MEET THE BUYERS - Fruit & Veg B2B Event
15th October 2026 - Mersin, Turkey
MEET THE BUYERS - Fruit & Veg B2B Event
On 15 October 2026, the first edition of MEET THE BUYERS, the Fruit & Veg B2B Event, will take place in Mersin, Turkey.
It is the first event of its kind in the Turkish fresh produce sector, created to foster direct commercial connections across the Mediterranean region.
It is aimed at establishing direct relationships between Turkish producers and exporters and other companies coming from Mediterranean countries, with buyers from retail chains and importing companies, wholesalers and food service distributors.
The B2B event is centred around in pre-scheduled one-to-one face to face meetings between fresh fruit and vegetable suppliers and purchasing managers from supermarket chains and importing companies representing major international markets.
The hosting city is Mersin, a Turkey’s main seaports and a key logistics hub that serves as an important gateway for international fresh produce trade.
Recent initiativesAre you a Buyer?
Participate and meet high-quality producers from Turkey and other Mediterranean countries face to face.
Are you a Producer?
Participate in face to face meetings with Buyers from retail chains and foreign importing companies.
Programme for Buyers
Thursday 15th of October 2026
9:00 – 13:00 B2B meetings with Producers
13:00 – 14:00 Light Lunch
14:10 – 17:00 B2B meetings with Producers
17:00 – 20:00 Closing & Aperitif
Discover the programme and participation modalities reserved for Buyers.
Programme for Production Companies
Thursday 15th of October 2026
9:00 – 13:00 B2B meetings with Buyers
13:00 – 14:00 Light Lunch
14:10 – 17:00 B2B meetings with Buyers
17:00 – 20:00 Closing & Aperitif
See the programme and modalities of participation reserved for Producers.
Who participates
- Producers / exporters
- Retail Buyers (supermarkets, chains)
- Buyers from foreign importing companies
- Packaging Companies
- New varieties and seeds Companies
Testimonial
"Over 250 one-to-one meetings between production Companies and retailers. The Fresh Food Leader event goes beyond expectations."
Freshplaza 5th of February 2024 "The large-scale retail buyers appreciate the quality of the event. Some of them confirm that they have concluded negotiations that they had started before, they have expanded their assortment with suppliers they have been already working with and they have established relationships with new suppliers. "
Freshplaza 5th of February 2024 "The Fresh Food Leader event has been very interesting and useful for us."
Micol Ranieri Società Agricola Francesco di Tiraboschi Jessica & C. S. - Italy "We had the chance to talk with principal buyers of some European supermarkets. What makes the Fresh Food Leader event stands out ahead of other fairs is that the event is focused more directly on customers. Thus I recommend it."
Andreu Monrabal Fruta de Autor SL - Spain "The B2B Event organized by Fresh Food Leader on the 25th January in Bergamo, was a source of great satisfaction for the Belgian exporter BEL'Export."
Tony Derwael BEL'Export - Belgium “Fantastic experience. We have already received a postive feedback from some of the buyers and we are about to start a new sale."
Manuel Sola Gullino Import Export - Italy "I wanted to express our sincere gratitude for the great business meeting we had in Bergamo. The meticulous planning and execution truly were on point, making it a seamless and productive experience."
Sophia Dayekh Westfalia Marketing BV -The Netherlands "The strategic position of the location also allowed us to visit the Wholesale Market in Milan and a local "tailor selected" client base, having direct and focused access to the different distribution channels and actors."
Nicola Zanotelli BEL'Export - Belgium "I participated for the second time after Warsaw in the Fresh Food Leader B2B meetings, this time in Bergamo. And again the day was very helpful to get new contacts with international retailers and wholesalers to distribute our OZblu blueberries in Europe."
Susanne R. Knobloch United Exports - Australia, South Africa, Mexico, UK and Germany "Our experience fulfilled our business expectations. Every single meeting was important for us. Moreover, we had a chance to tell about our company and explain our aims and goals."
Gianfranco Pandolfo Ortalba Srl - Italy "I had a unique opportunity to meet buyers from important northern European chains from which I perceived a real willingness and interest in business collaboration."
Fabrizio Zambello OP Nordest - Italy "An event like this really enables to establish direct relationships between producers and buyers of large-scale retailers."
Freshplaza 26th of September 2017 "The meetings like these are in line with the changes of the market and the fact that the retilers are shortening their supply chain by going directly to the producers."
Freshplaza 12th of June 2017 
