Keynote by Oliver Weidner, Director International Quality Management, Lidl, Germany opening ceremony of FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010

Keynote by Oliver Weidner, Director International Quality Management, Lidl, Germany opening ceremony of FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak here today.

If you have followed the Fruit Logistica topics over the past five years, you may have noticed that many of the issues address quality assurance. These range from the certification of growers and the question of proper standards for good agricultural practice, to the intense debate focusing on the reduction of pesticides. In the fruit and vegetable market, quality assurance continues to face a number of special challenges.

What makes the fruit and vegetable market so special?

Everyone knows that consumer demand and the assortment of agricultural products are extremely dependent on weather conditions. Each day, market players have to accurately assess the market situation and take decisions under pressure. Otherwise, their products will spoil. Thus, along with the stock market and daily news, trading in fresh fruits and vegetables is one of the world's fastest-paced markets.

To achieve optimum freshness, we have established special logistics at Lidl. This enables us to bring fresh fruits and vegetables from the fields into our stores across Europe in the shortest possible time. We all know the key prerequisite in the fruit and vegetable market:

Freshness is crucial when it comes to customer acceptance and freshness means you have to be fast!

From the quality assurance perspective of a food retailer, if you look at the rapid global flow of goods from the field to the store shelves, you will clearly see the challenges quality assurance faces in the fruit and vegetable market today.

Trading in fresh produce is a formative part of the Lidl company history. We added fresh fruit and vegetables as an integral part of our product assortment in 1982. The contacts to many of our suppliers and producers in the fruit and vegetable segment were established back then – and still exist today. At that time, we had 120 outlets in southern Germany. Today, we operate stores throughout Europe. We will soon be opening our first markets in the Canary Islands.

I don't want to limit my focus to quality assurance today. I would also like to show the relationship to changing consumer expectations. These two issues are closely linked.

To survive in the market – no matter where you are in the supply chain: grower, supplier or retailer – you need to try and meet consumer expectations every day of the week. After all, consumers decide about quality when they purchase fruit and vegetables in the fresh produce department.

As food retailers, we are the consumer's point of contact. We represent the entire supply chain all the way back to the grower. Whether consumer opinions come from media reports or are based on well-founded information is not important. As partners in the fruit and vegetable market we have to accept consumer expectations and choices and to try to implement whatever is possible across the entire supply chain.

The fact that we are capable of this is impressively demonstrated in the fruit and vegetable market by the reduction of residues in recent years.

Let me briefly address the issue of consumer expectations in more detail. Residue from pesticides has not always been an issue that made consumers feel insecure. Only in the past 20 years has their uncertainty gradually increased. I would like to illustrate this with two images of consumers from the past.

In the 1960s, the focus was on the "Green Revolution". New chemical fertilisers and pesticides made it possible to double agricultural production on the same plot of land. Chemical plant protection is a technical innovation that ensures diversity on the consumer's table. The young woman in the picture clearly is not concerned about possible residues. Uncritical and carefree consumption was the main focus in this era. But how do things look 20 years later?

Things changed in the 1980s. The ecology movement created a demand followed by a supply of organic foods. Organic farming offers consumers an alternative in the market. An increasingly amount of criticism was aimed at the use of chemical pesticides in conventional agriculture. Ever since, the consumer's perception of risks has played an increasingly important role.

Today, the consumer's perception of risk is more pronounced than ever. At the same time, consumers admit that their knowledge of the risks is limited. In 2007, the EU surveyed citizens to determine which environmental issues they knew very little about. You can see that for 36% of EU citizens, the health impact of chemicals found in everyday products is something that consumers themselves report they know very little about. Things that consumers know little about, but perceive as risks, lead to fears. And fears lead to new consumer demands.

As we have seen, consumer expectations regarding food quality, particularly the reduction of pesticides on fruit and vegetables, are increasing. These expectations are almost completely fulfilled by the organic food segment. But today, consumers also have the same expectations when it comes to conventional products. So we see a clear direction in which the social trend is moving and how this influences consumer expectations.

Consumers expect those of us in the food retail business to create transparency and verifiability. They want to know more specifically what is contained in food products, what the food has been treated with, how it was produced and where it comes from. In many cases, this information is used as a basis for our customers' purchasing decisions. More than ever before, food retailers represent the entire supply chain when it comes to assuming responsibility for the residue quality of fruit and vegetable sold in stores. And this responsibility has led us to work together over the past five years to make significant strides in the reduction of pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables.

Two years ago, if you wanted to know the maximum residue limits for lettuce in the 27 EU member states, you were faced with the task of searching for the information in 27 different national regulations written in 23 different languages. Today we have a single EU regulation for maximum residue limits and a central database. As you can see, the authorities have also made things more transparent and simpler.

Growers are also working on the issue of transparency. Our supplies come from major producers in Spain, Italy and Germany. They operate their own labs on-site and develop their own knowledge and experience on the biodegradability of different pesticides in their fields. This information helps growers produce low-residue fruits and vegetables.

The entire fruit and vegetable market has worked extensively on reducing pesticide residues. I can only speak for our company: We have worked together with our producers and suppliers to significantly reduce pesticide residues.

We now have the option of using data from nearly 100,000 residue analyses conducted over the past few years to evaluate the residue quality of market channels, supplier countries, products and suppliers. As you can see on the chart, we were able to continuously and sustainably reduce the average utilisation of maximum pesticide residue limits in the years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. The average utilisation of the maximum limit in 2009 was 8.7%.

This achievement would be impossible without the dedicated efforts of growers. As retailers we have created a framework that is being successfully implemented by the growers.

What does this framework look like? What are the essential elements?

Our objective was to establish a continuing improvement process with growers aimed at reducing residues. We identified three elements that have proven effective and, in our opinion, provide a modern quality assurance system:

1) Rigorous residue monitoring with a high numbers of samples
2) Feedback of analytical results to the producer
3) Traceability of each shipping unit to the producer. This serves as a binding element to enable the feedback of information in a global market with such a large number of producers
These three mainstays serve as the basis for the ongoing improvement process we have successfully implemented between fresh produce retailers and growers. We believe that residue analysis data from retailers and across the entire supply chain should be placed in the hands of producers who can use this information to compare pesticide use in the past with current residue figures. Using this approach, we enable producers to adapt future applications and continuously improve crop management.

The key here is that we know who produced the goods when they arrive at the central warehouses. Using this information, we can link producers with residue data and provide feedback to growers on the quality of their products. We provide the framework so that changes can be made on a local level.

The traceability system doesn't have to be complicated in all aspects. Transparency can be ensured with simple instruments, such as this label. The introduction of the transparency label undoubtedly involved costs in the supply chain. But it has enabled us to make a step closer to achieving our common goal of improving the quality assurance information.

I would like to emphatically point out that, as retailers, we have only created the framework with our three mainstays of quality. The real work lies in the hands of the growers. Thus, our success up until now has been mainly achieved by the producers. They are the ones who consistently implement lower pesticide standards in the fields on a day-to-day basis. This can only be achieved through transparency and an exchange of information between retailers and producers. As a retail company, we are convinced that the further development of quality assurance can only be successfully pursued if producers are consistently integrated into the processes of change and rethinking.

Changes are necessary because this is what consumers expect from us. No matter which trends are talked about today and tomorrow, or which issues guide society, one thing is clear: when they come into a store, people are looking for products that suit their individual lifestyle. Traceability is the key to determining whether consumer expectations are being met by food retailers. For companies operating in the fresh produce supply chain, traceability offers the chance to make their achievements transparent to retailers. This creates trust and ultimately guarantees sales.

