More than 2,800 B2B meetings recorded
With a significant qualitative and quantitative upgrade of its trade audience, a major increase in international attendance, a large number of business meetings, and a multifaceted programme of parallel events, Freskon 2026 the international trade event for fresh fruits and vegetables was successfully held from April 23 to 25 at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition & Congress Center, organized by TIF-HELEXPO.
This year’s event, which covered 12,500 m2 and hosted 230 exhibitors from 10 countries, confirmed Freskon’s strong focus on business and trade networking, further establishing the exhibition as a vital platform for the primary sector in the Balkans and Southeastern Europe.
Total attendance exceeded 4,550 visitors, while the most significant development was the improvement in visitor profile quality: trade visitors increased by 10%, while group trade visits recorded a 50% rise. International outreach was also considerably strengthened, with foreign trade visitors increasing by 32%, coming from a total of 37 countries.
Through the Freskon Hosted Buyers Programme, 121 buyers from 30 countries were hosted, while more than 2,800 bilateral B2B meetings took place.
International delegations also played a pivotal role:
- Strong Balkan presence: The exhibition welcomed two large targeted group delegations, including 100 trade visitors from North Macedonia and 50 from Bulgaria.
- Delegation from the Madrid Central Market: Particularly successful was the visit of an eight-member business delegation from Madrid’s central market, consisting of six Spanish companies (Cultivar, CIA FRU&VER, Frutinter, Frutas Marpa, Verduras Marcafrut, and Champiñones Cumar). The mission, organized in cooperation with the Office for Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Embassy of Greece in Madrid, held more than 170 pre-arranged business meetings, visited the Thessaloniki Central Market, and met with executives of OKAA, opening new export channels for Greek products.
FreshCon Market and Parallel Events
The dynamic pulse of this year’s Freskon was equally reflected in its rich programme of parallel events, covering multiple aspects of the fresh fruit and vegetable sector:
- FreshCon Market: The successful initiative, organized in collaboration with FRUITONEA magazine, brought producers together with representatives of organized retail. Sixteen retail chains (supermarkets) from Greece and the Balkans participated, offering producers direct access to the shelves of major distribution networks.
- 2nd International Cherry Conference: A flagship event focusing on the latest developments in cultivation and the commercial prospects of a product with strong export potential.
- Specialized Workshops: Two targeted workshops were held. The first focused on berries, analyzing rapidly growing demand and new production trends, while the second was dedicated to industrial clingstone peaches, highlighting processing and marketing challenges.
- Digital Future & Supply Chain: Special thematic sessions featured presentations on the integration of new digital tools in the field, traceability, and the modern challenges surrounding the transport and preservation of fresh produce.
Freskon Greece also present at Fruit Attraction São Paulo
For the second consecutive time, Freskon Greece participated in Fruit Attraction São Paulo, held from March 24 to 26, 2026, organizing the official Greek participation in the exhibition.
The Greek presence included 11 companies participating either individually or through the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the Region of Thessaly, and the Larissa Chamber of Commerce. The participating Greek companies are active in the production and export of kiwifruit, aiming to highlight the quality and competitiveness of Greek kiwifruit, while further strengthening trade relations with Latin America.
Committed to the continuous development and enhancement of Freskon, TIF-HELEXPO extends its thanks to exhibitors, the thousands of trade visitors, and its partners for the success of this year’s event.
