Kiwis are one of the products where the Greeks stand out
The boxes of kiwis are automatically tipped, before they get into the sorting machine
The cultivation of citrus fruits in Greece is too fragmented to be competitive
Nick Nafpliotis from Greek & Fresh travels the world promoting Greek products
mentioned that the Greek can use to conquer a good position on the global market. Kiwi fruit is one example. Greece is in the top three of largest producers globally, not counting China, which produces practically exclusively for the domestic market. In 2017, Greece exported 129,527 tonnes of kiwi fruit. Italy, Spain and Germany are the top three destinations, combined these are good for 52,461 tonnes.
Export company Mitrosilis, among others, added kiwi fruit to its assortment last year. The company expects to export 2,000 kilos of kiwi fruit more than last year. “The kiwi fruit production is becoming increasingly important for Greek growers,” says Nikos Katsaloulis of Mitrosilis. “Growers see the opportunities offered by this market.” The Greek kiwi fruit is exported globally. The list of export countries includes, among others, the US, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the EU.
Nick Nafpliotis of Greek & Fresh sees opportunities for the strawberries. He facilitates the export to, among other destinations, Asia and the Middle East, two markets with a lot of potential. “Consumption is increasing there, and everyone is throwing them-
selves at that market. We saw a demand for strawberries.” The Greek strawberries are cheaper than the Korean and American strawberries available in Asia, so that there’s a market for this fruit. The Greek government is still negotiating with Chinese authorities regarding market access for strawberries. This process usually takes several years. GROWING WHAT THE MARKET ASKS FOR He warns exporters who think this is an easy market. Export to far-off destinations requires an investment. “Fairs have to be visited three or four times, visiting just twice won’t be enough,” he says. “Asian consumers want a good and sweet flavour, the market is completely different,” Nick knows. “In the west, we consume fruit because we want to. In the east, fruit can also be a gift or an offering. It’s important to know this before your start exporting fruit.” The strawberries are therefore not exported in 500-gramme punnets, for example, which are common in Europe.
improvements in the trade and investment climate on a political level, but the role of the victim doesn’t suit the Greek fresh produce sector. The examples of grapes, kiwi fruit and strawberries show there’s room for Greek products on the global market, even though it requires a change in the grower’s mentality. More should be produced because the market asks for it, and investments should be adjusted to that. That’s where the opportunities can be found. (RM) ykanakis@ifg.world g@ggc.gr nick@nafpliotisgroup.gr
Despite careful growth figures reported by the country, the aftereffects of the crisis will still be felt in the Greek economy in the next few years. There’s still a lot of room for AGF Primeur • Special Edition Fruit Logistica • 2019
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