Turkish Fruit and Vegetable Products Showcased at ANUGA Fair

Turkish Fruit and Vegetable Products Showcased at ANUGA Fair The fresh fruit and vegetable sectors and processed fruit and vegetable sectors, which share the spotlight of food exports, gathered with buyers from around the world at ANUGA, the world's largest food fair. At the ANUGA Fair held in Cologne, Germany, the processed fruit and vegetable sector demonstrated strong participation. Hayrettin Uçak, Chairman of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, stated that the processed fruit and vegetable sector came one step closer to its USD 2 billion export target set for the end of 2021 through export agreements concluded at the ANUGA Fair. Sharing information that Turkey's fruit and vegetable product exports rose by 23% in the January-September period of 2021 from USD 1.198 billion to USD 1.470 billion, Uçak said: "The Aegean Region captured USD 584 million of fruit and vegetable product exports and maintained its leading position. Many of our fruit and vegetable product exporters in the Aegean Region participated in the ANUGA Fair and returned home with new export connections. Although there was a decrease in participant numbers compared to previous years due to the pandemic, the quality of visitors satisfied our exporting companies." he said. Referring to the pandemic's increased demand for processed fruit and vegetable products, Uçak continued: "Turkey maintained its producer position even during the pandemic period. In the January-September period of 2021, fruit juices contributed the most to Turkey's USD 1.470 billion in fruit and vegetable product exports with USD 267 million. Pickle exports reached USD 218 million, while the soft drinks sector achieved USD 194 million in exports. We are working to reach our USD 2 billion export target set for 2021. The resumption of physical fairs will facilitate reaching our target." The Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association at the ANUGA Fair was represented by Management Board Vice Chairman Cengiz Balık, Management Board members; Martin Erdemir Sanford, Mehmet Ata Özdemir, Mehmet Kırıcı and Türkmen Türkmenoğlu. The Management Board visited the booths of member companies of the association among ANUGA Fair participants, while "Harvest and Beyond" Magazine, which publishes content introducing Turkey's fresh fruit and vegetable and processed fruit and vegetable sectors, was distributed to participants and visitors.