From 24 to 26 November 2016 Bolzano’s exhibition centre will host the next Interpoma event, the biennial trade fair for the cultivation, storage and marketing of apples.

Expectations are high for the coming year when the trade fair held in Alto Adige, one of the major apple-growing areas in Europe, will celebrate its tenth edition. In 2014 Interpoma actually increased its visitor numbers by 12.5%, reaching its goal of 18,000 industry operators participating during the fair’s three days. With 423 exhibitors from 20 different nations and visitors from 70 different countries, the exhibition has affirmed its truly international scope. One of the most eagerly awaited events at Interpoma is undoubtedly „The Apple in the World“ conference which, led by the fruit-growing expert Kurt Werth and thanks to the input of speakers from around the world and his international focus, is the ideal place where to take stock of the current situation and tackle market trends and the tendencies of the sector.

In a constantly changing climate, there will be many topics to discuss during the next event. As the second highest producer in Europe after Poland, Italy has had to take account of a record production over the past season, as has the European Union as a whole. According to figures published by Assomela (The Consortium of the Organisations of Italian Apple Producers), the quantity produced in 2014 was registered in Italy at over 2.4 million tonnes of apples, a rise of 14.3% compared to the previous season. It was also an exceptional year for the whole of the European Union, where production reached a high of 11.9 tonnes.

This aspect, together with the reopening of trade flows following the Russian embargo, led to a rather turbulent start of season characterized by a strong pressure on prices. The situation has gradually settled down and, particularly over the past few months, the market has shown signs of recovery with record sales helping to dispose of existing stocks. At the end of April 2015, total sales in Italy actually reached a level of 1,698,034, or a rise of 18.4% compared to the same period in 2014. With just a few months to go before the end of the season, the aim is to put the entire production on the market before the 2015 harvest, in order to have a good base from which to launch the 2015/2016 commercialization.

From the international point of view, there is a decreasing trend in the trade flows of apples between the Northern and Southern hemispheres, due to complex international balances and the unfavourable Dollar/Euro exchange rate. This too will be a topic for discussion and review at the tenth edition of Interpoma, taking place in Bolzano (South Tyrol, Italy) from 24 to 26 November 2016.

 

 

 

 

Source: Interpoma

Prague, 22 June 2015