Solid results for BioFach and Vivaness 2010
Posted - February 28, 2010
Solid results for BioFach and Vivaness 2010
By Warren Beaumont
About 43,500 trade visitors (2009: 46,771) defied the crisis and streamed into the exhibition centre in Nürnberg from 17–20 February for BioFach and Vivaness, the annual get-together for the global organic market, according to the organizers NurnbergMesse GmbH. The international share of visitors was 38% again with buyers from 121 countries, mainly from Germany, Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland. The 2,557 exhibitors (2009: 2,733), two-thirds of them international, were very satisfied in view of the high quality visitors. 85% of the BioFach exhibitors and even 97% of the Vivaness exhibitors expect good follow-up business, according to the results of a survey by an independent institute. These figures are up 12 and 16 percentage points respectively on the year before – clear proof of an optimistic view of the future. Exhibitors spoken to by Organic & Wellness News noticed a fall in visitor numbers, while the majority were satisfied with contacts made or business achieved.
“The organic market over the past four days at the exhibition proved that this sector has retained its impetus,” says Claus Rättich, member of the management board of NürnbergMesse. “The trend to organic and ecologically sustainable consumption is uninterrupted. Periods of slower growth offer an opportunity for taking stock and preparing joint future concepts, which provide the best conditions for sustainable development of the market and its annual get-together. We were particularly pleased about the great political and media attention attracted by Organic + Fair, the Theme of the Year in 2010.”
With more and more customers focusing their consumption on quality and values, the basis for this is organic, and fair production and trading conditions are other vital aspects. The exhibition duo BioFach and Vivaness was geared to Organic + Fair in 2010, with 52 exhibitors and around 100 product presentations reflecting the variety of the Theme of the Year.
Almost 8,000 participants again used the 180 events at the BioFach Congress and the six special forums to exchange views on the market with special emphasis on the fairness and sustainability aspects. The Fair & Ethical Trade Forum alone attracted some 750 interested visitors.
Vivaness 2010: World market leaders and new discoveries
Fairness and sustainability were also key issues at Vivaness: “The visitors specifically asked about the added value of our products this year. Fair trade and sustainability for raw materials and for packaging are very decisive values today,” says Dr. Alexandra Vogel, director public relations, i+m Naturkosmetik Manufaktur, Berlin. “Buyers are more aware of labels and how natural ingredients are obtained”, says Geysa Rosa Belem, general manager of Brazilian personal care firm Arte dos Aromas. Exhibitors and visitors were eager to come to the booth of Brazilian firm Beraca, one of the leading suppliers of ingredients and natural formulations from the Amazon, exhibiting under the umbrella from Organics Brasil, a government sponsored promotion program.
At Vivaness, the international platform for natural personal care and wellness, 183 manufacturers from 21 countries presented their products. Germany with 88 manufacturers heads the statistics, followed by France (29), Italy (16), Great Britain (12) and Austria (8). Next year, the international organic sector meets in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from Wednesday to Saturday, 16–19 February 2011.
At BioFach Congress: Sophisticated consumers demand more
Posted - February 27, 2010
At BioFach Congress: Sophisticated consumers demand more
By Warren Beaumont
A major market trend is that consumers are becoming more sophisticated. Originally, consumers were buying organic food for health reasons and ecological reasons. However, consumers today are becoming better informed. They still care about the environment and today, climate change has made the environment more important. They are also concerned about the chemicals in products and are buying more natural products that are ‘free from’ additives, synthetic colorings and preservatives.
“Consumers are also asking where the product is coming from, where it is grown, if it is ethically sourced. They also want to buy products that are in season, that are locally grown. They’re asking about the carbon footprint of products, and don’t want to buy a product that has been flown halfway across the world.
These themes and the trends of over production; discounters driving down prices and consumer price sensitivity; industry consolidation; more sophisticated consumers demanding more from organic products such as sustainability, fair trade and ecological packaging, were part of one of the key presentations made at the BioFach Congress this past February at ‘The World of Organic Agriculture – Statistics and Emerging Trends’ presented by Helga Willer of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL and editor of this annual report and book since 2000; Amarjit Sahota, of business research & consulting firm Organic Monitor, UK and IFOAM’s executive director Markus Arbenz.
