The first international food fair, Agroalimentaria 2007 was an all
around success, way beyond organizer’s most optimistic expectations,
Mario Velazquez, president of the organizing committee, told the
press. The goal was to bring 60 buyers from abroad. The fair attracted
152 buyers from major distribution centers worldwide. Both organic and
convention produce were transacted. Products with the most demand
were: bananas, cacao, coffee, mangos, avocados, pineapples, melons,
lemons, oriental vegetables, condiments, concentrated juices, sweets,
marmalades and dried fruits.
Businessmen say that more than US$3 million in contracts for farm and
agribusiness products were signed with visitors from US, Europe, Asia
and Africa. Buyers came from New York, Massachusetts, Florida,
California (representing retailers in Hong Kong) and Boston in the
United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, St. Martin, Trinidad & Tobago,
Barbuda, Grenada, Spain, England, France, Germany, Portugal, Italy,
Sweden, Holland, Japan and Taiwan.
The Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD) and the Center for Export and
Investment (CEI-RD) organized the fair.