Transparency is based on an obligation principle. Retailers need to have all relevant product information because, when it comes to responsibility, they are the ones who interface with consumers and need to be able to answer questions. Consumers expect transparent quality standards and proven product quality.

A modern quality assurance system must ensure that product quality information between retailers and growers is transparent at all times. We need to know specifically whether the supply chain actually complies with the quality commitment we give our customers. This is the basis for customer acceptance and guaranteed sales.

A key condition in the initial phase is the transparency between retailers and producers. At the interface between growers and consumers, retailers have a chance to secure the flow of information through the supply chain. Quality assurance is required to consistently focus on consumer expectations and continuously adapt standards accordingly. I hope it has become clear that we have developed systems designed to support growers in their efforts to meet the requirements.

Modern companies that focus intensely on the quality expectations of consumers and try their best to meet these expectations can secure their acceptance as trusted suppliers in the market – vis-à-vis food retailers and consumers. These companies respond to changing consumer expectations and ensure that their expectations and needs are met by the range of products on market shelves.

I am convinced that this year's Fruit Logistica is once again the right place to discuss these issues. With this in mind, I wish you a successful trade fair and thank you for your attention.

Fresh produce sector presents innovations - Fruit Logistica

Fresh produce sector presents innovations - Fruit Logistica

Trade visitors play a key role in choosing winner of the FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award 2010

Berlin, 1 February 2010 – The nine FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award (FLIA) 2010 finalists have been selected by a panel of experts. The entries nominated for the award presented at the leading international trade fair for fresh produce marketing include the following: a device designed to remove pomegranate seeds (Israel), a sweet, long-stem variety of broccoli (Netherlands), a convenience product called "Carrot Fettuccini" (Italy), a flavour concept for potatoes used as an orientation aid at the point of sale (Netherlands), savoury-spiced Californian pistachios (Belgium), a foldable box with a base that expands with increasing weight (Netherlands), a two-colour tray with lid designed to enhance the visual appeal of fruit and vegetables (Greece), a portable device for inspecting and determining the inner quality of many different fruit and vegetable varieties (Italy), and a system for continuous monitoring of fresh produce temperature and humidity on pallets via Internet and wireless communications (Israel).

The FLIA recognises outstanding new products or services that have had a significant impact on the fruit and vegetable industry and were introduced to the market between 1st November 2008 and 31st October 2009. The award will be presented for the fifth time at the leading international trade fair for fresh produce marketing taking place at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds on 3-5 February 2010. More than 50,000 trade visitors from 120 countries will have a chance to vote for the innovation of the year during the first two days of the fair. The submitted entries will be presented in the area between Halls 20/21. This is also where the award ceremony will take place on 5th February 2010 at 2.30 pm. The FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award 2010 is sponsored by Messe Berlin GmbH and FRUCHTHANDEL MAGAZINE, Dusseldorf.

Here is an alphabetical list of FRUIT LOGISTICA Innovation Award nominees:

ART – Arils Removal Tool
Company: Mehadrin Tnuport Export, Israel
Stand: Hall 1.2, Stand E-04
Website: www.mtex.co.il

The ART – Arils Removal Tool – is a simple and clever tool for pitting pomegranates quickly, cleanly and easily.
Pomegranates have become very popular in recent years. However the task of peeling and pitting the pomegranate itself can be a little off-putting. The Arils Removal Tool provides a simple and innovative solution for pitting this very healthy fruit and can be used anywhere.
The shape and size of the ART are reminiscent of a lemon press. The tool comprises a bowl to catch the seeds, a grid and a flexible silicone dome.
After removing the crown, the pomegranate is cut in half, placed on the grid and covered with the silicone dome. A table spoon or a similar object can then be used to strike the pomegranate through the dome so that the seeds simply drop into the bowl beneath. The dome also protects your clothing from the rich red pomegranate juice! It is then a simple matter to enjoy the pomegranate seeds in salads, yoghurts or simply as a snack on their own.
The ART is available in red and white.
Market launch: September 2009

Bellaverde® Sweet Stem Broccoli
Company: Monsanto Vegetable Seeds, Netherlands
Stand: Hall 1.2, Stand D-06
Website: www.bellaverde.co.uk

Bellaverde® Sweet Stem Broccoli is a new, sweeter variety of broccoli with a long thin stem which can not only be cooked or steamed but also eaten raw as a starter or in salads.
This new broccoli variety is reminiscent of traditional varieties such as Cime de Rapa which have been known for generations. To reflect these historical origins it has been given an Italian name – Bellaverde – which also reflects the strong green colouring of the vegetable.
The secret of the sweet taste lies in the sun. After the first broccoli head has been removed, new young shoots grow in the sun and are hand harvested after just ten days. It is this which gives them their delicate sweet taste, their attractive green colour and their special texture.
After its successful market launch in the UK in 2009, Bellaverde® will be available in other countries in 2010 including Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.
The season runs from the middle of June to the end of November. Bellaverde® can be grown both in southern Europe in the winter months as well as in northern regions in the summer. Extensive marketing and PR campaigns are carried out in cooperation with local trading partners.
Pack unit: 200g foodtainers
Market launch: July 2009

Carrot Fettuccini
Company: Aureli Mario, Italy
Stand: Hall 1.1, Stand E-08 / Hall 4.2, Stand D-04
Website: www.aurelimario.com

Company: La Linea Verde S.p.A., Italy (licensor)
Stand: Hall 4.2, Stand B-05
Website: www.lalineaverde.it


Carrot Fettuccini are a convenience product made from 25-30cm strips of carrot with a width of 0.8 to 1cm. They can be eaten raw as a snack or in a salad, or boiled for a few minutes and seasoned with olive oil or other spices
Carrots are not only a very traditional product but also a very popular one. For the convenience sector Carrot Fettuccini thus make an interesting new product for the consumer. Their quick and simple preparation and consumption make them a valuable contribution to a healthy diet.
The basis for Carrot Fettuccini are specially selected carrot varieties which are particularly suitable for the production of convenience products.
Pack unit: 200g bag
Market launch: October 2009

Dynamic Shipper
Company: Polymer Logistics, Netherlands
Stand: Hall 3.2, Stand C-13, Hall 4.2 / Stand B-09
Website: www.polymerlogistics.com

The Dynamic Shipper is a polypropylene foldable box on wheels with an adjustable elevating floor. The basic height of the floor of the box can be adjusted to a preferred level. The weight of the produce and the elastic supports will do the rest, making sure that the top layer of produce stays at more or less the same level. This represents both an ergonomic advantage for staff in the packhouse – they can fill the box safely and more easily, and customers in the retail outlet do not have to bend to reach the product. They can instead serve themselves at a convenient level.
Recent tests have proven the effectiveness of the Dynamic Shipper for promoting sales. Increases of 11 per cent in turnover and a reduction of 2 per cent in spillage have been recorded.

