Freshfel appoints board for 2010-2012

European fresh produce industry association Freshfel Europe has reappointed Ramon Rey for a second term of office as its president during its annual general meeting on 3 June in Brussels, Belgium.

The organisation's members also elected its board for the period 2010-2012 and discussed the present and future situation within the European fresh fruit and vegetable sector.

Mr Rey, director of Spanish import-export company ARC Eurobanan (a partner of Total Produce) said he was "honoured" by the confidence expressed by his reappointment.

"Together with my other colleagues on the board, we will make sure that Freshfel is focusing on the right priorities," he commented. "In today's difficult economic background, it is important that we identify the tools that can help us to boost fresh produce sales to consumers and to provide in the years to come a positive environment for the companies operating in our sector."

The association also re-confirmed Philippe Henri (Creno/UNCGFL, France) as its vice-president and elected Jérôme Fabre (Compagnie Fruitière, France) as treasurer following the recent retirement of Ronan Raes (Bonita Europe, Belgium).

The AGM also appointed four chairmen for its Import, Export, Supply Chain and Wholesale, Distribution and Foodservices divisions, as well as two vice-chairmen for each of these groups.

To reinforce Freshfel's work, the AGM also appointed a chairperson for each of its four running committees, which cover Promotion, Image and Communication, Food Quality and Sustainability, Citrus and Bananas – the latter being a new committee.

The AGM also gave Freshfel members an opportunity to discuss the current state of the fresh produce sector and its future prospects.

"Freshfel has been looking in the past 12 months at a wide range of issues ranging from quality to sustainability, nutrition, health claims, trade concerns, methods of production, promotion policy and the School Fruit Scheme, as well as looking at new market segments such as foodservice," Mr Rey confirmed.

"Many dossiers are ongoing and will continue to be on the association's agenda, as most of these topics represent challenges for our companies individually," he contiunued. "However, in many respects these issues can be better tackled collectively by Freshfel."

Meanwhile, Philippe Binard, general delegate of Freshfel Europe, presented to members and associated members the association's annual Activity Report for the period 2009/10.

The 52-page dossier reviews Freshfel policy and its work in a number of different industry areas over the past 12 months.