Fruit, Health and the Consumer: Outcomes from ISAFRUIT Fruit Forum Conference

The overall theme of the Fruit Forum Conference was BETTER FRUIT for the CONSUMER and the focus was on bringing together the various ‘actors’ in the fruit chain to interact and discuss the health aspects of fruit as well as recent developments in fruit storage, consumer preferences, and sourcing and retailing aspects. The morning session dealt with the health benefits of fruit, and also new generation fruit products such as fresh-cut apple slices with pre- and pro-biotics, heat-processed fruit puree products with pre-biotics and antioxidant dietary fibres. The afternoon focused on aspects relating to consumers including new developments in fruit sourcing and retailing, and on consumer preferences for apples and other fruit. The morning session was chaired by Paula Mee of Nutrition Consulting, and the afternoon by Mike Neary of Bord Bia (Irish Food Board). The morning and afternoon sessions concluded with two fora (Fruit for Health and Fruit Market Place) comprising the speakers, the chairpersons, and two additional experts.