Measurements: unfolded L 80 x B 60 xH 105 cm, folded L 80 x B 60 x H 60,5 cm. Container weight 26kg. The Dynamic Shipper can hold up to 250kg and can be used in temperatures ranging from - 20 to + 50 degrees Celsius. The Dynamic Shipper can be supplied labeled and in any colour.
Market launch: November 2008

Easypack Black & Transparent
Company: NGP Plastic SA, Greece
Stand: Hall 2.1, Stand D-04
Website: www.ngpplastic.gr

Easypack Black & Transparent offers the possibility of having two different colours for the lid and the base in the same single-piece clamshell pack. This means it can satisfy the trend towards multi-colour packs for the effective presentation of fresh produce while at the same time avoiding the disadvantages of separate lids and bases.
The use of a contrasting second colour means that fresh fruit and vegetable products – such as tomatoes, grapes, cherries and berries with a strong natural colour – can be presented more attractively and effectively in the retail outlet.
According to the manufacturer, single-piece clamshells can save up to 15 per cent in logistic and transport costs.
Easypack Black & Transparent is available in a wide range of shapes and sizes for weights from 250g to 2kg.
Easypack Long: 186 x 186 x 53 / 80 / 85 / 90 / 110 / 130 / 135 mm
Easypack Square: 186 x 186 x 39 / 44 / 49 / 54 / 64 / 74 / 79 / 86 / 94 / 101 / 119 / 131 / 139 / 144 / 151 mm
Easypack Mini: 127 x 93,5 x 53 / 75 mm
Easypack Tria: 191 x 118 x 47 / 52 / 64 / 69 mm
Easypack extra Long: 286 x 93,5 x 39 / 44 / 49 / 54 / 64 / 69 / 74 / 84 mm
Market launch: January 2009

Pommonde® Potato Taste Concept
Company: HZPC Holland BV, Netherlands
Stand: Hall 1.2, Stand E-15
Website: www.hzpc.nl

The Pommonde® potato taste concept offers consumers an innovative practical guide when buying potatoes in the store. The standard description of potato varieties is largely based on cooking characteristics. That does not provide much help when selecting the best variety for specific recipes. The Pommonde® concept is intended to change all that. After extensive consumer research, HZPC has now launched a new taste guide for its potato range under the Pommonde® brand name using different logos and colour codes to clearly identify each separate type of potato.
Fine (creamy and refined): A potato with a creamy structure and a fresh, sweet, buttery flavour. Especially suitable for high-quality gourmet dishes in which the potato is in balance with other ingredients.
Lite (light and mild): A potato with a light soft structure suitable for dishes with soft neutral flavours and textures.
Bite (firm and tasty): A potato with a distinctively firm texture and a full rich flavor – something to get your teeth into!
Ripe (floury and dry): A drier potato which is more floury in texture and suitable for a wide range of culinary applications.
Pack unit: 2.5kg bag
Market launch: November 2008

QS_300
Company: Unitec S.p.A., Italy
Stand: Hall 4.1, Stand A-02 / Hall 10.2, Stand B-05
Website: www.unitec-group.com

The QS_300 is a portable instrument for monitoring and measuring the internal quality of a wide range of fruit and vegetables including pip- and stonefruit, citrus, kiwis and tomatoes, without damaging the produce itself.
The unit can be used to measure the sugar content in Brix, the consistency of the fruit pulp in kg/cm2, and the level of acidity in g/l. All that is needed is to place the instrument’s sensor on the surface of the fruit.
The unit allows the rapid and mobile measurement of internal characteristics at any point in the supply chain. It obviates the need for laboratory measurements or specialised software. The data is processed automatically and instantaneously by the unit and displayed on a screen. USB and ethernet ports make onward data transmission simple. There is also a slot for SD-cards.
The instrument weighs only 1.3kg, can be operated with only one hand, and is equipped with a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery with a cycle of approximately four hours. Its energy and environmental impact is therefore minimal.
Market launch: October 2009

Wonderful Pistachios Salt & Pepper
Company: Paramount Farms Europe, Belgium
Stand: Hall 23, Stand B-01
Website: www.wonderfulpistachios.com

Wonderful Pistachios Salt & Pepper are California pistachios with a unique new spicy flavour in a 250g bag. A new mixture of different sorts of pepper gives the otherwise typically salted pistachio a completely new warm and spicy taste.
The new flavour was developed in house and tested on markets as far apart as France, Italy, Israel and the Middle East.
Only the largest sized nuts from California’s San Joaquin Valley are used in the production of Wonderful Pistachios Salt & Pepper. The pistachios are not roasted on belts but rather on dry rotary roasters which provide an even roasting and a better flavour. They open 100% naturally.
With this new flavour, Paramount Farms aims to attract new customers to the category and provide a wider choice of products. Consumers can find a whole range of information about the product in an entertaining style at www.wonderfulpistachios.com.
Wonderful Pistachios are listed with all leading retailers in Germany. As a result of the success of the 250g bag, a 500g bag is planned to be introduced in 2010.
Market launch: March 2009

Xsense™ Perishables Quality Monitoring System
Company: StePac LA Ltd., Israel
Stand: Hall 3.2, Stand C-21
Website: www.stepac.com

The Xsense™ Perishables Quality Monitoring System enables the continuous monitoring of the temperature and relative humidity of perishable fresh produce shipments on an individual pallet basis via the internet and mobile phone system in real time.
Disposable sensor tags are placed inside one carton in each pallet. Temperature and relative humidity monitoring begins immediately with data relayed to customers via standard mobile phone networks to a secure internet application. Data can be viewed on screen via the internet during every stage of the supply chain. If measurements exceed preset levels at any time, the system can send alerts by text message or e-mail. A GPS transmitter embedded in the system also allows the accurate tracking of shipping movements.
The Xsense™ System means that continuous product monitoring is possible at a single pallet level, enabling effective and rapid decision-making and logistical management from pack house to the retail outlet.
The system comprises disposable sensor tags, communication units, and a secure internet-based application. A PDA barcode reader is optional.
Market launch: May 2009

This press release along with photos of the ten FLIA nominees are also available on the Internet: www.fruitlogistica.com / Press Releases or Press Photos / FLIA 2010.

Press contact:
Messe Berlin GmbH
Michael T. Hofer
Director, Corporate Press and Public Relations

Wolfgang Rogall
Press Officer
Messedamm 22
14055 Berlin
Tel.: +49 30 3038-2218
Fax: +49 30 3038-2287
rogall@messe-berlin.de

Executive Board:
Raimund Hosch (CEO),
Dr. Christian Göke
Supervisory Board Chairman:
Hans-Joachim Kamp
Commercial Registry:
Charlottenburg Admin. Court, entry no. HRB 5484 B

Additional information:
www.fruitlogistica.com
www.messe-berlin.com

Speech of Lic. Graciela Aguilar Antuñano Directora en Jefe de ASERCA “Fruit Logística 2010” opening ceremony of FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010 and welcome of Pa

Speech of Lic. Graciela Aguilar Antuñano Directora en Jefe de ASERCA “Fruit Logística 2010” opening ceremony of FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010 and welcome of Partner Country Mexico

Speech of Lic. Graciela Aguilar Antuñano Directora en Jefe de ASERCA “Fruit Logística 2010” opening ceremony of FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010 and welcome of Partner Country Mexico

Together Mr. Francisco Mayorga Castañeda, Secretary of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fishing and Foods, it is a great honour for me to take part in the Fruit Logistica 2010 opening ceremony.
This year Mexico is commemorating the bicentennial of its independence. As a nation, we feel proud of what we have achieved in these years. We remember our origins and the direction we have to go in: to grow like a major power such as the European Union, which serves as an example of what can be done if we all work together. Spain today presides over the Commission of the European Union, and this has great meaning for Mexico this year. Here in Germany, where Mexico is the partner country for this important fresh produce trade fair, Fruit Logistic 2010, we can see a reflection of the historical ties that we maintain with this continent.
Fresh produce is one of the mainstays of the Mexican economy. Thanks to the strength this sector, farming GDP is the only indicator that, in spite of the global crisis that is affecting us all, showed 0.9% growth in the first quarter of 2009.
Our producers are increasingly active on a global scale with products that symbolise Mexican quality, such as avocados, lemons, beer, tequila or honey.
The World Trade Organization places Mexico in the top fifteen countries in the world with the largest exports and imports of agricultural products.
Europe today is Mexico’s second largest trading partner. In the first seven months of 2009, Mexico exported 405 Euros worth of produce to Europe, which represents a decline of only 0.6% compared with the same period in 2008. This reflects the strong commercial exchange between this continent and the Mexico.
We are becoming ever closer, ever better partners.
This would not be possible either for our country or for any other without the necessary health and safety measures. Europe has lived through a number of health crises and thanks to its adherence to the standards, it has taken the lead. Today, Europeans consume products that are healthier than ever before. Mexico is learning from these experiences in order to be able to provide its trade partners with healthier products. The export of meat products to Russia is a reality. We hope at some future date to have equine, beef, poultry and pork products on the tables of consumers in the European Union, as we already have in the USA and other countries.
Thanks to the business opportunities that present themselves at trade fairs like this one, our producers have an increasing number of partners worldwide. We have an enormous range of products and as the official partner country this year, we would like to invite the producers from more than one hundred countries represented here to visit the Mexico Pavilion.
Thank you very much.