“So, what we are seeing is that organics is only part of the equation, when consumers are buying organic foods they want more, they are looking at sustainability and sustainable values”, says Mr. Sahota. “Some of the pioneers of this industry adapted to that and realized that organic is no longer good enough, especially if discounters like ALDI are setting a very low price for organics. Apart from price, you need to compete on other values and these companies are highlighting their products with attributes such as sustainable values - fair trade, ethical sourcing, carbon neutral, local sourcing, promoting biodiversity, ecological packaging, energy usage, reducing waste.”
Growth in organics over the past nine years is quite significant, despite the downturn in 2008, with market growth rates expected to recover in countries such as the UK and Germany.
“Growth has been much lower than in previous years, with only 10% in 2008, while growth has been 235% over a period of nine years (to nearly US$51bn in 2008), that is very significant,” Mr Sahota said. “Sales of organic foods are still concentrated in Europe and North America and represent 97% of global sales. The USA has the largest market for organic food and drink sales, followed by Germany, then the UK, France and Italy.
“In terms of categories, today we’ve seen increases in production of grains and different crops, while most sales of organic food and drink products in almost every country are still coming from fresh products - fruit and vegetables, which represent about 30% of sales; fresh dairy – milk, yohgurt, cheeses; meats, poultry beef, pork; then beverages – juices, soy, tea and coffee; followed by other products such as baby foods and processed foods”, says Mr. Sahota.
“What we tend to find is that fresh and healthy products are the most favoured by consumers and that consumers who eat fresh and healthy foods tend to buy organic foods more than those who buy processed foods.”
Looking at the sales data by regions, the European market was worth about $US26 billion, a slower growth than in previous years, with the largest markets being Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, and the UK.
“After many years of under supply, we’re now seeing overproduction of organic fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy”, says Mr. Sahota. “Here in Germany, the discounters came in and are selling organic products at very low prices. Consumers are becoming more price conscious in buying food and organic products, while the average price of organic foods over the last 18 months has gone down”.
In the United States private labels have become very important. The leading brand of organic food is O Organics, private label from Safeway, which made over $US400 million in sales in 2008. “What we are also seeing is consolidation, at the producer level, at the wholesaler level, as well as at retailers.
In Asia, Mr Sahota said the market was worth just under $US1 billion in 2008, with Japan the main market. “Major trends there are that consumers are becoming more interested in organic foods,” he said. “However, Asian consumers tend to be more price conscious; they are interested in organic foods but are not always ready to pay a premium. We have seen the market concentrated in the richer countries of Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.”
Mr. Sahota also warned of more consolidation, which has been seen in Europe and North America. “We’re going to see some mergers and acquisitions, some companies will leave the sector and close, as the industry is not as profitable as they expected it to be,” he said.
Organic companies are increasingly adopting fair trade practices and now launching the first certified organic and fair trade products marketed as ethical products, a growing trend also in cosmetics.“The certification agencies are recognizing this by adopting some of these sustainable values. Now consumers are demanding more from organics and manufacturers are adopting sustainable practices and certification agencies are really responding to that and this is the way this industry has evolved.”
Strong support for Natexpo 2009
Posted - September 21, 2009
French event celebrates 50th anniversary
By Warren Beaumont
Natexpo 2009, the only French professional exhibition for the natural food and well being sector, will return to Paris celebrating 50 years on October 17 to 19 in Hall 8 of the Parcs Des Exposition at the Paris Nord Villeponte. A biannual event expects about 500 exhibitors and 10,000 trade visitors from France and abroad. These include specialist chain store and shop managers, and major retailers who are devoting an increasing proportion of their shelf space to organic, health and green products.
In 2007 most visitors were specialized retailers (35%) for food, health products and distributors (15%), followed by importers, exporters, agents and wholesalers (12%).Other visitors included manufacturers (8%), medical professionals (7%), special chains and sport shops.
The show is an ideal forum for key players from the organic and well being market and features a rich selection of technical workshops and parallel events, including the third edition of the NATEXPO Awards. The NATEXPO Trophies 2009 will see a jury of industry professionals reward exhibitor’s new products with four trophies in four categories based on sectors represented at the exhibition:
* Healthy eating: organic food
* Health and fitness: health foods, nutrition and dietary supplements
* Natural beauty: organic and natural cosmetics, hygiene and care products
* Daily wellness: green products and equipment (textiles, sustainable habitation etc).
