Asiafruit Congress celebrated 20 years in style

Taking place the day before Asia Fruit Logistica, Asiafruit Congress celebrated its 20th anniversary with a bumper crowd. More than 450 delegates from 41 different countries attended Asia’s premier conference event on 4 September, marking a 20 per cent increase on last year’s edition, and a record number since the event moved to AsiaWorld-Expo in 2012. Asiafruit Congress kicked off with a look back on two decades of change in Asia’s fresh produce business with an expert panel including ANZ Bank’s Patrick Vizzone, Noel Shield of Joy Wing Mau Asia Holdings and Stemilt’s Bill Young. The diverse programme also covered current and future trends, from supplying Asia’s retail market of the future, to new opportunities in markets such as India, Indonesia and Korea.

ASIA FRUIT AWARD winners unveiled

The winners of the 2018 Asiafruit Awards were also announced at the Asiafruit Congress. Presented by Asiafruit magazine and Asia FL to celebrate excellence in Asia’s fresh produce business, the Asiafruit awards recognise Asia’s best companies in the fields of marketing, importing and produce retailing. This year also saw the launch of the brand-new ‘Impact’ Award recognising significant contribution to developing the fresh fruit and vegetable business in Asia.

The Chilean Fruit Exporters Association and its Chilean Cherry Committee won the ‘Marketing Campaign of the Year’ for their high-profile promotional campaign for Chilean cherries in China during 2017/18. Indian importer IG International took out the ‘Importer of the Year’ Award, Indonesia’s Ranch Market won the ‘Produce Retailer of the Year’ while the inaugural ‘Impact Award’ went to industry stalwart Dalton Thomas, who recently retired from Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers. The next edition of Asia FL takes place on 4-6 September 2019 at AsiaWorld-Expo Center in Hong Kong. Asiafruit congress takes place on 3 September at the same venue.