FRUIT LOGISTICA news update - 2 February 2010

FRUIT LOGISTICA news update - 2 February 2010

The latest media information from FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010 is provided free of charge on the Internet: (www.fruitlogistica.com / Press Service):

• 27 news briefs on trade fair activities
• 25 detailed press releases in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish
• 30 current press photos in 4 categories
• Overview of all press events

No need to worry about fruit and vegetables. They're safer than ever!
"German fruit and vegetables have never been safer!" These were the words of Thomas Bittel, Vice President of the German Fruit Trade Association (DFHV). Bittel reassured consumers that fears about possible pesticide residues are completely unfounded, a fact confirmed by a recently published report by the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). "There is not one single case known in Germany in which a consumer has fallen ill after eating fruit or vegetables containing residues", Bittel said. The DFHV expressly backed a recent Federal Consumer Protection Office statement that fears about the possibility of residues should not keep consumers from eating fresh fruit and vegetables. The association was just as clear about the recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables: "Eat as much as possible!" The Federal Consumer Protection Office says the current high quality would not have been possible if fruit growers and trading companies hadn't invested millions of Euros in recent years or established comprehensive quality management systems. (Contact: Dr. Andreas Brügger, German Fruit Trade Association. Tel.: +49 228 911450, tel.: +49(0)172 2117255, e-mail: bonn@dfhv.de)

Cuts in fresh produce prices threaten supplies
The German Fruit Trade Association (DFHV) warns that "price wars" between retailers could harm production in German in the long term and therefore jeopardise the supply of high-quality fresh fruit and vegetables. The warning was issued by DFHV Vice President Thomas Bittel at the opening of FRUIT LOGISTICA in Berlin. Price cuts have hit fruit and vegetables much harder than any other segment. Indeed Bittel said that many of the specialised growers in the fresh produce sector are on the verge of bankruptcy because they can no longer get a decent price for their goods. "If 50 heads of lettuce in a supermarket cost the same as a pack of cigarettes, one must start thinking there's something wrong here. That we are seriously destroying value", Bittel said. Grower's prices must once again be in line with the market and reach a different level, he added. Bittel said not just the quality of goods was gradually being eroded, but the very basis for the production of healthy foods. What's more, the world's most precious resources – agricultural land and fresh water – are declining while the global population is increasing and nutritional patterns in densely populated emerging countries are changing. "The international competition for high-quality fresh fruit and vegetables will increase dramatically in the coming years", he said. The DFHV believes that the organisational structure of German producers and the fruit trade will have to change and adjust to the size structure of the customers. It says that fruit producers and retailers will need more predictable planning and a stronger commitment from buyers in the future. "This is the only way we can guarantee to continue to be able to supply consumers with high-quality fruit and vegetables", Bittel said. (Contact: Dr. Andreas Brügger, German Fruit Trade Association. Tel.: +49 228 911450, tel. +49(0)172 2117255, e-mail: bonn@dfhv.de)

Germany lags far behind other nations in terms of healthy eating - Lack of support from EU school fruit programme criticised
"Far too little fruit and too few vegetables are consumed in Germany", said Thomas Bittel, the vice president of the German Fruit Trade Association (DFHV) at the start of the FRUIT LOGISTICA in Berlin. According to market research company GfK Nürnberg, per-capita consumption of fruit and vegetables in Germany was less than 69 kilograms in 2009. The World Health Organisation, the German Nutrition Society and many other organisations recommend a minimum daily intake of 600 grams of fruit and vegetables. "We're far from that level here in Germany, where we consume only about 250 grams a day", Bittel said, adding that it is apparently difficult to explain the value of eating fresh fruit and vegetable – especially to young consumers. He said that although computer skills are considered essential, fewer and fewer children know the difference between an orange and a grapefruit, or have ever tasted vegetables like Savoy cabbage or aubergines. For these and other reasons, it is particularly regrettable that Germany's federal states are hesitant at best in implementing valuable initiatives like the EU school fruit programme. "The country is missing out on an excellent opportunity to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables among young people in particular", Bittel said. (Contact: Dr. Andreas Brügger, German Fruit Trade Association. Tel.: +49 228 911450, tel.: +49(0)172 2117255)

Dole presenting sustainability projects
"As the world's largest producer and marketer of fresh fruit and vegetables, the Dole Food Company is looking forward to coming to the FRUIT LOGISTICA once again and meeting many European customers to discuss business developments, new products and services, and ongoing projects", says Jean-Christophe Juillard, the president of Dole Europe. Juillard said the general economic climate would undoubtedly be a major topic of discussions at the trade fair. In the fruit industry as elsewhere, the difficult conditions had to be countered "by innovative concepts and well-developed services and bearing sustainability in mind because this is increasingly important in the consumers' eyes", he stressed. "In this respect, Dole will be presenting specific projects focusing on issues like soil protection, water management and the reduction of CO2 emissions". (Hall 6.2, Stand A-02. Contact: Renate Paulmann, tel.: +49(0)40-32906236, e-mail: renate.paulmann@dole.com)

GFI focusing on communication
With some 2600 wholesalers, importers and producers, Germany's wholesale markets supply more than 50,000 independent retailers, market traders, hotels and restaurants, branch-based organisations and bulk consumers. These markets have a combined space of 2,700,000m², employ some 20,000 people and sell products worth about 9.8 billion Euros a year with a total weight of 7.4 million tons. The German Wholesale Market Association (GFI), the organisation representing the sector's interests, will be at FRUIT LOGISTICA with a new stand concept. According to GFI Chairman Uwe Kluge, "The new design of our trade fair stand will emphasise even more clearly the ability of wholesale markets to act as modern, multifaceted and high-quality trading platforms. Communication is one of our key focal points. That is why we have added a lounge to our new, centrally-located trade fair stand so that we can offer customers and networking partners a discrete atmosphere in which to talk". (Hall 21, Stand F-09. Contact: Andreas Foidl, tel.: +49-30-3989610, e-mail: andreas.foidl@grossmaerkte.org)

UNIVEG presents global sustainability strategy
"Looking back over the past year, we can say that UNIVEG has worked hard to integrate the group's different companies since FRUIT LOGISTICA 2009", says Francis Kint, CEO of the fruit and vegetables division. "FRUIT LOGISTICA provides a perfect opportunity to meet our clients and suppliers in person. It gives us a chance to discuss our products and service solutions with them and tell them about the interesting initiatives that UNIVEG is working on". One of these initiatives is the global sustainability strategy that the group is presenting for the first time at the trade fair. It will also be announcing a decision to become a full member of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI). According to CEO Kint, UNIVEG is a market-oriented company that aims to play a pioneering role and to demonstrate how sustainable supply chain initiatives can create new business opportunities and consolidate existing business ties. (Hall 5.2, Stand A-03. Contact: Nancy Goovaerts, tel. +32-15-324296, e-mail: nancy.goovaerts@univeg.com)

