Success For The Russian Mission Of European Flavors

Ferrara – The Mediterranean diet conquers Russian palates. Fruit and vegetable nutrition is, it must be said, becoming increasingly fashionable in the Eurasian country. This is confirmed by statistics on exports to Moscow, and by the number of visitors to the European Flavors stand during the 22nd edition of World Food Moscow… European Flavours being the EU-financed programme for promoting the tastiness and quality of European fruit and vegetables in Russia, USA, Canada and Japan.

Co-financed by the European Union, the Italian State and the member companies of the Italian CSO Fruit and Vegetable organisation, European Flavors provides importers with the possibility of establishing direct contact with the leading companies in the Italian Fruit & Vegetable sector: Alegra, Apofruit, Granfrutta Zani, Mazzoni, Naturitalia, Opo Veneto, Oranfrizer, Orogel and Salvi. The event offered an important opportunity for appreciating the organoleptic and taste features offered by Italian produce, characterized by quality production processes and guaranteed by rigorous product traceability. Russians are attracted to Italian products, and the European Flavors stand not only provided a pleasant place for meetings between sector operators but also offered tasting opportunities featuring Italian food & drink specialities.

One of the most important events at the trade show – where 55 different countries were represented – was undoubtedly the focus on citrus fruits backed jointly by the CSO and Fruitimprese in a congress at the Manon Café organised by ITE and Fruit News in collaboration with RK Marketing. With 120 sector operators and journalists present, the main speaker was the president of CSO Paolo Bruni, who illustrated the production of oranges in Italy, analysing the various cultivars, picking periods and quantities.

In statistical terms, the general level of Italian exports of oranges and lemons is falling, but Russia is an exception to this rule: from 2005 to 2011 its citrus imports from Italy have risen by over 100% in volume, passing from 1,489 tons to 3,657 tons.

"Even though Italian citrus exports have fallen in this period, above all for reasons connected with production – explained Federico Milanese, head of CSO's international department – there is a great deal of respect for high quality European fruit & vegetable produce, and the Russian market is an extremely appealing one, with a huge potential for development. These positive forecasts – he concluded – have been confirmed by the success of the European Flavors initiative."

After Canada, Japan and Russia, European Flavors has one more rendez-vous this year: October will bring it to its fourth and final port of call at the Fresh Summit Convention in New Orleans, USA.

The CSO is a service company whose mission is to improve its members' strategies for boosting the systematic competitiveness of the Italian fruit & vegetable sector. Founded in 1998, today CSO has 65 member companies spread across 13 Italian regions, including the most representative fruit & vegetable groups in Italy. As from 2012, the base of CSO membership has been widened to also include major operators in the overall sector production process, including companies specialized in packaging, processing machinery, technology and logistics.

Founded in 1935, Fruitimprese became an association in 1949, with the name of ANEIOA. After 60 years of activity, it still plays an important role in supporting and developing fruit & vegetable import-export companies, a sector which over the years has made a major contribution to the success of Italian exports worldwide.

For further information: www.europeanflavors.eu

Alice Camellini           
“European Flavors” Press Office, c/o Fruitecom   
+39 059-7863894

Source: Fruitecom