FOOD BUSINESS GULF & ME Jan-march 2018 | Page 18

NEWS 16 Freshness from europe, quality italian produce presented at mac fruit attraction, Shanghai An important opportunity to promote top-quality Italian and European fruit and vegetables in China thanks to Mac Fruit Attraction, Shanghai, the first European-organized event to showcase the fruit and vegetable industry in China. CSO Italy, promoter of the Freshness from Europe initiative, took part in the event with a 156m 2 stand that hosted the partner companies in the Project. During the press conference organized in Shanghai to present the event, President of CSO Italy Paolo Bruni emphasized the abundance and the quality of the main varieties of Italian fruit in the world promoted through the Freshness from Europe Project. A project whose target countries include China, but also the US, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Japan, and which involves businesses that are members of CSO Italy, which together represent 60% of the Italian fruit & vegetable industry. Italy produces around 17 million tons of fruit FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST and vegetables a year. This includes 7 million tons of fruit and 3 million tons of citrus fruit. It exports around 3.9 million tons of fruit and vegetables, including around 2.7 million tons of fruit and 300,000 tons of citrus fruit. It is Europe's leading producer of fresh apples, kiwis and pears, and the second-biggest producer of citrus fruit. GOSSIP The Brand' goes global at 'Pitch@Palace' finals in St James Palace 'Gossip the Brand,' a multi-concept Emirati company offering bespoke F&B and experiential services, took a step towards global recognition as it served its array of its famous designer desserts and fusion-inspired menu during the 'Pitch@Palace' Global finals held at St James Palace, the most senior royal palace in the United Kingdom. Serving as one of the official caterers of the prestigious event, and supported by Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, 'GOSSIP The Brand' expressed its support towards entrepreneurship and acknowledged the JANUARY - MARCH 2018