Chiquita brings a fresh perspective
Chiquita is encouraging dialogue at this year's FRUIT LOGISTICA with its theme "A fresh perspective". The company is showing retailers new opportunities for image building, competitive differentiation and the creation of added value. Four multimedia stations with different themes illustrate Chiquita's visions and fields of expertise. Product quality and breadth of range, brand strength and the complex issue of commitment to CSR highlight different aspects of the brand. The central 'perspectives' station demonstrates how companies and retailers can work together to create added value with "fresh perspectives" and strategic category management. All of the themed stations focus on consumers' preferences and expectations with regard to fruit and vegetables. "You need to hit the nail on the head in meeting consumers' needs if you want to provide targeted solutions that are not defined by price alone", explains Sandra Paulus, Chiquita's marketing manager. (Hall 25, Stand C-08. Contact: Christin von Dahlen, tel. +49-40-37479848, e-mail: christin.vondahlen@edelman.com)

BVEO: Apples lead the market
An average of 1.3 to 1.5 million tonnes of fruit were harvested annually in Germany over the last years, according to Karl Schmitz, Managing Director of BVEO, a fruit and vegetable industry association. The market leaders were apples with 900,000 to 1.1 million tonnes and a share of around 75% of the total fruit crop. Schmitz goes on to report that 10,500 German companies produce 3.3 million tonnes of vegetables annually over an area of almost 115,000 hectares, most of it open land. The total greenhouse area amounts to around 1,450 hectares. Depending on seasonal availability, locally produced vegetables range from different varieties of cabbage, roots and tubers, leafy varieties and fruit vegetables to herbs and lettuces. The German growers' organisations account for about two-thirds of the market share for apples and approx 40% for vegetables, Schmitz reports. (Hall 20, Stand A-08. Contact: Dr. Markus Nöthen, tel. +49-228-24200520, e-mail: noethen@drv.raiffeisen.de)

IFCO supports food banks with reusable solutions
This year's FRUIT LOGISTICA marks the launch of IFCO's WORLDWIDE RESPONSIBILITY initiative. "As the global market leader in reusable packaging solutions, IFCO plans to shore up support with a broad base of food bank organisations throughout the world", explains Karl Pohler, CEO of IFCO. The company will provide the charitable associations with reusable containers to reduce their disposal costs for non-reusable packaging. IFCO also supports the organisations by co-sponsoring delivery vehicles. "IFCO can look back on a successful year in 2009. We now want to focus our corporate responsibility on very specific projects and assist the food bank organisations with our expertise and packaging solutions", Pohler says explaining the company's commitment. In addition to its product innovations, IFCO is presenting its new project this year at FRUIT LOGISTICA. (Hall 20, Stand B-02. Contact: Viviane Zenau, tel. +49(0)89/7590050, e-mail: v.zenau@power-group.net)

New record crop for South Tyrolean apple growers
The 8,000 apple growers of South Tyrol have broken their records of the last three years by producing 1,016,289 tonnes of apples. This exceeds the 2008 harvest by no less than 9%, says Paul Zandanel of the Export Organisation South Tyrol from the Bolzano Chamber of Commerce. "The leaders this season are Golden Delicious, Gala and Red Delicious". The inner and outer quality of the apples is excellent, Zandanel reports. "Optimum weather conditions meant that growers were able to keep to the official harvest window. This means that South Tyrol will again be able to supply very high-quality produce in 2010". Zandanel points out that projections for the 2009/10 marketing season remain uncertain due to recent price trends. (Hall 4.2, Stand B-10. Contact: Paul Zandanel, tel. +39-0471-945750, e-mail: info@suedtirolerapfel.com)

Anecoop records EUR 450 million in sales
"In the previous 2008/2009 campaign we generated sales of around EUR 450 million and we marketed 672,000 tonnes of fresh products", reports Anecoop Managing Director José M. Planells. He adds that the company has 87 agricultural cooperatives throughout Spain. "We are the leading European supplier of fruit and vegetables and one of the world's leading exporters of citrus fruits with more than 330,000 tonnes marketed. Our Bouquet, Black Cat, Nadal and other brands are known worldwide". The marketing enterprise is presenting several new products at FRUIT LOGISTICA including the new "Clemensoon". This early clementine is sold exclusively by Anecoop. The second-tier cooperative recently opened a subsidiary in Moscow. "Our new subsidiary enabled us to immediately address the demand in the Russian market", says the managing director. (Hall 11.2, stand B-07, Contact: Carlota Pardo, tel. +34-963-938556, e-mail: info@anecoop.com)

Freshfel Europe uses trade fair for meetings and networking
"Freshfel Europe sees FRUIT LOGISTICA as a unique platform for meetings and networking with its members and other industry representatives", explains Philippe Binard, General Secretary of Freshfel Europe. For almost a decade Freshfel has been conducting an important meeting on trade policy at FRUIT LOGISTICA to discuss the latest developments in the industry with members of the entire supply chain in Europe and beyond. Topics include trade talks, food safety, pest control, climate change and the European School Fruit Programme. (Hall 20, Stand A-13, Contact: Philippe Binard, tel.: +32-2-7771580, e-mail: info@freshfel.org)

Export of Styrian Apples has increased five-fold
Some 50% of Styrian apple production is exported to over 30 countries, including Germany, Great Britain, Spain and Sweden and increasingly to Eastern European countries. "The first shipment of apples recently went to Qatar and we just sent an offer to Cuba", says Dr. Roman Seligo, Managing Director of EVA Handels GmbH. Speaking at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010 he reported that apple exports have increased five-fold over the past several years. "The special flavour of the Styrian apple and the high quality standards for production, storage and marketing ensure that people all over the world keep falling 'freshly in love' with the Styrian apple", says Manfred Stessel, Managing Director of Obst Partner Steiermark GmbH, alluding to this year's Styrian trade fair slogan. (Hall 20, Stand A-18, Contact: Franz Schaden, tel.: +43-664-88418840, e-mail: office@opst.at)

Canada Pavilion at FRUIT LOGISTICA for the first time
Canada is exhibiting in its own pavilion for the first time at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010. "We are proud to give our member companies the chance to take part in this international trade fair. This enables interested businesses from abroad to discover what the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) has to offer", explains CPMA President Dan Dempster. The CMPA is a non-governmental organisation representing more than 690 members who account for over 90% of the fresh fruit and vegetable sales in Canada. (Hall 23, Stand C-02, Contact: Tina Vigliotti, tel.: +1 613 226 4187-217, e-mail:tvigliotti@cpma.ca)

Trade Fair Premiere: Cleanly Separating Pomegranate Peel from the Arils
Israeli exhibitor Hefestus Ltd. is introducing its processing equipment for pomegranates at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010. The system cleanly separates the peel from the arils. "Conventional processors squeeze pomegranate juice out in various ways, including pressing the juice with the peel, which causes a bitter taste due to the highly concentrated tannins in the peel", explains President and CEO Oded Shtemer. "Using Hefestus' technology improves the natural flavour of the pomegranate juice. The automatic process also shortens production and significantly lowers labour costs". (Hall 1.1, Stand E-18, Contact: Oded Shtemer, tel.: +972 (0) 4 6 27 18 35, e-mail: hefestus1@hefestus-slb.com)