All main segments in the well being sector will be represented at the show: organic and health foods, dietary supplements, natural cosmetics, green household products and equipment.
New products, categories on display
Visitors to NATEXPO 2009 will discover a host of new products and services specially devoted in response to growth in the market for nutrient-specific products (like omega 3 fatty acids), a rapid increase in cosmetic products under the Cosmebio label, and the emergence of environmentally-friendly cleaning products.
Demand for organic, health and green products is booming among French consumers. Organic foods have grown turnover by 15% since 2007, dietary supplements grown by 10% since 2006, and natural and organic cosmetics grown by 30% since 2006, according to a report from Agence BIO (2008). French consumers are increasingly aware of the importance of responsible consumption, and 69% say they prefer to buy products that respect the environment and or sustainable development principles.
Reflecting the diversity of the market with its sights focused on sustainable development, NATEXPO 2009 will pursue the exhibition’s international dimension, as well as the return of the Village des Vins (Organic Wine Village) and the TPE area (Very Small Companies). France’s wine industry has enjoyed unprecedented growth with a 25% increase inland devoted to organic vines in 2007 and 2008 (28,000ha).
Foreign exhibitors are mainly European, such as the Region of Murcia, Spain known for its organic baby foods and purees that have found great acceptance in the French market. Other exhibitors in this show edition include Essential Care Organics from Great Britain, Natures Herb and Spice from Sri Lanka, Caprilac from Spain, and Equi-Nutri from Belgium. The organizers also invited Wallonia, southern Belgium to participate with a shared stand for the first time at this year’s expo.
Natexpo is owned by the French Health Foods Federation and organized by Comexposium, with the support of its member associations: Synadiet, Conseil Nature, Synabio, SynadisBIO. Free attendance passes may be reserved in advance through the website www.natexpo.com
More organic exhibitors at Anuga
Posted - September 21, 2009
More organic exhibitors at Anuga
The Anuga food exhibition being held October 10-14, in Cologne Germany, is showing strong resilience with organizers confident to attract 6,000 exhibitors, compared to 6,600 exhibitors last year. An extraordinary effort for the world’s largest food expo, considering some U.S. shows were down by up to 50% this year. In 2008 Anuga attracted 163,000 trade visitors and was up 3%.
Organizer Koelnmesse said that last year 252 exhibitors presented their lines at Anuga Organic. “We will have about 280 this year, on a slightly increased space – again in hall 5.1, part of our Anuga-concept: Ten food fairs under one roof,” said Christine Hackmann of Koelnmesse.
According to Ms. Hackmann 1,500 companies bring organic products to Anuga and are located all over the fair and that any exhibitor who is offering organic products but is not exhibiting at Anuga Organic can be tracked down through a comprehensive Anuga-database, available on the homepage www.anuga.com
Novelties at Anuga Organic 2009
Slovenian firm BOŽNAR ČEBELARSTVO d.o.o./ HAUSE OF HONEY BOŽNAR will introduce the line Taste of Honey : choco-honey, honey with cinnamon, honey with rum, honey with sour cherry and honey with Williams pear brandy at Anuga in booth F 060. Contact: Mrs. Malči Božnar e-mail: ceb.boznar@siol.net www.boznar.si
China Auto Caiec Ltd. is offering organic certified kidney beans at booth F-088.
For more information contact: Yan Tie e-mail: yt@caiec.cn
German food company Culinaria Biofeinkost GmbH is introducing new dressings in wonderful flavors at booth 10.2C060. Contact Hans-Peter Hoerrlein e-mail hpp.hoerrlein@culinaria.de
US based Dakota Prairie Organic Flour Co. will offerits gluten-free flours and baking mixes at booth C74. For more information contact: Eric Hoberg e-mail: eric@dakota-prairie.com
German firm Wagner Life Design GmbH & Co. KG, which claims to be the world’s largest supplier of Hymalaya salt, will present in booth D-068 / F-069 a beautiful round box with 300 grams of Premium Himalayan crystal salt along with a wooden spoon hand made in Germany. Contact: Cornelia Wagner e-mail: kontakt@wagnerdesign.de www.salz.tv
Toronto hosts two organic fairs in one week
Posted - September 21, 2009
Toronto hosts two organic fairs in one week
CHFA Expo East and Ethnic & Specialty Food Expo offer a good platform to enter Canada via Toronto, the most ethnic urban center in the world.
