Building on the growing success of its collaboration over the past two years, Potato Council and Horticultural Development Company (HDC) will bring the largest collaborative UK stand yet to this year’s Fruit Logistica event in Berlin.
The event being held Wednesday 4 – 6 February at Berlin’s Messe, will see Potato Council and HDC, both divisions of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), join forces alongside a further eight co-exhibitors from the potato and horticulture industries to showcase UK production and export opportunities to over 60,000 trade visitors.
Co-exhibitors on this year’s stand include potato industry representatives from Moorhouse & Mohan, Skea Organics, Live Trace, Mylnefield Research Services (MRS) Ltd, SASA and Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research, alongside horticultural growers Angus Soft Fruits and A C Goatham & Sons.
The collaboration will develop seed potato export opportunities from Britain and raise the profile of the quality and diversity of UK horticultural crops by providing a platform for the industry from which to promote, do business and network.
Ruth Ashfield of HDC, said, “For a large part of the potato and horticulture supply chain in Great Britain export is an untapped area of opportunity. Our aim is to provide a chance for businesses to attend this major event and provide a high profile presence to support their export activity.”
Robert Burns, of the Potato Council, says “This year we’re even more excited to return with the UK industry stand as we feature new exhibitors and welcome back those who have been with us from the start. This year the stand offers a breadth of co-exhibitors from fresh produce and seed potato producers to crop science and commercial services, strengthening our showcase of the potato and horticulture industries at this major event.”
“We are experiencing another bumper year for seed potato exports, with a likely new all-time record of almost 53k tonnes going to Egypt already. This represents a 7% increase to Egypt alone this season so far, and we anticipate that overall GB seed potato exports worldwide are likely to be up again this year with exports still underway.”
Located in Hall 8.2 on stand B.06, Thursday 5 February will see Potato Council and HDC join forces with neighbouring exhibitors, the Commercial Horticultural Association (CHA) to host a UKTI-sponsored drinks reception from 4.30 until 6.00pm. Other UK exhibitors, visitors and their worldwide contacts, including UK and worldwide media, are all welcome to attend.
Visitors interested in exploring export opportunities, meeting UK producers, talking to technical experts or wanting to participate on the UK stand at next year’s event are urged to attend.
