Macfrut 2026: a technical and commercial tour of Italy
We travelled to Rimini at the invitation of Frutas de Chile, alongside a group of Chilean cherry and kiwi growers and exporters.
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In April 2026 we took part in a technical and commercial tour of Italy, organised by Frutas de Chile, alongside a group of Chilean cherry and kiwi growers and exporters.
Macfrut 2026
The centrepiece was Macfrut, one of the leading international trade fairs for the fruit and vegetable industry, held from 21 to 23 April in Rimini. The 2026 edition brought together more than 1,400 exhibitors and more than 800 international buyers, with the whole chain represented: growing, technology, machinery, packaging, logistics and services.
UNITEC, in Lugo
We also visited UNITEC’s facilities, where we saw at first hand how far automation, artificial intelligence and external and internal quality grading have come. These are technologies of real consequence for the cherry industry.
The Jingold consortium
The last of the highlights was a visit to Jingold, the Italian consortium specialising in growing, variety development and marketing of kiwifruit. We learned how they work and how they position the fruit in international markets.
The tour was an excellent opportunity to see new technologies, growing models and commercial strategies, and to share experiences with other Chilean growers and exporters.