Red and yellow, the colours of Macfrut 2019

The exhibition halls of the Rimini Expo Centre will be refurbished to host the 36 th edition of MACFRUT, to be held from 8 to 10 May 2019: the exhibition centre will sport the colours of next year’s two key fruits, namely red as the “Cuneo Red Apple PGI” and yellow as pineapple. Apples - the specialty product of Piedmont, the Partner Region of Macfrut 2019 - will be the stars of the event, whereas pineapples will be the main theme of the second edition of the international Tropical Fruit Congress on exotic fruit. The exhibition area, covering 55,000 square metres divided into eight exhibition halls, will include a novelty: the Greenhouse Technology Village, an area dedicated to greenhouse horticulture that will be set up between the halls at the East Entrance. This project stems from the fact that, in protected horticulture, both hardware and software technology play a crucial role in production and management processes. The advantages of using natural resources more efficiently are becoming increasingly evident: as far as greenhouse crops are concerned, they allow water and chemical fertiliser consumption to be optimised and environmental impact to be reduced to a minimum, since growing crops in a protected environment means that fewer plant protection products are used. Participating exhibitors will represent 11 sectors, covering the entire fruit and vegetable supply industry: seeds, breeding & nursery, crop technology, production, trading and retail, postharvest machinery & technology, packaging materials, fresh-cut produce, dried fruit, logistics and services. During the 2018 edition, the exhibiting companies were divided as follows: 38% from the “production, trade and distribution” and fresh-cut produce sectors; 28% from the postharvest technology and machinery sectors; 14% from the preharvest technology and machinery sectors, 12% from the breeding and nursery sectors, and 8% from the logistics and service sectors. With regard to visitors, their profiles are generally in line with those of exhibitors: 37% from the production and fresh-cut produce sectors, 26% from the posharvest machinery and technology and packaging sectors, 17% from the seed, nursery and production technology sectors, 12% from the trade and distribution sectors, and 8% from the logistics and service sectors. Macfrut 2019 will be a trade fair packed with interesting content. Acqua Campus and Macfrut Field Solution will be the two dynamic areas dedicated to preharvest technology: the former will showcase innovations in irrigation, whereas the latter will involve a display of cutting-edge technology for the horticultural and fruit sectors in a 700-square metre test field. The Tropical Fruit Congress and the Table Grape Meeting will be the two major events scheduled: the former will focus on emerging produce (lime, papaya and passion fruit), focusing especially on pineapples during the Pineapple Day, whereas the latter will be entirely dedicated to table grapes, featuring Italian and international speakers. The Greenhouse Technology Village is the newest addition, featuring the latest innovations in technology, materials and technical equipment, seeds and nurseries. The exhibitors’ campaign is already well underway and an Early Booking special rate will be available until 31 December. For further information: www.macfrut.com/en/c/79/macfrut_2019_special_offer