Fruit Logistica will feature a comprehensive conference programme at next year’s show, to run alongside the exhibition.

The theme ‘New consumer expectations - trends at the point of sale’ will kick off the Fresh Produce Forum, to be followed by the opening ceremony, which will be attended by representatives from the German ministry of agriculture and the European food retail trade, as well as the agricultural minister from this year’s partner country, Morocco.

Over the course of the exhibition, six hall forums will be organised: ‘Quality over price - new perspectives to the retail sector’; ‘Russia - import goliath and gateway to the East’; ‘Hidden potential in the supply chain’; ‘Morocco - trading partner of the future’; ‘Certification - finding a way through the maze’; and ‘Innovation in the fresh produce business’.

On February 7, the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations will address the topic of ‘Serbia - potential and perspectives for the EU fresh fruit business’ at an event directed at large- and medium-sized German fresh fruit companies.

Three industry awards - the Grüner Merkur, the German Fruit Prize Awards and the 2008 Fruit Logistica Innovation Award - will honour outstanding achievements in the fresh produce sector during the show.

Presentations and discussions in the Fresh Produce Forum and six hall forums will be simultaneously translated into German, English, French, Italian and Spanish.