The Canadian Health Food Association will be presenting Expo East at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from 2-4 October. October 2 will be the conference day, and October 3-4 will be the trade show itself. Over 500 exhibits are expected at this year’s fair, covering close to 80,000 square feet. In 2008, 3500 retailers, industry professionals and distributors attended, with similar numbers expected this year. The Ethnic & Specialty Food Expo celebrates health, organic and regional foods on October 5-6 near the Toronto airport, at the International Centre in Mississauga. It will feature a number of organic, ethnic, local and foreign sustainable exhibitors, including Bio-Grape Foods UK and Ocean Wise. Some of the educational seminars include Blogging about Food, Sustainability, and Health & Wellness. Both shows offer a good platform to enter Canada via Toronto, the most ethnic urban center in the world, close to New York and Chicago, two major cities in the East Coast also with a high concentration of cultural diversity and demand for organic and ethnic foods. www.chfa.ca , www.ethnicandspecialtyfood.com
World Tea East Conference & Pavilion to run parallel to Expo East
Posted - September 21, 2009
World Tea East Conference & Pavilion to run parallel to Expo East
By O.W.N. News Network
World Tea Expo, the leading North American tea event will be launching World Tea East co-located with the Natural Products Expo East September 23-26th in Boston. According to show organizer the Sage Group Intl., the new show responds to demand for a platform on the East Coast by industry members who can’t travel to Las Vegas for World Tea Expo in the summer. The event also provides a sourcing opportunity for holiday product at an ideal time in the tea buying cycle. It is also a fair that brings knowledge, products and connections from the specialty tea trade to the natural products market.
The tea industry is poised to exceed $10 billion in U.S. sales by the end of 2010, up from $7 billion in 2007, according to the Sage Group Intl. “Specialty and premium tea continues to see significant sales growth in the U.S. despite the economic downturn and offer extremely high margins to food service, grocery and retail outlets,” said George Jage, president of World Tea Expo. Leading research firm Mintel said that over 600 new tea products were introduced into the U.S. in 2008, with the hottest trends in organic and natural offerings, with health benefits as the key purchase driver for many tea drinkers. Thousands of non beverage, tea-based products enhanced with tea extracts, essences and flavors such as cosmetics, dietary supplements and functional foods add to this exciting market.
The educational program at World Tea East includes “Current Health Benefits of Tea”, “Tea’s Carbon Footprint”, the Value of Specialty Tea, and more. World Tea Expo is one of the 50 fastest growing trade shows in North America. The event includes educational sessions and focused tastings led by industry experts.
World Tea East organizers also will host the World Tea Championship Winners Tasting on the evening of Sept. 23. to offer the chance to sample winning teas from the World Tea Championship™, an annual competition that results in independent tea ratings.
