On its 38th edition, PROGNOSFRUIT, the European’s leading annual event for the apple and pear sector, is coming to Turkey for the first time. The World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA) and COPA-COGECA are joining forces with the Turkish Fruit Juice Industry Association (MEYED) to host the 2014 Prognosfruit Conference from the 6th to the 8th of August in Istanbul. Already close to 200 participants have signed for the event. The conference programme and registration information are posted on the conference website: www.prognosfruit.eu.
Mrs Ebru Akdag, Secretary General of co-organiser MEYED, commented: “Prognosfruit is a great platform to bring the apple and pear community each year together. The 2014 event will be special not only because it will be organised for the first time in Istanbul, where East and West meet, but also because this year the co-organiser will be a juice industry association. It will offer a great opportunity to improve the cooperation between the fresh and the processed side of the fruit chain.”
WAPA will release the apple and pear production forecast for 2014/2015 during the business conference on Thursday 7th August. The conference will also review some of the latest topical issues relevant for the apple and pear industry. Mr Hans Van Es, Chairman of the COPA-COGECA fruit and vegetables group, commented: “Besides the solid business programme, Prognosfruit 2014 will also provide delegates with a good mix of educational and social events, offering excellent networking opportunities prior to the opening of the new season.” Technical visits to the Bursa region as well as other tourist visits will complete the programme.
The conference brings together apples and pears growers, processors and traders from across Europe and beyond. Philippe Binard, Secretary General of WAPA, stated: “Prognosfruit is a well established event on the agenda of the European apple and pear production. For this 38th edition, we are very pleased that the meeting will take place in Turkey for the first time ever. We are setting up an interesting business agenda that, besides the annual forecast of production and market analysis, includes a discussion on pome fruit sustainability initiatives as well as a review of the international trends on apple juice and the rapidly evolving cider market.”
An event not to be missed! Join today the apple and pear’s market leaders and register on-line on www.prognosfruit.eu
CONTACT:
M. Philippe BINARD / Mrs. Raquel IZQUIERDO DE SANTIAGO – WAPA – wapa@wapa-association.org
Mrs Ebru AKDAG – MEYED – www.meyed.org.tr
WAPA was founded in August 2001 with the objectives of providing a forum for discussion on matters of interest to the apple and pear business and initiating recommendations to strengthen the sector. The current President of the Association is Peter Beaven of Pipfruit New Zealand, while Daniel Sauvaitre of ANPP in France is Vice-President.
WAPA membership includes the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Scandinavia, Slovenia, South Africa, the UK, Ukraine and the USA.
Source: World Apple and Pear Association