French exhibitors with an array of new products
Sopexa brings together a total of 181 French companies and sales promotion associations that are introducing a variety of new products at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010, including pre-cooked and seasoned potato wedges and pre-cooked, vacuum-packed red beet cubes by Lunor. Fleuron d’Anjou offers a premium quality pre-washed lamb's leaf lettuce in a colourfully designed 150-gram stay-fresh bag. Rougeline has added the Pinkoo tomato variety to its line of products. Tomate Jouno presented its new variety called Blackpearl. Pom’Évasion introduces "Les Mop", the children's apple for collectors. The new product line from Concept Fruits includes cooked, vacuum-packed chestnuts with mushrooms, mild onions or raisins and dried apricots. The "Big Bag" by Luc Sockeel Emballages fits perfectly into the various pallet-compatible fruit or vegetable crates. (Hall 22, Stand C-11, Contact: Isabella Lacourtiade, tel.: +49-211-4980827, e-mail: isabella.lacourtiade@sopexa.com)

Technology solutions and reusable Packaging from the USA
Seventeen exhibitors are represented in the 300m² USA pavilion at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010. Among them are regular exhibitors such as Bard Valley Medjool Date Growers, Cranberry Marketing Committee, PALM Nuts & More, USA Pears and the Washington Apple Commission. Newcomers this year include KPG Solutions and Macro Plastics. KPG Solutions offers high-tech solutions for perishable products in the supply chain including the fully integrated ERP and Food Safety Manager software programs. Macro Plastics is a leading global provider of bulk returnable and reusable containers. The company's products and services are used for transport and storage in the agricultural and food processing industry as well as in retail and industrial markets. (Hall 23, Stand B-01, Contact: Christel Wagner, tel.: +49-30-83051158, e-mail: christel.wagner@fas.usda.gov)

Flandria is the best known vegetable brand in German retail
Belgian growers cultivate 870,000 tonnes of vegetables each year for the fresh foods market. This includes 517,000 tonnes that are field-grown and 353,000 tonnes grown under glass, reports Paul Coenen, Manager of the Flanders Agricultural Marketing Office (VLAM), speaking at the FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010 kickoff. A total of 500,000 tonnes bear the Flandria seal. In all, the Flandria family includes 55 varieties of fruits and vegetables. Belgium exports 737,000 tonnes of fresh vegetables each year, with 570,000 tonnes going to EU countries. Of this amount, 165,000 tonnes are sold in Germany, including 76,000 tonnes of tomatoes, 27,000 tonnes of head lettuce, 16,000 tonnes of cucumbers and 13,000 tonnes of leeks. Belgium is the fifth largest supplier of vegetables to Germany, Coenen said. “According to a market survey, 88% of the respondents indicated that Flandria is the best known vegetable brand in the German retail sector. 75% indicated that Flandria achieves the greatest market penetration”. (Hall 6.2, Stand A-04. Contact: Paul Coenen, tel. +49-221-254857, e-mail: paul.coenen@vlam.be)

DOEK: Systematic support for the Russian market
In spring of 2000, the six leading growers' organisations for marketing dessert apples in Germany, which represent nearly 80% of the entire marketing volume from organised production, founded the German Fruit Export Office (DOEK). The goal is to systematically develop the Russian market and to provide local support. A cooperative agreement was concluded with Rus Marketing GmbH, which maintains a representative office in Moscow. Along with fruit and vegetables, future plans focus on supplying flowers and plants. DOEK is represented at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010 at the joint stand for the German Association of Fruit and Vegetable Growers (BVEO) in Hall 20. (Hall 20, Stand C-08. Contact: Dr. Ewald Ewering, tel. +49-177-1720183, e-mail: ewering@rusmarketing.ru)

5-a-day: focus on schools and workplaces
Schools and workplaces are the focus of the new 5-a-day campaign that is providing information to trade fair visitors in Hall 20 and is seeking dedicated participants. “Fruit and vegetables need to be made available where people eat meals and snacks. This is why we need school fruit programmes everywhere, so that children and youth have access to fruit and vegetables in the schools. We are also initiating campaigns in companies so that employees can quickly and easily get the fruit and vegetables they want”, said Helmut M. Huss, CEO of 5 am Tag e.V., as he described the campaign offensive. He points out that, following the successful pilot project in summer 2009, several federal states in Germany are starting the school fruit programme this year. The programme is supported by the European Union. (Hall 20, Stand C-10. Contact: Petra Huber, tel. +49-621-33840114, e-mail: info@machmit-5amtag.de)

MAF Roda Agrobotic: Sensors for fruit recognition from apples to lemons
The French company MAF Roda Agrobotic is presenting its complete range of calibration systems at FRUIT LOGISTICA. In just a few seconds, Globalscan V, Lemonscan V and Viotec can scan and sort apples, lemons, etc. into quality grades and colours. Cherryway, the system that is especially designed for cherry tomatoes, cherries and other small fruit varieties, uses the Optiscan-V method and classifies the small vitamin-rich fruits by colour and diameter. MAF Roda Agrobotic is also demonstrating its Speed Packer V6, which gently packs citrus fruits in multiple layers. The globally-active company, which invests 3% of its annual turnover in research and development, offers solutions for a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. (Hall 3.1, Stand C-05. Contact: Sophie Dragusanu, tel. +33-(0)-5-63632770, e-mail: comminication@maf-roda.com).

Seedless aubergine from France
Gautier Seeds, France, is bringing to market the seedless aubergine Shakira. Other new developments presented at FRUIT LOGISTICA include tasty Minilou and Delicassi cherry tomatoes, early-ripening Arisona and Soraya melons, and the delicious mini lettuces Ticcos and Rivale. Gautier Seeds cultivates vegetable varieties to meet consumer demand and develops them until they are ready to be marketed as standard or premium products. (Hall 1.2, Stand C-04. Contact: Françoise Belin, tel. +33 490 240 240, e-mail: francoise.belin@gautiersemences.com)

Celluloses de la Loire : Cost-effective shipping of apples
Celluloses de la Loire has developed a new generation of apple packaging. The French company is presenting its ComPackTrays at FRUIT LOGISTICA. These products are designed for environment-friendly and cost-effective apple transport and storage. The space-saving cellulose trays lower fruit transport costs. Each tray has space for an additional layer of apples. This means an additional palette can be placed in each standard high-cube container. The compact storage also protects fruit more effectively. The trays are made of 100% recyclable paper and are biodegradable. (Hall 21, Stand E-07. Contact: Jean-Philippe Riffault, tel. +33-(0)-299-719522, e-mail: jpriffault@cdl-ofec.com)

Maersk: New refrigerated containers protect the environment
The refrigerated containers presented by Maersk at FRUIT LOGISTICA produce up to 30 kilos less CO2 per day. This is made possible by the specially developed software QUEST (Quality and Energy efficiency in Storage and Transport of agro-materials), which maintains a constant temperature in the container. Present this year for the ninth time at FRUIT LOGISTICA, the shipping company is providing information on the new generation of StarCare controlled atmosphere containers that maintain uniform quality of bananas for 50 days and thus enable longer transport routes. (Hall 25, Stand D-19, tel. +45 33 63 35 34, press@maersk.com)

San Jorge Packaging: Modified atmosphere bags keep fruit fresh
The Chilean company San Jorge Packaging is presenting its FF (fresh fruit) brand of polyethylene packaging foils at FRUIT LOGISTICA. The modified atmosphere technology keeps fruit fresh and crunchy on long shipping routes and maintains it sensory properties. FF packaging enables the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide through a polyethylene layer, thus slowing down the natural degradation processes inside the fruit. San Jorge Packaging is reportedly the leading supplier of modified atmosphere bags for Chilean exporters. The company has developed special high humidity bags designed for air transport. (Hall 8.2, Stand C-03. Contact: Vivian Serani, tel. +56-(0)-2-5961036, e-mail: vserani@sanjorgepackaging.cl).

