Andalusia´s Early Potatoes on display at Fruit Logistica

Producers and exporters of Andalusia’s early potatoes, members of Asociafruit, participated again in Fruit Logistica 2011 to consolidate key export markets such as Germany, Holland, Belgium and UK.

The 18 companies forming the Andalusian Early Potatoes sector and representing over 70% of the potato crop of Andalusia exhibited in the 19th edition of Berlin’s Fruit Logitica, that took place on 9-11 of February. The importance for Andalusian Early Potatoes of such leading European fresh produce event is clear considering that 95% of the Andalusian early potato crop is exported to European markets, especially Germany, Holland, Belgium and UK.

The promotional campaign launched at Fruit Logistica 2010, under the slogan "All in good time, was proposed again this year. Its aim is to convey the seasonal nature of early potatoes, creating awareness in the distribution sector that - as with other fruits and vegetables with a marked seasonality such as watermelon, orange and strawberry - the best option for early potatoes is from April through July compared to the preserved potato that had fewer organoleptic and nutritional properties.

This message will be reiterated in the in-store campaign scheduled for the months of May and June, concurrently with the harvesting period.

On the second day of Fruit Logistica the traditional meeting was organized for the main importers and buyers, packers and national and European media at the Asociafruit stand. It was attended by the Director General of Industry and Food of Andalusia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Ana Maria Romero, showing strong support for the sector to achieve greater organizational and industrial development with which to achieve a more competitive position in the increasingly demanding European market.

With the contacts and agreements reached during Fruit Logistica 2011, the Andalusia’s early potato sector expects to maintain and even increase its export share, currently 30% of its total production.