The Argentine Foreign Ministry is coordinating, together with the Argentine Investment and International Trade Promotion Agency (AAICI), the Argentine Embassy in Germany and the AHK Argentina – German-Argentine Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Argentina’s presence at Fruit Logistica 2024, the world's most important trade fair for the fruit and vegetable sector. The event takes place from 7 to 9 February at the Messe Berlin Trade Fair Centre in Germany.
Argentina participates with a delegation of 32 exporting companies from the citrus and vegetable sector, including products such as blueberries, pears, apples, garlic, onions, plums, grapes and cherries. The participating delegation is part of the Argentine Pavilion, which has a total surface area of 886 m2 and represents the provinces of Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Neuquén, Río Negro and Tucumán.
Joaquín Fisch, CEO and co-founder of Nat4Bio, said: “We are very excited because this is the first time we will be exhibitors together with the rest of the companies in the Argentine Pavilion, which evidences our growth. In 2022, we had our first contact with the fair as attendees. In 2023, Messe Berlin chose us as one of the 20 most innovative startups, we shared space with other international startups and in 2024, we continue to grow”. In addition, Fisch said: “The goal of our participation in the fair this year is to increase the agreements for pilot tests of our bioproduct for citrus fruits, with a view to start selling our products in 2025, both in Argentina and the United States, and also to start positioning our product portfolio in Chile and Peru, which will be the next countries in the business expansion”.
Nat4Bio is an Argentine startup that develops biological products for post-harvest protection. It uses biotechnology to develop cell-free biological formulations that extend the shelf life of citrus fruits, pears, apples and avocados, among other crops.
Daniela Aburto, commercial officer of Tres Ases, said: “We have been present at Fruit Logistica since the beginning of the fair, almost 20 years ago. It is a fair that takes place at the beginning of our peak shipping season; therefore, it is very relevant on a trade level and constitutes a significant boost to our business every year”. She also added: “Expectations are focused on meeting face-to-face with current and potential customers. Having the opportunity to engage in conversations that lead us to open up new markets is very important. We are also in contact with leading colleagues in the sector from all over the world, which is very important too. Fruit Logistica is definitely a must every year”.
Tres Ases is a company with a long tradition of exporting fresh pears and apples from the Alto Valle in Río Negro. It reaches markets such as the European Union, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, Russia and the American continent.
According to official data, during the first semester of 2023, the fruit sector was positioned as the third productive export sector of Argentine exports, with 2.44% of the total shipped. Likewise, in that year, shipments of the fruit complex reached USD 1.672 billion.
The main destinations for Argentine exports in this sector last year were the United States (28% of the total), Brazil (15%), Ireland (6%), the United Kingdom (6%), the Netherlands (6%), Canada (4%), Russia (4%), Mexico (3%), Spain (2%) and Japan (2%).
The 2023 edition of Fruit Logistica featured 4,400 exhibitors from 90 countries, making this event an essential meeting point for buyers of fresh produce.