As an added incentive to attendees registered for World Tea East, World Tea Expo will be giving away a 10-day intimate tea tour of Japan valued at over US $4,500. Attendees visiting the World Tea Expo booth #2981 can have their badge scanned to both get a free subscription to the World Tea News and to enter the “I Want to Pluck!” Giveaway. The 2010 World Tea Expo will take place at Las Vegas Convention Center, June 11-13. For more information, visit www.worldteaexpo.com
New this season at Expo East
Posted - September 21, 2009
Exhibitors showing for the first time at Expo East
CanaSpirit, artesanal cachasa, one of Brazil’s best loved alcoholic drinks, will be a first-time exhibitor at BioFach America co-located with Expo East in Boston. Cachaca is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented sugar cane juice. CanaSpirit believes in the process of thinking about the environment in every step of the product life cycle. The company started producing premium organic cachaca in late 2007, offering now 50,000 litres per year in various flavours available for the North American market. CanaSpirit is part of the OrganicsBrasil pavilion in Hall B2 booth 1919
LCL Natural and Organic Distributors, a new player on the New York food distribution scene, will be introducing The Organic Sweet Center, a concept to facilitate trade and consumers to learn about natural sweeteners available in the market, such as stevia, yacon, “panela”unrefined sugar, honey and agave syrup. Latin American suppliers may find with LCL a more direct gateway to reach North American retailers. Co-founders Liliana Carrillo, Melba Vega B. and Luz S. Palacio
have identified suppliers in Colombia, Mexico and Peru committed to also offer other quality products such as organic certified herbs, spices, coffee, rice and edible mushrooms. Visit LCL in Hall B booth 2416
Naturkost de Mexico S.A. de C.V. will be a first time exhibitor in Expo East/BioFach America, offering a display of the variety of products derived from chia seeds: chia oil, margarine, flour, energy bars, bread, cookies, cosmetics, supplements and even pet food. Known since Aztec times, Chia seeds are rich in omega 3 and soluble fibre. Naturkost de Mexico sells the seeds under its brand Sachia and also offers a trading platform for other ingredients from Mexico and other parts of Latin America to enter the European and North American markets. Visit them in booth 1212
Thailand, the number one organic producer in Southeast Asia is a first time exhibitor at Expo East/BioFach America in Boston. Six Thai organic firms will be presenting to the U.S. market: Baby corn snacks, organic rice vermicelli and 3 shades of Hom Mali (jasmine) rice,; coconut products, including virgin coconut oil, coconut milk and water, and canned coconut; fresh, canned and frozen organic fruits and vegetables; dried exotic organic herbs and essential herbal oils, including lemon grass, kaffer lime leaves, mangosteen shell and moringa; organic curry and chili pastes; Hom Mali rice vinegar and organic coffee. Thailand is also moving toward becoming the 7th country whose government is authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to certify products under the Natural Organic Program (NOP). Visit the Thai pavilion at booth 1373
New product introductions
Annie Chun’s new introductions include frozen foods, snacks and sauce
Annie Chun’s is debuting two new frozen foods line, a snack food line, and previewing a new sauce.Try the company’s new potstickers and mini wontons in a variety of flavors, the two new crispy, Korean-style roasted seaweed snacks, and Go-Chu-Jang—a sweet and spicy sauce that goes with everything (and could be at the forefront of a new Korean foods trend). Visit the company at booth 2545
eGear introduces a full line of Energy-Efficient lighting products
eGear Eco-Charge Products Feature Dynamo power source–never need to replace batteries; easy-crank handles power up lights in just minutes; energy-efficient LED bulbs which convert energy directly to light; solid state LED bulbs that won’t break or burn out and no fuel, no leaky batteries–perfect to store away for an emergency. Check the product range at booth 1538
HomeFree products to show latest on food allergies and new products
Jill Robbins, president and founder of HomeFree, maker of organic, ready-to-eat, whole grain cookies and coffee cakes free of common food allergens including peanuts, tree nuts, dairy and eggs, will be at Expo East to meet visitors interested in this growing food category.
Jill is a clinical psychologist, turned to baking when her son was diagnosed with food allergies almost ten years ago. The author of “Allergen Free Baking: Baked Treats for All Occasions,” Jill focused on creating a solution to the social aspect of food allergies, finding it heartbreaking to know that many children, and adults, cannot fully participate in school and social events when treats with potential allergens are served.
Among other features HomeFree products are free of peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and dairy, certified whole grain – each cookie serving contains at least ½ serving of whole grain; certified organic; baked and packaged in a dedicated bakery and without corn sweeteners, artificial colors, artificial flavors, MSG, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). HomeFree products will be at booth 2625.
NextFoods introduces new probiotic fruit drink
NextFoods is introducing its newest product, GoodBelly BigShot 50 with 50 billion probiotics per serving, ideal for those times when you’re being bullied by sluggish digestion, flare-ups, or feeling especially run down and may need some extra support to restore your body’s natural balance. The company also offers GoodBelly™, a probiotic fruit drink with 20 Billion active cultures that are clinically proven to improve digestive health and strengthen immunity! That’s more than you can get from any yogurt and a lot more delicious! GoodBelly™ and GoodBelly BigShot 50 will be showcased at Expo East/ BioFach America in booth 2322.
