TROPICAL FRUIT CONGRESS
The Tropical Fruit Congress is the first event in Europe dedicated to exotic fruits.
Two days of activities are scheduled to delve into and examine current market trends, consumption, trade, but also scientific developments, technology and methods of selling products that are increasingly in demand in global markets.
The significant growth in global demand for tropical fruits will be analysed and examined in depth with the world’s leading players in the field.
Now at its 3rd consecutive edition, the spotlights of the Tropical Fruit Congress 2021 will be set exclusively on avocado, with a first session focused on marketing & trade and a second day dedicated to production and post-harvest.
2019 EDITION
TROPICAL OVERVIEW
First session fully dedicated to the exotic sector in its entirety, with important data, market trends and special focuses on emerging products such as lime, papaya and passion fruit.

PINEAPPLE DAY
A unique appointment with the masters of pineapple covering all the aspects revolving around this particular fruit’s supply chain, step by step from production to distribution and technologies.


FRUIT RETAIL HANDLING WORKSHOP
This workshop is intended for shippers and wholesale, retail, and produce managers who are involved in handling and ripening tropical fruits. This 3-hour technical workshop has the objective to provide post-harvest biology and technology information to reduce avocado, lime, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple and mango losses at the receiving end and delivering ready-to-eat, delicious fruits to the costumer.
PROGRAM
The Tropical Fruit Congress is an all-round event dedicated to exotic fruits. 2 sessions have been scheduled. Here below the full detailed program:
WEDNESDAY 9TH OF SEPTEMBER2:30PM - 6:00PM
MARKETING & TRADE: THE AVOCADO MARKET Coordinated by Prof. Roberto Della Casa – Agroter / University of Bologna |
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01 | 2:30pm |
Participants’ registration |
02 | 3:00pm | RENZO PIRACCINI – MACFRUT Welcome Speech |
03 | 3:10pm |
DARIA LODI – CSO
Avocado Consumption in Europe |
04 | 3:30pm |
THOMAS PADILLA – MISSION PRODUCE
Production time windows |
05 | 3:50pm |
SAID BANNANY – TOTAL EXOTICS
Traditional and new supplying countries |
06 | 4:10pm |
Networking Coffee Break |
07 | 4:30pm | Coffee Break |
08 | 5:30pm | ROUND-TABLE: HOW TO SELL AVOCADOS IN EUROPE Comparing experiences with top players and retailers |
09 | 6:00pm | Networking Tropical Happy Hour |
THURSDAY 10TH OF SEPTEMBER10:00AM - 1:30PM
PRODUCTION & POST-HARVEST: WHAT’S NEW IN THE AVOCADO WORLD |
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01 | 10:00am |
Participants’ registration |
02 | 10:30am |
THERESE BRUWER – WESTFALIA
Avocado cultivars |
03 | 10:50am |
MICHAEL HORNEY – PERUVIAN AGRITRADE
Evolution of the avocado sector in Peru |
04 | 11:10am |
JORGE RESTREPO – CORPOHASS
Evolution of the avocado sector in Colombia |
05 | 11:30am | ANDREA PASSANISI – SICILIA AVOCADO Focus on Italian production |
06 | 11:50am | Networking Coffee Break |
07 | 12:10pm | EELKE WESTRA – WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY Avocado quality improvements in post-harvest |
08 | 12:30pm |
TECHNICAL WORKSHOP: POST-HARVEST INNOVATIONS |
09 | 1:30pm |
Networking Tropical Cocktail |
SPEAKERS
The program of speakers, workshops and discussions feature a special lineup of experts from around the globe.
It includes university teachers, researchers, CEOs and marketing managers of the most important exotic fruit organizations. Here’s the speakers:

ROBERTO DELLA CASAUniversity of Bologna - Professor - Italy

JOSEPH HENRY SHAW ROBERTSKantar - Consumer Insight Director - UK

MASSIMILIANO CASTAGNACold Energy - Sales Manager - Italy

LUCA BATTAGLIOBattaglio - Chairman - Italy

CHRIS MAATInterko - Managing Partner - Netherlands

JOSE GOMEZAWETA AMERICAS – Sales Manager – USA

PAZ GARCIAZIEHL-ABEGG - Branch Manager - Spain

ELISA MACCHICentro Servizi Ortofrutticoli - General Manager - Italy

GUSTAVO LORARobinson Fresh - Category Manager - USA

KHIM TAN CHOOIS&W Fine Foods - General Manager - Singapore

JOAN RAMON PUJOLNice Fruit - Managing Director Sales And Marketing - Spain

ANDREAS SCHINDLERDon Limon - Ceo - Germany

JUSTIN CREASYIT'S FRESH! – Technical Sales Director – UK

DENNIS KIHLSTADIUSPRODUCE TECHNICAL SERVICE - CEO - USA

ODILO DUARTEInternational consultant in agribusiness and fruit crops specialist - Peru

CARLOS CRISOSTOUniversity of UC Davis, California - Post Harvest Professor - USA

ROLANDO HACHESRobinson Fresh - Category Manager - Netherlands

JENS GABRIELEUROGROUP – Managing Director for overseas procurement – Germany

ALESSANDRO DAL BELLODAL BELLO – Senior Vice President – Italy

CESAR BOENTEUPALA AGRICOLA - Director for Europe - Costa Rica

Ramón ReyEurobanan - Director - Spain

PIERRE ESCODOEurofresh Distribution - Editor - Spain

JEFFREY BRECHTUniversity of Florida, Gainesville - Professor in post-harvest physiology and horticulture - USA

PETER BOUMANFMI - Fruit Market International - Manager - Netherlands

GEORGINA CALIMANAzevedo Caliman Agricola - Commercial Director - Brazil

GINO ANSALDIBIOCONSERVACIÒN – Global Post Harvest Manager – Chile

STEFANO CONCARITROPICAL FOOD MACHINERY - Engineer - Italy
PRE-REGISTER NOW!
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Online registrations are now closed.
A limited number of tickets will be available on site starting from Wednesday May 8th at 14:00.
Please note that we can not guarantee availability.
REGISTER NOW!
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EARLY BIRD FEES
Valid until March 31st, 2020
REGISTER NOW!
CHOOSE YOUR FAVOURITE SOLUTION
2-day congress
Access to the conferences on the 8th and 9th of May
2-day congress
Access to the conferences on the 8th and 9th of May
10th of May
Access to the technical workshop on the 10th of May
PACKAGE
2 day-congress + workshop
Access to the conferences on the 8th and 9th of May + Access to the technical workshop on the 10th of May
2 day-congress + workshop
Access to the conferences on the 8th and 9th of May + Access to the technical workshop on the 10th of May
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