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INTERNATIONAL: NELLIE NICHOLS
Fruit
Logistica
Berlin
There’s no better place to see new developments in fruit and veg for the sandwich sector than Berlin’s Fruit Logistica exhibition, as Nellie Nichols discovered in a recent visit
Honestly, I’ve never seen so many Snow White shiny apples, glossy tomatoes or sleek and symmetrical peppers for that matter. As far as the eye can see there are perfect and polished examples of fruit and veg from all over the world and I am completely lost. Well if the 2009 Fruit Logistica attendance figures of 50,000 from 120 countries are anything to go by, in an exhibition centre of over 88,000 sq metres, it’s hardly surprising and the thought of ever finding the cloakroom and my overnight bag again seems a possibility fast fading into oblivion. Fruit Logistica in Berlin describes itself as ‘the whole spectrum of the fresh fruit and vegetable sector’. But much more than this, it’s also a haven of packaging and labelling, transport and logistical systems, produce handling and storage solutions, as well as cultivation systems. Here if you walk the endless aisles, you will be rewarded by finding some of those answers you have been looking for in this the wondrous world of fruit and veg. Have I gone mad and diversified into buying produce in pallet quantities for my clients? Of course not; but in my never ending quest for good ideas and innovation on their behalf I am here because, well, it should be done. Norman Parkinson once said if you keep your eyes open you will always find inspiration everywhere around you. In my book all food exhibitions are worth going to, the more lateral the better. If you stick to the familiar you’ll forever tread water in the sea of normality. One of the first impressive products I find are the miniature Cherry Oranges from Southern
54 March 2010 SANDWICH & SNACK NEWS
China. Barely bigger than a large cherry tomato, they have been cultivated for more than 1,300 years, previously reserved for the Emperor’s pleasure. Now exported between December and March, they are easy to peel and extremely sweet and juicy. A small seasonal box of these to go with your lunchtime sandwich would make a vibrant change to the ubiquitous apple. (Available through the Uniagro Group). On to Koppert Cress from Holland, the originators of micro vegetables. Although many of these shoots and cresses are available in the UK, Koppert will always have the edge for me for their speciality products and on-going innovation. Amongst the ones I love are their China Rose Sprouts, the prettiest of pink and green and deliciously spicy; Sunflower Sprouts with their sweet but nutty flavour, and Beetroot Sprouts, earthy in their taste and glorious deep red colour - just three of many that are uber sandwich friendly. But my favourites in a diverse range have to include their Oyster Leaves which taste of the real thing; their Pepquino, looking like miniature watermelons and tasting of fresh cucumber with a slight sour flavour, and best of all their remarkable tiny yellow Sechuan Buttons; that sparkle with electricity and numb you once you put them in your mouth….. (www.koppertcress.com) I have to make a bee-line for the Innovation Awards to see the nominated products and vote for the best. I spend far too much time playing with The ART, the Arils Removal Tool. Despite sounding like an instrument of torture, it’s an