Natural Products EXPO EAST / BioFach America come back to Boston
Posted - September 21, 2009
Natural Products EXPO EAST / BioFach America come back to Boston
By O.W.N News Network
Natural Products Expo East 2009 returns to Boston on September 23-26 to present products from more than twenty countries. Co-located with Organic Products Expo BioFach America, in a partnership with Nürnberg Global Fairs, the event aims to host again over 25,000 industry professionals at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
Research findings show that in spite of current economic uncertainty the trend to healthy food and natural non-food products will persist and that US consumers still remain loyal to organic products. This should encourage international companies to continue their activities in the USA or enter the world’s largest market.
Last year’s Expo East drew more than 26,000 industry attendees from 79 countries and featured over 2,100 exhibits. Over 335 firms from 19 nations exhibited at BioFach America.
During this 21st edition of Expo East exhibits will be organized in 6 pavilions: Health & Beauty, Natural & Specialty Foods, Natural Living, Organic Products Expo - BioFach America, Pet Products, Supplements, and World Tea East.
Expo East shows commitment to recycling and less waste
New Hope Media, producer of Expo East in Boston and Expo West in Annaheim is showing commitment to reducing its negative impact and its exhibitors on the environment. According to its website, the show organizer is providing additional recycle bins and signage about recycling at the convention centers and hotels; collecting and donating unused samples and products to local charities and food banks; limiting attendees to only collect one bag of samples per day; using reusable dishes or biodegradable dishes and flatware when reusable dishes are not an option; increasing the use of paperless technology making all show documents available on the website; encouraging “car” pooling or participating in the shuttle service provided to the official host hotels, and collecting badge holders to reuse at future events. Since 2008, all badge holders are made of a biodegradable polypropylene. The Buyer’s Guide available at the show floor will list exhibitors committed to green booth activities to reduce show impact.
Time to raise the bar on sustainability practices – Free forum at Expo East
Sustainability” has become one of today’s buzzwords, with increased consumer demand for “sustainable” and “socially responsible” products, and more businesses touting practices and products as “green,” “low carbon,” and “fair trade.” At the same time, some continue to question the value of organic systems for people and planet. This makes it critical for organic leaders to understand and communicate the benefits of organic systems, and raise the bar on sustainability practices, advancing the organic marketplace, environmental stewardship, society and the economy.
The Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association (FTSLA) is hosting the following events at Expo East:
“Organic Systems & the Value Proposition for Long Term Sustainability”
“Responsible Packaging Forum”
“Introduction to FTSLA”
The goal is to unite the organic community in learning, conversation & networking, focused on key issues and best practices, such as carbon foot print, sustainable packaging, measurement/reporting and sourcing/labor; current research on the benefits of organic systems, from climate change to nutrition; organics as a foundation for broader sustainability; improving impact across operations, packaging, supply/distribution chains and communicating organic & sustainability benefits in honest, compelling ways. The three events are free of charge, but registration is required. For direct inquiries contact: Melissa Schweisguth, melissa@ftsla.org, www.ftsla.org Ph ( USA) +1 541-727-0460
New England Style Dinner to Benefit Farm Aid
Farm Aid is partnering with New Hope Natural Media to offer “A New England Dinner to Benefit Farm Aid”, on Wednesday September 23 during Expo East featuring food from the region’s family farmers.
Tickets are US $125 and include dinner and musical entertainment by Jesse Dee, with all proceeds going to benefit Farm Aid. The Lighthouse at the beautiful Boston Seaport Hotel hosts the evening.
According to their website, “Farm Aid” has been, supporting farmers offering concerts for the past 24 years, raising funds to keep farm families on their land and increasing awareness about the loss of family farms in the United States. “Farm Aid” is non-profit organization which has raised nearly US $35 million through inspiring and informative television, radio, mail, and web campaigns to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture. See more at www.farmaid.org
More information at www.expoeast.com , www.biofach-america.com
After successful ExpoAlimentaria 2009 Peru confident about strong role in food sector
Posted - September 21, 2009
PeruNatura : New international showcase for natural and organic products
By O.W.N. News network
In spite of the global economic recession Peru continues its progress in positioning itself in the international arena as a reliable supplier of foods, with a special focus on organic certified, natural and ethnic products. In a joint effort between the Peruvian private and public sectors, conventional and organic certified enterprises presented a display of the country’s richest biodiversity and industrial accomplishments during Expo Alimentaria and PeruNatura, parallel event celebrated in Lima this past September 9-11th.
