The second edition of the Tropical Fruit Congress, the international event covering topics involving exotic fruits, will be held at Macfrut from 8 to 10 May 2019 in Rimini (Italy). Over the course of three days, market, consumption and trade trends will be examined, as well as the scientific developments, technologies and sales strategies of exotic produce, which is increasingly in demand in global markets.

This year, it will be a three-day event. On the first day, Wednesday, 8 May at 3 p.m., market data regarding the tropical fruit sector in its entirety will be presented, with a special focus on lime, papaya and passion fruit. At the end of the day, a workshop will be held with the participation of buyers and representatives of the European large-scale retail trade. The second day, Thursday, 9 May (from 10 a.m.) will be fully dedicated to pineapple, with speakers addressing specific topics and aspects regarding this fruit, from field production to distribution. The third day (Friday, 10 May, from 10.30 a.m.) will feature a technical workshop for importers and distributors, jointly organised with Professor Carlos Crisosto of University of California in Davis, on the handling and ripening of tropical fruits, in particular mangoes and avocados. The aim is to provide information in order to offer consumers fruits that are perfectly ripe.

If we consider how much the tropical fruit sector has grown in Spain, tropical fruits are an excellent opportunity for converting agricultural land in Italy. Several agricultural companies in Sicily and Calabria are already growing not only mangoes and avocados but also other fruit species such as passion fruit. "Last year’s Tropical Fruit Congress, a high-profile international event, was a huge success thanks to the participation of the many European buyers who attended Macfrut," Enrico Turoni, the board member of Cesena Fiera who manages this global congress, explains. "I would also like to point out that many northern European companies import tropical fruits and handle fruits such as kiwis and table grapes: it is a unique opportunity for the exhibitors taking part in the trade fair."