The UAE F&B Industry says Si to Fresh Italian Fruit and Vegetables

CSO Italy, the Italian fruit and vegetable cooperative, is returning to Dubai as part of the Speciality Food Festival, underscoring why they are one of the leading producers of fruit and vegetables globally.

Citrus Fruit

Italian companies, including Apofruit and Oranfrizer, (Unifrutti Group), will be showcasing a range of products, such as apples, kiwis, artichokes and citrus fruit fresh juices grown and harvested from across Italy, during the event, which takes place 7-9 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre. As a result of the climate and environmental conditions, Italy produces unique citrus fruits, fruits and vegetables with distinct quality, colour and special taste, making them a popular choice for consumers.

Before the pandemic, fruit and vegetable exports from Italy to the UAE increased by 55% in 2018 to over 36 tonnes compared to the previous year. Globally, the country exported over 24 million tonnes worth upwards of AED20 million, a figure the cooperative is keen to increase as demand grows post COVID-19 and popularity rises amongst the F&B industry in the UAE.

CSO is delighted to be back in Dubai to showcase Italian fruits and vegetables as the industry continues to rebound, grow, and expand after a challenging 18 months due to the pandemic. The Specialty Food Festival is the ideal platform to reconnect with a range of chefs, restaurateurs, hospitality buyers and other F&B professionals, showcasing the virtues of Italian fruits and vegetables.

As part of Apofruit’s and Oranfrizer’s participation at the event, representatives from both companies will take centre stage at the Taste of the World Chef Theatre. As part of the television style setup, a series of masterclasses and demos will provide audience members with a first-hand experience of the taste and how the fruits and vegetables can be used in various dishes.

Oranfrizer is a leader in the production and distribution of Sicilian citrus fruits and a pioneer of the fruit's exports to many countries worldwide. The Italian company, part of the international Unifrutti Group, will highlight a range of 100% NFC fresh juices, including blond orange, lemon, mandarin, and mostly blood oranges, which are are known for their high vitamin C content, the special taste, intense pigmentation, these one are unique to Italy.

Apofruit has a 60-year international pedigree and exports every kind of fresh F&V from apples and artichokes to pears and peppers. Company is a First-Degree Cooperative: it means that collects and trades directly products from its 3.200 growers associated all over Italy. The Headquarter office in Cesena coordinates and manages the whole staffs in more than 12 packing stations all over Italy. In 2020 the overall production of the Apofruit Group was 169.000 tonnes with a turnover of 300Mio €. The company has invested heavily in innovation, to improve quality and variety of products exported around the world.

The Speciality Food Festival takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 7-9 November. The CSO Italy stand can be found at Z4-46, in Hall 4.