FLIA 2010

Messe Berlin and Fruchthandel Magazine have announced the opening of applications for this year's Fruit Logistica Innovation Award (FLIA), which is presented every year in recognition of outstanding innovation in the fresh produce sector and its service industries.

The award will be presented during next year's Fruit Logistica trade event, which takes place on 3-5 February 2010.

Companies or organisations exhibiting at Fruit Logistica or Freshconex that have introduced an outstanding innovation to the market since 1 November 2008 are entitled to submit it for consideration.

'Last year's FLIA generated an enormous amount of interest, not only among trade visitors to the exhibition but also in the international press,' commented Fruit Logistica product manager Christoph Göring.

'The award is aimed at particularly outstanding innovations,' he continued. 'New products or services that truly break new ground in the fresh produce sector.'

Mr Göring added that the award organisers were interested in 'revolution rather than evolution”, with products and services that are only minor developments of existing products not qualifying.

The 10 most outstanding innovations - chosen by a special jury and nominated for the FLIA - will be presented to over 50,000 trade visitors at Fruit Logistica 2010 in a special exhibition area.

Visitors to the exhibition will then vote in a secret ballot for the most outstanding innovation of the year, with the winning innovation set to be announced on Friday, 5 February at a special award ceremony.

Full details of entry criteria and how to obtain an application form are available on the Fruit Logistica website.

Application forms must be returned by the official closing date for entries on 27 November 2009.