Over 160 Peruvian producers and exporters from the agri-food and aquaculture sectors, and players in the food processing, packaging, logistics and foreign trade gathered at Expo Alimentaria along with 4,000 national and international buyers. The event was a great opportunity to meet suppliers and to share news on what is happening in the organic market, according to importer Diego Garcia of French firm Brochenin. Jorge Urena of Uhtco Corp., a Canadian-based firm offering natural supplements and foods from Peru, attended along with partners at Inversiones 2A S.R.L., who were one of the twelve firms recognized this year on Earth Day by Peruvian President Alan Garcia for their work in promoting biodiversity and bio-commerce.
The event was an initiative of the Peruvian exporters association ADEX and Promperu, the Peruvian agency for export promotion in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and show organizer Corferias del Pacifico, with the patronage of Scotiabank.
PERUNATURA new international showcase for natural products
Besides being recognized for its quality traditional food exports, such as fish meal and fish oil, Peru also specializes in unique ingredients and derivatives with healthy properties such as maca root, cacao beans, sacha inchi, cat’s claw, camu camu, medicinal herbs, tara, quinoa and other Andean grains. Parallel to Expo Alimentaria these and other non-conventional export products from 27 exhibitors were on display at PERUNATURA, a project from PROMPERÚ and Peru Biodiverso, aimed at showcasing and exploring new niche markets for such natural products grown under sustainability guidelines and which are seeing growing demand in foreign markets.
According to Promperu, in Malasya sacha inchi, known for its high content of Omega 3, is already used in a baby cream, while in the Middle East tara has been introduced as ingredient to produce ice cream, and camu camu is being introduced in Japan. Jose Quiñones , director of export promotion at Promperu, stated that the goal to promote bio-trade in Peru is to contribute to the sustainable development of local communities, while protecting the natural resources. Bio-trade also represents an important strategy to diversify Peru’s exports. For more information about Expo Alimentaria and the organic sector in Peru contact Lesly Vera G. lvera@promperu.gob.pe
First MUNDUS vini BioFach International Organic Wine Award
Posted - September 21, 2009
First MUNDUS vini BioFach International Organic Wine Award
BioFach, the world’s leading exhibition for natural and organic certified products including organic wines, cooperates with media house MUNDUSvini/Meininger to organize the first MUNDUSvini BioFach International Organic Wine Award, a highlight for The Organic Wine World, the section in hall 4a, where 318 organic wine exhibitors presented their latest additions during BioFach, Nuernberg this past February. Show organizer expects around 700 wines to enter the competition for BioFach 2010 next February 17-20.
The MUNDUSvini BioFach International Organic Wine Award aims to become an annual competition to promote the quality and marketing of wines from organic production. The competition also offers manufacturers, winegrowers, importers and consumers a forum for comparing the wines with each other, and a way to provide consumers with valuable guidance when deciding which wine to buy.
The tasting of the samples entered in the competition will take place in Neustadt on the Wine Road from 7–9 December and will be performed by an international jury of experts comprising well-known and experienced tasters from all over the world. The judging is based on a 100-points system involving smell, taste and individual scoring using the sampling tables of the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine) and the U.I.Œ. (International Union of Oenologists). The award winners are decided by a joint decision of the jury. The number of awards is limited to maximum 30 % of the samples entered in line with the OIV rules. The best wines receive “Special Gold”, “Gold” and “Silver” awards.
Eligible for entry are still wines, sparkling wines, perl wines and liqueur wines from organic cultivation with a number from an organic certification body. The deadline for sending samples isNovember 7th, 2009. The full entry conditions and competition forms for the MUNDUSvini BioFach International Organic Wine Award can be requested from the MUNDUSvini organization team by phone +49 (0) 6321 8908-9500 or by e-mail at contact@mundusvini.com. The wines can be entered online at www.webpass-online.com.
