The seventh edition of the Trade Show for Fruit and Vegetables, Fruit Attraction, co-organized by IFEMA and FEPEX in Madrid, has allowed producers and exporters from Huelva to meet customers from across the European Union (EU), thus strengthening its position in the major markets where it operates, in addition to opening new lines of business with national distributors in Europe and even from Asia and the Middle East.
This has been explained by some of the Huelva-based companies present at the fair, such as José Antonio Martín (Agromartín), one of the representatives of Plus Berries. "This year we have seen increased attendance from the public and a busier atmosphere than in previous years," said the entrepreneur, who added that the fair has served to "strengthen trade relations with our existing customers and to establish new ones with companies in the domestic market and from European countries such as England or Germany."
Plus Berries, a group of companies that produces strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries, presented a new packaging format at the fair, BerryBowl, which is intended for quality berries and targets the premium segment, and which, according to José Antonio Martín, "has been well received by both the public and customers."
Meanwhile, for the manager of Cuna de Platero, Juan Báñez, the seventh edition of Fruit Attraction has been "a very positive one, with satisfactory results that encourage us to develop a new campaign with our best predisposition and prospects." At this point, he stressed that "we have been commercially very active and have a full program of activities for the promotion of our fruits and their properties; we have shown the main strategic lines of the cooperative for the next season, which are clearly marked by innovation, quality and CSR."
Once again this year, Cuna de Platero decided to be present at this leading international trade fair, participating in different spaces and forums to share news about its products and processes, including Pasarela Innova, where participants had the opportunity to learn about Berrycatessen, Cuna de Platero's Premium berries; and Foro Innova, where Cuna de Platero presented Picking Fresh, the innovative harvesting system for fresh fruit.
Furthermore, the cooperative has also carried out important promotional and informational activities dealing with the nutritional and health properties of red fruits, as well as their extraordinary gastronomic qualities, presenting the second edition of the awareness campaign "Fresayunando, healthy breakfasts by Cuna de Platero", and organising the show cooking "Strawberries in three states" at Fruit Fusion, in charge of Masterchef Jr. contestant Aina.
Grufesa also made use of the opportunity offered by the fair to present the launch of its new blueberries marketed under the brand Mr.Blue, which according to Carlos Cumbreras, manager of Grufesa, "show that we continue to evolve, to move forward, and that we pay attention to what the consumer demands."
Furthermore, Grufesa has been present at the fair under the slogan "Our roots, our future", which has highlighted its "strong commitment to Andalusian strawberry varieties and to take advantage of their better adaptation to the land and environment, which ultimately translates into higher quality fruit and flavour."
For its part, Fresón de Palos has held meetings with potential customers from the EU market as well as Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and all this in a really busy context.
Fresón de Palos also used the opportunity to present its new products, intended to diversify the range, such as raspberries, blueberries or peaches. It also showcased, with great success, its innovative proposals to attract consumers, such as its strawberry sorbet with cava or the Fresón de Palos cake.
The administrator and manager of Fresgarrido, José Antonio Garrido, was "extremely satisfied" with the outcome of Fruit Attraction, where he has managed to open negotiations with two major European supermarket chains, as well as to establish new lines of business in Poland and Switzerland.
Also, Fresgarrido has contacted blueberry producers in Asturias, northern Portugal and Peru to offer them the chance to market their products, while negotiations have been opened with a producer in Morocco. José Antonio Garrido believes that the balance of the company's distribution line has also been "very positive."
Additionally, Fresgarrido has received the Co-Excellence seal, a consumer hallmark of excellence designed by the Consumers Union of Huelva, which awards those companies that design their value chain with an eye on reaching excellence and attracting loyal consumers.
The manager of the Association of Producers and Exporters of Strawberries from Huelva, Rafael Domínguez, also rated this edition of Fruit Attraction as very "satisfactory," noting that Freshuelva's partners have had the opportunity to make "many commercial contacts, especially in the fields of production and innovation, and to reach new customers."
Rafael Dominguez stressed that, at this fair, which continues to grow every year, Freshuelva's stand was visited by the ministers of Agriculture, Isabel García Tejerina, and Employment, Fatima Báñez, which, in his view, shows "the strength of Huelva's berry industry for the creation of wealth and employment within the domestic agricultural sector."
The Secretary of State for Immigration and Emigration, Marina del Corral, and the Deputy General Director of Immigration, Carlos Mora, also showed their support for Huelva's berries. The Andalusian Councillor of Agriculture, Carmen Ortiz, was also a guest at the presentation of Freshuelva Partners, with which Freshuelva gave recognition to the companies that collaborate with producers and exporters working to develop Huelva's berry sector.