World premiere: Fair-trade flower nutrients from Holland
The Dutch company Chrysal International is presenting liquid flower nutrients from fair-trade sources at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010. “The product is made from fair-trade sugar from Malawi", says company spokesperson Arienne Post. Chrysal International's goal is sustainable production. With this in mind, the company has drawn up a corporate responsibility plan and located packaging plants near the flower cultivation areas in Columbia and Kenya to shorten transport routes and reduce the products' carbon footprint. (Hall 3.2, Stand C-16. Contact: Arienne Post, tel. +31 (0) 35 6955 888, e-mail: info@chrysal.com)

Region Basilicata opens new office in Berlin
Parallel to FRUIT LOGISTICA, the Region Basilicata from Italy is opening its first European branch office on Thursday. The office is co-located with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Berlin. “Desk Basilicata” is a pilot project in conjunction with “Verso l’Europa – Path to internationalisation”. Plans calls for branch offices in several other European cities. The aim is to focus on small companies that need professional support to improve their ability to compete on foreign markets. This will promote the food industry, as well as crafts and tourism. On 4 February at 12.30 pm, the speaker for the region's agriculture sector, Vincenzo Viti, and other representatives will be presenting the project as part of a press conference at the Basilicata booth. (Hall 4.2, Stand C12. Contact: Dr. Vincenza D’Ambrogio, tel. +49/170/4402634, vdambrogio@itkam,org)

Preview of press events: Wednesday, 3 February 2010

10.00 – 11.00 am
The apple in the world – South Tyrol and its apple trade
Contact: Christina Pucher, Tel.: +39 0471 516 000
Location: Hall 4.2, Stand B-10, Südtiroler Apfelkonsortium

10.00 am
Opening tour of FRUIT LOGISTICA 2010
Contact: Wolfgang Rogall, Tel. +49 30/3038-2218, e-mail: rogall@messe-berlin.de
Location: Entrance South, exhibiton grounds (Jafféstraße), yellow level

11.00 am – 12.00 pm
Press conference: GLOBALGAP TRIAL. "Introducing Revision 4"
Contact: Dr. Kristian Möller, Tel. 0221-57993 82
E-mail: meifert@globalgap.org
Location: Exhibition Grounds, Hall 6.3, Room B

11.30 am – 12.00 pm
GFI (German wholesale markets) press meeting
Contact: Frank Willhausen, e-mail: frank@willhausen.de
Location: GFI joint booth, Hall 21, Stand F-09

12.00 pm
Press conference: Presentation of new German Apple campaign
Contact: Kristin Unruh, Tel.: +49 (0) 40 67304095, e-mail: presse@genau-dein-obst.de
Location: Exhibition Grounds, Hall 6.3, Room B

12.00 pm
Press conference: Multi-way – Measurably sustainable! Presentation of a tool that measures and compares environmental impact of fresh produce transport in Europe
Contact: Clemens Stroetmann, State Secretary ret., Tel.: 033205-24037, mobile phone: +49 170 581 7435 E-mail: info@stiftung-mehrweg.de
Location: Exhibition Grounds, Hall 2.2, Room Ulm

2.00 – 3.00 pm
Press conference Brazil – Ibraf. "Brazilian Fruits: Trends and Business"
Contact: Aja Media Solutions, Marcio Damasceno, Tel. 0179 87 59 154
E-mail: marcio.damasceno@gmail.com
Contact during the trade fair: Luciana Pacheco, +55 11 76458172
Location: Exhibition Grounds, Hall 6.3, Room B

2.00 – 3.00 pm
Presentation of new pluot product line and new variety of blueberries
Contact: Alexander Koch, Tel. +34,609,342,079, e-mail: akoch@royal.es
Location: Exhibition Grounds, Hall 18, Stand A-02a, Stand Royal

2.30 pm
Spreading the WOW experience: Pink Lady® harvests its successes to build its future
Contact: Meredith Stevens, Tel.: +33 (0) 490 11 91 89, e-mail: Meredith.stevens@pinkladyeurope.com
Location: Exhibition Grounds, Großer Stern, Room Sydney

3.00 – 4.00 pm
New Italian export-oriented fruit and vegetable cluster: Innovative network of producers, suppliers and service providers in south-eastern Sicily targeting international markets
Contact: Dr. Vincenza D´Ambrogio, Tel.: +49 (0)30 24 31 04 30, e-mail: vdambrogio@itkam@org
Location Exhibition Grounds, Hall 6.3, Room B

5.15 pm
Photo op: US Ambassador Philip D. Murphy visits USA Pavilion
Location: Exhibition Grounds, USA Pavilion, Hall 23

5.30 pm
Le Crunch, umbrella campaign for French apples: Award for the best apple recipe, presented by SOS-Kinderdorf e.V. and presentation of cheque in conjunction with exhibitor cocktail from Interfel
Contact: Isabella Lacourtiade, Sopexa, Tel. +49 211 49 80 8-27, e-mail: isabella.lacourtiade@sopexa.com
Location: Exhibition Grounds, Hall 22, Stand C-17

Press contact:

Messe Berlin GmbH
Michael T. Hofer, Director, Corporate Press and Public Relations

Wolfgang Rogall, Press Officer, Messedamm 22, 14055 Berlin, Tel. +49 30 3038 2218, Fax: +49 30 3038 2287, rogall@messe-berlin.de

More consumers pay credit card before mortgage: study

More consumers pay credit card before mortgage: study

NEW YORK (Reuters) - More and more consumers are giving greater priority to paying credit card debt than making a mortgage payment, showing increased financial duress, according to a report released on Wednesday.

As the economy climbs out of the worst recession in decades and unemployment remains high, financial strains have forced consumers to prioritize monthly debt payments in order to maximize cash flow.

The percentage of consumers delinquent on mortgages, but current on credit cards rose to 6.6 percent in the third quarter of 2009 from 6.3 percent in the previous quarter and 4.9 percent in the same quarter a year earlier, a new study developed by TransUnion showed.

The trend first emerged in the first quarter of 2008 when it was at 4.3 percent, Chicago-based TransUnion said.

Less emphasis on mortgage payments could portend higher delinquency rates and perhaps even more foreclosures. That does not bode well for the hard-hit housing market, which remains highly vulnerable to setbacks.

"This goes against conventional wisdom and that has always been that, when faced with a financial crisis, consumers will pay their secured obligations first, specifically their mortgages," Sean Reardon, the author of the study and a consultant in TransUnion's analytics and decisioning services business unit, said in an interview.

By making a minimum payment on a credit card before a full mortgage payment it gives consumers monetary leeway to go about their daily activities, especially if they have lost a job.

"You cannot buy groceries with your house," he said.

The study, obtained exclusively by Reuters prior to its scheduled release, was conducted on consumers that had at least one credit card and one mortgage, and examined 30-day credit card and mortgage delinquency data between the second quarter of 2008 and the third quarter of 2009.

Conversely, the percentage of consumers who were delinquent on their credit cards and current on their mortgages decreased to 3.6 percent in the third quarter of 2009 from 4.1 percent in the first quarter of 2008.

"The 'flip' in payment hierarchy in the lowest scoring segment was evident earlier during the fourth quarter of 2007, compared to the first quarter of 2008 for the total market," Reardon said.

The delinquency rate for consumers with the lowest credit scores who were delinquent on their mortgages, but current on credit cards during fourth quarter of 2007 was 19.1 percent, and rose to 29 percent in the third quarter of 2009.

