FRUIT LOGISTICA is one of the leading international meeting places of the fresh produce trade. Every February, more than 2,300 companies from across the entire fresh produce value chain are present in a single location.
Products on show include fresh, unprocessed fruit and vegetables, dried fruit, nuts, herbs and spices, organic products and self-service flowers and potted plants. Suppliers of products and services for packaging, storage, transport, warehousing and product presentation also exhibit their offerings.
The trade visitors are growers, importers and exporters, wholesale markets, wholesalers and retailers, packaging, transport, institutions and organizations from more than 125 countries.
Below are a few highlights of the show, new products and concepts that stood out amongst all these exhibitors. Again, attending a show like this brings home the realisation that having an environmental and ethical programme like Origin Green is nearly a necessity now, with a broad spectrum of countries and companies all using the show to highlight traceability, standards and ethical concerns.
Aureli Mario Vegetable Crumbs are a pure vegetable coating available in Carrot Crumbs, Purple Carrot Crumbs, Celery Crumbs, Spinach Crumbs and Red Beet Crumbs. They are free of preservatives and other additives and are gluten-free. Vegetable Crumbs open up new taste and visual possibilities in food presentation. They can be used with meats, chicken nuggets or fish fingers, for example, and combine a taste of vegetables with a delicate flavour. They could have appeal in products aimed both at children and adults.
Fioretto is a long thin-stemmed variety of cauliflower with tiny heads. With its evenly long bright green stems and snowy white heads, the Fioretto almost has the appearance of a flower bouquet. The flesh is somewhat softer than conventional cauliflower while remaining firm. Cooked or raw, it is sweeter tasting and more aromatic. When cooked the stems become even greener. Fioretto provides a similar offering to tenderstem broccoli.
Compostable packaging nets from beechwood cellulose are produced from modal cellulose fibre and are environmentally friendly both in their production and in waste disposal. The raw material is derived from beechwood from the thinning of PEFC and FSC certified forests. The compostable nets can be used with standard clipping machines and are available in different widths. The nets are currently available in the standard colours white, potato yellow, lemon yellow, orange, red, bordeaux and dark brown. This packaging would work well with organic products, and with companies keen to stress their environmental credentials.
Source: BordBia – Innovations Highlighted at Fruit Logistica 2014
