Seen and heard at Fruit Logistica 2025 — Part 1

BERLIN — Fruit Logistica 2025 brought together fresh produce industry professionals from around the globe to the Messe convention hall, where over 2,600 exhibitors from more than 90 countries featured the latest innovations in fresh produce. Organizers say the event, held Feb. 5-7, also included record-breaking participation from China, Turkey and Egypt.

One red-hot trend at this year's Fruit Logistica was antioxidant-rich fruit in unexpected hues.

Amfresh Spain showcased the Onix orange with a deep burgundy red rind and intensely flavorful flesh. Grown in Spain, Onix nabbed the 2025 Fruit Logistica Innovation Award.

“Onix is the supernatural fruit,” said Patricia Sagarminaga, global director of marketing and communications at Amfresh Group, who explained the unique orange variety was discovered by a blood orange grower in Spain. “It's high in antioxidants with a flavor that is out of this world,” Sagarminaga added.

Currently sold in Europe, Sagarminaga says the orange will be available in the U.S. soon.

“We think this is going to revolutionize the citrus category,” said David Alba, CEO of Genesis Fresh.

Alba says the citrus is “also great for growers.”

“It's very easy to grow and growers get really high yields. And it's easy for packers, as the fruit is firm and travels well,” he said.

This year Zespri plans to introduce its RubyRed kiwifruit to the U.S. market for the first time, beginning with a spring trial on the West Coast, said Darren LaMothe, regional market manager for North America.

“Retailers are really excited,” said LaMothe about the new red kiwifruit, the flavor of which has “very distinct berry notes.”

Zespri says it is doubling the volume of its RubyRed kiwifruit compared with last season.

“We're really focused on brand awareness in the U.S.,” said LaMothe, who says while the Zespri brand is well known in Europe and Asia, there's an opportunity to develop the U.S. market further.

“We're going after health-seekers in the U.S., said LaMothe. Zespri says its RubyRed Kiwifruit is high in vitamin C and antioxidants.

Zespri RubyRed kiwifruit is the latest variety to come through Zespri's kiwifruit breeding program in partnership with Plant & Food Research. This year marks the fourth year of commercial production.

Fresh Del Monte featured its exclusive Rubyglow pineapple. The distinctive red pineapple with yellow flesh is a cross between an inedible Brazilian variety and a traditional pineapple. Only a few thousand of the pineapples are produced each year, said Fresh Del Monte's Thierry Montange.

Fresh Del Monte launched the Rubyglow pineapple in time for last year's Chinese New Year. Montange says the super-premium pineapples command a hefty price tag of between 250 and 300 euros each.

“There's a waiting list of customers for the Rubyglow,” said Montange. “It proves to the industry that there's room for super-premium produce.”

The dramatic packaging for Rubyglow pineapples is as striking as the fruit itself.

“The box is part of the ritual. It's perfect for gifting,” Montange added.

“This is the first show we've promoted Ruby Rush,” said Elena Hernandez at the Sun World booth. “We've got a good, consistent supply going into 2025 and it's been exciting to see how people have engaged with it at Fruit Logistica.”

Ruby Rush is an early season red grape that offers the additional advantage of not needing to be sprayed in order to color, said Dané Joubert.

“It all starts with genetics,” said Hernandez, who says Sun World takes a “very strategic and disciplined” approach to developing varieties that meet the highest flavor and quality standards, while also addressing gaps in the market.

Sun World also shared how its new partnership with Biogold will add citrus and tropicals to its portfolio, including new mango varieties with less strings and smaller pits.

Your next read: Seen and heard at Fruit Logistica — Part 2