After a year and a half of "virtual" relationships, the fruit and vegetable sector will finally meet in person. This will be possible at the Rimini Expo Center in Macfrut, the international fair for the fruit and vegetable sector that will take place from Tuesday 7 to Thursday 9 September. As the first face-to-face fair in the fruit and vegetable sector, Macfrut celebrates one of the main events of the sector worldwide: the international year of fruits and vegetables declared by the FAO. A series of international events organized throughout the three days of the fair will follow this direction. The events will have the purpose of publicizing several positive aspects of this sector that will be revealed in the coming months.

Macfrut, a Covid-free fair

One of the key points of the 2021 edition will be security. The slowdown in the pandemic and the worldwide mass vaccination campaign are creating the conditions to return to normality and the introduction of the Green Pass allows travel within Europe to resume. In addition, for those traveling for work from non-EU countries, a quarantine exemption is allowed for anyone who enters Italy with a negative test and stays for a period not to exceed one hundred and twenty hours (5 days). This period can be extended by a few days for proven work reasons.

To these regulatory provisions, Macfrut adds an additional element to protect its exhibitors and visitors: the fair will be free of Covid, since to access the event it will be necessary to have a Green Pass. For those who do not have it, it will be possible to do a quick test at the two entrances to the Rimini fairgrounds.

Macfrut 2021

The fair will have eleven exhibition sectors that will represent the entire fruit and vegetable sector, which makes Macfrut unique in the panorama of fairs.

The great desire to finally meet in person, combined with the general improvement in the situation, has led to an increase in participation.

There are many topics of interest related to innovation in the sector, starting with the dynamic areas that host the fourth edition of the International Asparagus Days, the Macfrut Field Solution proving ground, the Acquacampus area (created in partnership with CER and ANBI) that are concentrates on the issue of irrigation, and the Biosolutions International Event dedicated to the biostimulants and biological control sector. In addition, this edition will feature a novelty: the Retail for the Future dedicated to the future of fruits and vegetables in modern distribution with specific research. This event has been held in collaboration with Think Fresh and the Italian Berry Day dedicated to berries and is promoted by NCX Drahorad and ItalianBerry.it.

Despite the uncertainty that has been around for a long time, the international response is good, in part thanks to the numerous virtual presentations of Macfrut made in recent months. The confirmations come from Africa, as there will be a pavilion dedicated to this continent, as well as from South America and Eastern Europe. The reception program for foreign buyers created in collaboration with Ice-Agenzia through Macfrut's network of foreign agents was also confirmed.

Among the novelties of the 2021 edition will be the expansion of the exhibition offer with the Macfrut Digital platform that allows expanding relations with "far away" countries, while on Monday, September 6 there will be a large event dedicated exclusively to business with China (The China Day) exclusively digitally.