In a trend similar to that of the total market, the percentage of consumers delinquent on credit cards, but current on mortgages decreased from 18.1 percent in the first quarter of 2008 to 14.5 percent in the third quarter.

CONSUMER CAUGHT IN CONUNDRUM

"The implosion of the mortgage industry over the last 24 months, the resetting of adjustable-rate mortgages and the weak job market came together and redefined how consumers are managing their finances and meeting or not meeting their credit obligations," Ezra Becker, director of consulting and strategy in TransUnion's financial services business unit, said in the interview.

The analysis shows changing consumer preferences, he said.

"The financial services industry must recognize and adjust to the payment hierarchy shift," he said.

In California, the percentage of consumers delinquent on mortgages, but current on their credit cards increased from 3.5 percent in the third quarter of 2007 to 10.2 percent in the third quarter of 2009. In Florida, this same variable increased from 5.1 percent to 12.4 percent.

In this same time frame, the United States increased from 4.0 percent to 6.6 percent.

In contrast, the number of California consumers delinquent on their credit cards but current on their mortgages declined from 3.3 percent in the third quarter of 2007 to 2.7 percent in the third quarter of 2009. In Florida, this variable declined from 5.0 percent to 3.9 percent, the report showed.

Consumer Reports: Packaged Salad Can Contain High Levels of Bacteria - Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports: Packaged Salad Can Contain High Levels of Bacteria - Consumer Reports

Consumers Union Urges FDA to Set Performance Standards for Greens

YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Reports' latest tests of packaged leafy greens found bacteria that are common indicators of poor sanitation and fecal contamination, in some cases, at rather high levels. The story appears in the March 2010 issue of Consumer Reports and is also available free online at www.ConsumerReports.org. Consumers Union today also issued a report urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to set safety standards for greens, available online at www.ConsumersUnion.org. FDA food safety legislation pending in the Senate, and passed last summer by the House of Representatives, would require the FDA to create just such safety standards.

The tests, which were conducted with financial support from the Pew Health Group, assessed for several types of bacteria, including total coliforms and Enterocccous -- "indicator organisms" found in the human digestive tract and in the ambient environment that can signal inadequate sanitation and the potential for the presence of disease-causing organisms. While there are no existing federal standards for indicator bacteria in salad greens, there are standards for these bacteria in milk, beef, and drinking water. Several industry consultants suggest that an unacceptable level in leafy greens would be 10,000 or more colony forming units per gram (CFU/g).

Consumer Reports found that 39 percent of samples exceeded this level for total coliform, and 23 percent for Enterococcus. The tests did not find E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes or Salmonella -- sometimes deadly pathogens which can be found in greens, although it was not expected given the small sample size. The goal was to investigate other markers of poor sanitation that should be used in the food safety management of produce.

"Although these 'indicator' bacteria generally do not make healthy people sick, the tests show not enough is being done to assure the safety or cleanliness of leafy greens," said Dr. Michael Hansen, senior scientist at Consumers Unions, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports. "Levels of bacteria varied widely, even among different samples of the same brand. More research and effort is needed within the industry to better protect the public. In the meantime, consumers should buy packages of greens that are as far from the use-by date as possible."

For its latest analysis, Consumer Reports had an outside lab test 208 containers of 16 brands of salad greens, sold in plastic clamshells or bags, bought last summer from stores in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. Among the findings:

* 39 percent of samples exceeded 10,000 CFUs (or another similar measure) per gram for total coliforms and 23 percent for Enteroccocus, the levels industry consultants deemed unacceptable.
* 2 percent of samples exceeded French and 5 percent Brazilian standards for fecal coliform bacteria.
* Many packages containing spinach, and packages which were one to five days from their use-by date, had higher bacterial levels. Packages six to eight days from their use-by date generally fared better.
* Whether the greens came in a clamshell or bag, included "baby" greens, or were organic made no difference in bacteria levels.
* Brands for which there were more than four samples, including national brands Dole, Earthbound Farm Organic, and Fresh Express, plus regional and store brands, had at least one package with relatively high levels of total coliforms or Enteroccocus.


"The Senate should act immediately to pass pending FDA food safety reform legislation that requires the agency to set performance standards as well as develop safety standards for the growing or processing of fresh produce," said Hansen. "FDA should also formally declare that certain pathogenic bacteria -- such as E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Listeria -- be considered adulterants when found in salad greens." The Senate bill, S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, was voted unanimously out of committee in November. The House passed similar legislation last July.

Until packaged salad becomes cleaner, consumers' best line of defense involves following these procedures in stores and kitchens:

* Buy packages far from their use-by date.
* Wash the greens even if the packages say "prewashed" or "triplewashed." Rinsing won't remove all bacteria but may remove residual soil.
* Prevent cross contamination of greens by keeping them away from raw meat and poultry.


For more information, go to www.ConsumersUnion.org or www.ConsumerReports.org. The March issue of Consumer Reports goes on sale February 2, 2010 wherever magazines are sold.

MARCH 2010

Scientists create GM tomatoes 'which stay fresh for a month longer than usual'- Telegraph

Scientists create GM tomatoes 'which stay fresh for a month longer than usual'- Telegraph


Scientists have created genetically modified tomatoes which stay fresh for a month longer than usual.



he fruits remained firm for 45 days, three times as long as normal tomatoes which start to wilt after just 15 days, researchers said.

The team believe that the breakthrough could also lead to an extended shelf life for other fruits, including bananas, and see the cost of their production tumble.


They lengthened the life of the tomatoes by “turning off” genes linked to the production of two enzymes which cause the fruit to start to ripen.

Similar chemicals are involved in the maturation of other fruits, meaning the technique has the potential to extend the lifespan of mango, papaya and bananas as well as tomato.

The alterations did not cause any other changes to the plants, the researchers said.

The new tomatoes grew normally, matured at a typical rate, and produced the same yield as normal tomatoes, according to the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal.

However, the new fruits were more than twice as firm as normal and stayed firm for much longer than other tomatoes.

As much as 40 per cent of harvested fruit can be wasted because it ripens too quickly, the researchers from the National Institute of Plant Genomic Research in New Delhi, India, estimate.

"Overall the results demonstrate a substantial improvement in fruit shelf-life," said Dr Asis Datta, who led the study.

“The engineering of plants with (this technique) provides a strategy for crop improvement that can be extended to other important food crops.”

However, it could be years before the fruits, still in the experimental stages, are available in Britain, if ever.

The big supermarket chains, including Tesco, have a policy against stocking GM foods on their shelves.

GM crops, which opponents have dubbed ‘Frankenstein food’, can also be sold in Europe only if they have passed rigorous safety tests and European law states that GM foods have to be clearly labelled, including when they are sold loose.

However, campaigners have warned that there is no compulsory labelling of meat or dairy products from animals which have been fed on GM crops, and that any long-term problems from eating the foods is still unknown.

Although GM foods can only be planted in Britain as part of a trial, and even then only under strict conditions, millions of hectares of the crops have already been planted in the Americas.

Pete Riley, from campaign group GM Freeze, said: “The majority of the public are very sceptical about the benefits of GM foods and I don’t think that this will do anything to persuade them.

“We have survived for millennia without needing to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables.

“Also, as many vitamins decline after fruit is picked this product could be less nutritious than other tomatoes.”

He added that not enough was known about the long-term safety risks of GM foods.

“It is difficult to design a test to show whether there are long-term dangers to human health,” he said.

The fruits are not the first genetically modified tomatoes to have been created.

In 2001 scientists announced that they had made tomatoes unusually high in natural antioxidants, called flavonols, which they said could help ward off illnesses including heart disease and cancer.