Some 250 professionals, between major distribution representatives and fruit and vegetable suppliers from across Spain, gathered at the 12th AECOC Fruit and Vegetable Congresses, held in Valencia on 29 and 30 June.

Attendees also included Mercabarna management and several of the precinct’s companies from the fruit and vegetable sector. With the title “Creating Value to Attract New Consumers”, it analysed the sector’s development over the past year and set out the strategies to follow in order to fulfil today’s consumer needs. Topics addressed at the meeting included the impact of the new Common Agricultural Policy (PAC), consumer buying behaviour in this period of economic downturn, adding greater value to products, and the need for improved coordination in the supply chain so as to ensure that fruit and vegetables reach consumers as fresh as possible.