On March 6 and 7, the Polish blueberry industry hosted the 13th edition of the Blueberry Conference. Around 500 participants from numerous countries traveled to Ożarów Mazowiecki, just outside Warsaw, to discuss the challenges and future of the international blueberry sector. Participants agree that both the two-day event and the entire blueberry industry in Poland are gaining in importance.
In recent years, the conference has become the leading trade event in Central and Eastern Europe, according to Piotr Milewski of Milbor PMC, a specialized industry supplier and sponsor of the conference. "The appealing, comprehensive supporting program contributes significantly to the success of the event. For me personally, this year's event was particularly significant because, on the second day, Milbor PMC invited the participants to my family's fruit farm to show them an automated sorting and packaging line for blueberries. We also presented MXM – our brand-new sorting machine for blueberries, which features a hygienic design, a compact form, and high sorting capacity."
Piotr Milewski presented the new MXM sorting line to the audience.
Great reception along the supply chain
Representatives from all levels of the value chain, whether producers, suppliers of agricultural technology or packaging, as well as trading companies, particularly from Poland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, made their way to central Poland this time. The Frutania Group says this is a sign that the event is gaining in importance. According to Frutania, the conference is therefore an ideal networking platform and enables producers to refine context-related strategies and learn about current trends and decision-makers. The diverse supporting program covered topics such as pest control and fertilization, variety selection, agri-PV, and new sorting methods, as well as the growing market in China and the requirements for exporting to distant markets.
Poland is an interesting growth market, particularly for the Frutania Group. "Older plantations are now being replanted with new varieties. At the same time, the company is trying to tap into new markets and expand its existing export markets. We are also seeing great interest in mechanical harvesting methods, new packaging concepts and systems, and in increasing logistical flexibility and capacity." During a panel discussion, Rick Hensgens, Commercial Director of Frutania's subsidiary Frugalis Polska, pointed to the changing market. "The increasing focus on premium products will inevitably change the standards on the blueberry shelf and contribute to an improvement in quality. There will be diversification on the blueberry shelf not only by variety but also by net weight, caliber, packaging, origin, etc."
© Frutania/Frugalis Polska
Rick Hensgens represented Frugalis Polska, a subsidiary of the Frutania Group, during a panel discussion.
Photo credit: Milbor PMC / Frutania
For more information:
https://konferencjaborowkowa.pl/en/home/
https://milborpmc.com/
https://www.frutania.de/