Posted: January 30, 2025
The Marketing Manager of the Fresh Produce Exporters’ Forum (FPEF), Ms Marletta Kellerman has described the Fruit Logistica Berlin international exhibition as significant to South Africa, which is the biggest exporter of fresh fruit in the Southern Hemisphere. She says the show offers an opportunity to retain markets and export volumes to Europe.
The FPEF is a voluntary, non-profit organisation with more than 160 members, accounting for more than 90% of fresh fruit exported from South Africa. FPEF members consist of fruit and vegetable exporters, producer-exporters, export and marketing agents, pack houses, logistics and other service providers.
The forum is part of a group of fresh produce exporters that have received support from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) to showcase their proudly South African products in the South African National Pavilion at the Fruit Logistica Berlin 2025, in Germany from 5-7 February 2025.
Fruit Logistica is the annual exhibition and leading industry event for the international fresh produce trade. The exhibition will focus on fresh produce including unprocessed fruit and vegetables, dried fruit, nuts and herbs.
According to Kellerman it is important for the industry to participate in these international events.
“The show offers our fresh produce export council and industry association an opportunity to create a platform for members to meet existing, new and potential clients from all over the world. The fresh fruit export industry is in essence a people industry where relationships are important and thus providing a space for members to foster these relationships, and conduct business from is imperative,” adds Kellerman.
“If South Africa is not present, our competitor countries in the Southern Hemisphere might take away part of our markets and export volumes. Fruit Logistica Berlin is one of the three key international trade shows in which we participate in annually. The other two are Asia Fruit Logistica and Fruit Attraction Madrid. Berlin is the biggest one of the three with the most visitors,” says Kellerman.
She adds that South Africa is the biggest exporter of fresh fruit in the Southern Hemisphere and exports primarily to countries in the Northern Hemisphere due to counter-seasonality.
“Europe is still South Africa’s biggest export destination for fresh fruit. However, due to declining consumption in Europe, we have a strong focus on gaining access to, and developing markets in the Far East and Asia,” says Kellerman.
The Deputy Director-General of Exports at the dtic, Ms Lerato Mataboge says exports are an essential element of the South Africa’s industrialisation drive.
“Our department offered the support to the firms in order to increase their export capacity and access to global markets. For a number of years, Fruit Logistica Berlin has been one of the few flagship national pavilions of the dtic in Europe,” adds Mataboge.
Fruit Logistica Berlin covers all sectors of the fresh produce business. It showcases innovations, products and services at every link in the international supply chain. It is regarded as the global fresh produce industry’s most prominent and influential trade event with a significant number of European and international buyers.
The fair, which usually attracts exhibitors from more than 140 countries and approximately 60 000 visitors, offers good networking opportunities with key decision-makers in every sector of the industry.
For media enquiries and interview requests:
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Mobile: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
Email: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za or Mediarelations@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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