Colombian Fruit and Herbs in Fruit Logistica as of Tomorrow

End consumers and food industry business people, such as restaurant and hotel owners, will get to know Colombia's fresh produce in Fruit Logistica 2013 as of February 6. It is the most important specialized fair in the world, which brought in nearly 54 thousand potential buyers from 140 countries this year.

Seven Colombian companies traveled to Germany with the support of PROCOLOMBIA with the task of taking part in the exhibition, which will take place in Berlin through February 8. From Bogota, there will be Natturale, Flores de Funza and Frutireyes from Antioquia, there will be Caribbean Exotics and from Valle del Cauca there will be Asoppitaya, Tropic Kit and Frutales Las Lajas.

These companies, all certified by GlobalG.A.P. (required by the European Union market), will take sweet passion fruit, purple passion fruit, passion fruit, yellow dragon fruit and cape gooseberry, in the dry and exotic fruit segment, and mint, rosemary and tarragon in the herb segment.

PROCOLOMBIA will also set up a tasting stand to pass out samples of the products and showcase the various ways in which they can be used for the food industry, end consumption and institutional channels such as restaurants and hotels.

"The economic block of over 503 million consumers from 27 countries is the largest buyer of fruits in the world and Colombia can begin to take advantage of the opportunities, particularly with its exotic fruits," explained Maria Claudia Lacouture, President of Proexport.

In 2011, according to Trademap figures, the fresh fruit imported by the European Union amounted to US$32.296 billion, reporting an 8% increase compared to the previous year when the US was the main supplier. Colombia ranked in 27th place as a supplier.

This potential is added to the preferential access Colombia will have once the trade agreement with the European Union takes force, based on which exporters will no longer have to pay tariffs, which in some cases are up to 17.6%.

According to PROCOLOMBIA, it has the greatest potential in 15 countries: United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Germany, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Sweden, Slovenia, Finland, Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Slovakia and Austria.

In addition, it has indicated that Europeans are looking for new flavors, like exotic fruits, which are one of the greatest strengths of Colombia's produce, represented by products such as passion fruit, cape gooseberry, purple passion fruit, sweet passion fruit and yellow dragon fruit.