In total, for the first time, there will be 10 halls in the Madrid Trade Fair Centre housing the great fruit and vegetable offer that this edition is bringing together, which means a growth in occupation of over 9% compared to 2023.
This time, the Fresh Produce Area represents almost 70% of the trade fair and it is recording a 6% increase in surface area compared to the previous year, as well as the Auxiliary Industry Area, which makes up 24% and is seeing a growth of 4%. The Fresh Food Logistics Area is also noting an increase of over 26%. As a new development, this year Hall 1 will be the home of Innova&Tech, the new area that brings together Biotech Attraction and Smart Agro sectors, aimed at innovation, research and technological development companies.
Spanish national participation makes up 55% of the trade fair. The significant power of Spain as a world leader in the fruit and vegetable world can be seen by its representation with the presence of all the fruit and vegetable producing autonomous regions in the country.
The international segment is recording an important growth. This time, it will take up 45% of the total occupation of the trade fair, and it is showing a 22.5% growth in surface area. In the same way, the number of exhibitors has grown by 18%, with the incorporation of 102 new companies.
Andalusia, Guest Region
Through its Department of Agriculture, Fishing, Water and Rural Development, the Regional Government of Andalusia aims to promote the regional agrifood sector, standing out as one of the main sponsors for the third year running.
Through its participation, the Department will promote Andalusian fruit and vegetable products, its production methods and its identification on the market.
Andalusia will also promote its differentiated quality brand ‘Gusto del Sur’ (Taste from the South), which since it was started up, has been joined by over 100 companies and associations, meaning that up to 300 products from different sectors and subsectors are already showing this label that has been recognised by Europe.
One of Fruit Attraction’s main goals is to offer a platform for boosting international expansion. Accordingly, IFEMA MADRID, with the collaboration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing and Food and ICEX, has once again activated the International Purchasers Programme, which attracts around 700 purchasers from 70 countries.
Added to this are the ‘Guest Importer Countries,’ with China and Saudi Arabia as the stars of this edition.
Furthermore, the avocado will be the star product this year, concentrating different initiatives involving this food, which has seen its success grow remarkably in recent years, both in crops and in exports. In addition to different activities, workshops and demonstrations around this product, the Global Avocado Congress will be held on the day before the trade fair starts.
This time, The Innovation Hub, with around 40 products, will be the area devoted to innovation and new business developments in the sector. Within this context, the trade fair will once again host the Innovation Hub Awards, which have become an essential event for supporting the sector’s entrepreneurial business commitment with its usual categories: Fresh Produce, F&V Industry, and Sustainability and commitment actions.
