Macfrut 2026 targets 1,400 exhibitors and 800 international buyers

The international fruit and vegetable trade fair Macfrut is aiming to expand its global reach in 2026, with organisers targeting 1,400 exhibitors and 800 top international buyers.

Speaking during the Macfrut 2026 press conference, President of Macfrut, Patrizio Neri, said the event is increasingly positioning itself as a strategic platform for the global fruit and vegetable sector.

“Today, as president, I clearly see that Macfrut is much more than a fair in the traditional sense of the word. It is a global strategic platform. It is the place where the Italian fruit and vegetable sector does business, where it stops being just a product and becomes a system. And it is where the future of the sector is written day after day by its protagonists.”

The sector remains a major contributor to the Italian economy

“The fruit and vegetable sector is a pillar of the Italian economy. We are talking about a production value of €18.8 billion, which has grown by 50% over the past 10 years, while exports have exceeded €6.4 billion. But behind the numbers, as always, there are people: 158,000 agricultural enterprises. In fact, 23% of Italian agricultural companies operate in this sector.”

Despite geopolitical uncertainty, international participation continues to grow

“For the 2026 edition we are aiming for the ambitious target of 1,400 exhibitors and 800 top international buyers. Despite the complexity of the global geopolitical scenario, our response is openness. Today, 40% of our exhibitors come from abroad.”

Connecting markets across regions

“We have become a bridge between continents — from the strength of China with Shanghai and Guangzhou, to the dynamism of Chile, to partnerships with more than 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. We will also see the debut of new national pavilions from Brazil and Peru, alongside the Caribbean area, with a strong presence from the Dominican Republic.”

Technology and innovation take central stage in the event’s programme

“Our technical-scientific committee, chaired by Professor Paolo De Castro, together with the areas dedicated to Biosolutions, AI Robotics and the Water Campus, demonstrate that we are at the forefront of technological innovation.”

Macfrut 2026 to introduce a new industry event focused on stone fruit

“Macfrut could not ignore this trend, and we are introducing something new: the European Stone Fruit Summit — an exclusive window on the renewed interest in peaches and nectarines, which, I bet with you now, will become an unmissable annual event.”

Companies looking to expand international partnerships and explore new technologies in the fruit and vegetable sector can send their inquiry for a free consultation.