers responding to the reduction in packaging drive, along with the natural branding systems. Improving quality with enhanced internal cameras was a consistent theme throughout all the grader technology companies, increased tolerances/accuracy was a hot topic of conversation along with increased throughput. The Greefa stand showcased both the robotic packing solution as well as enhanced NIR technology, their stand a hive of activity as always; we all took the opportunity to say goodbye to Gert, the oldest serving member of the sales team, there from the beginning, who is taking retirement at Easter.
One thing that was lacking was a true hub for the British presence at the show. Never was there such a wasted opportunity for British growers to make a stand and shout that they are open for business, open to opportunity and to get their presence in front of the world of produce! Those companies who took stands – and hats off to the Goatham team for working with the CHA to join forces with Angus Soft fruits and Bedfordshire growers to provide a coordinated British area next to the bright and brilliant stand of Fresca. Worldwide Fruit were off with their NZ partners, Richard Hochfeld were close to Chambers, both also with great, welcoming stands. All companies reported having a great show experience with no shortage of visitors or interest – why wasn’t everyone else there? There are many British companies who export, many who provide a service to the continent, why were the trade bodies not representing their members with all the great messages that we have to share about our industry? What a shame a strong enough case wasn’t made to the AHDB about the value of representing British growers abroad, so much money has been spent in promoting sausage awards, lamb chops and the like, why do we not have a good shout for horticulture?
