The Interfood Caspian Agro Azerbaijan fair, which will be held in Baku from 15 to 17 May, is becoming more and more of a benchmark for the food and fruit and vegetable sector of the surrounding geographical area. "There are companies participating from Europe," explains Omar Papi, CEO of the Italian company Futura srl, "as well as from Italy, but mainly from Germany, Poland and the Netherlands.
"This is a good opportunity to do business," adds Papi, "because we have excellent projects in this part of the world and several customers."
"Fruit and vegetables are grown in Azerbaijan," Papi continues, "and packers need sorting and packing lines. On the fruit side, apples, peaches, persimmons, and pomegranates are produced here, just to name a few references."
On the vegetable side, hydroponic farming has taken off, with tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers among the most popular crops, and technology companies are being called upon to provide state-of-the-art equipment.
Azerbaijan is a country that has grown rapidly in recent years, largely due to its oil resources. Baku is a modern, functional city, home to four of the country's 10 million people. The cost of living is about one-third that of Italy. A clerk earns about 400 euros a month, although executives often earn much more, and a seasonal agricultural worker earns between 13 and 15 euros a day.
Azerbaijan has a long tradition of fruit and vegetable production and trade, and is one of the historic suppliers to the Russian Federation. In the wholesale markets of St. Petersburg or Moscow, even today, many traders are Azerbaijanis.
"Azerbaijani growers," Omar Papi concludes, "have to be very precise in their selection of fruits and vegetables, because many large retail chains, especially Russian ones, are among their customers."
For more information: 
Futura s.r.l.
Via R. Mattioli, 136/156
47522 Cesena (FC) - Italy
Tel. :+39 0547 632749
E-mail: [email protected]
www.futura-grading.com