Fruits and vegetable suppliers attend WOP Dubai

Dubai: International fruit and vegetable suppliers attended the International Perishables Expo Middle East (WOP Dubai) to take advantage of the growing fresh food market.

The exhibition wrapped up its 7th edition in Dubai on Wednesday.

“The event threw the spotlight on the latest market trends in the perishables industry [and] showcased leading local and international fruits and vegetable suppliers,” said Tareq Sibai, Project Manager at planetfair, the event’s organisers.

The UAE imported over Dh9.2 billion worth of fruits and vegetables in 2014, according to planetfair, citing data from UN Comtrade, a provider of international trade statistics.

Held at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the three-day event brought together over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries, up 24 per cent compared to last year’s edition.

There were 14 country pavilions, from countries such as Australia, Belgium, China, Egypt, France, Italy, Kenya and Mauritius.

The event focused on fresh produce safety, fresh produce trading, technical equipment packaging, transport and logistics and fresh produce services.

“Visitors were glad with the trends and new technologies of the green industry, the seminars and presentations highlighted,” Sibai said.

Spread across over 8,000 square metres, the event was expected to have attracted over 7,000 participants, an increase of 26 per cent from last year’s event. Visitors came from over 80 countries.