Greek fresh fruit exporters are looking for new markets in the Middle East, especially in the Arabian Peninsula, where there is a population of 40 million people. A series of missions and contacts have already been made in these countries by a consortium of ten organisations from the regions of Imathia and Kozani, representing a total of 6,500 fruit producers (of peaches, nectarines, kiwis, apples, pears, cherries and apricots), accounting for the largest share of the country's fruit exports, with a total turnover of €170 million, of which 98% is generated from exports.

The above mentioned organizations participated in mid-November, in one of the largest international food fairs in the Arab world, the Foodex Saudi 2014, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and included, and a series of meetings with major supermarket chains and distributors. The next mission will take place on December 15 in Cairo, Egypt.

The shipment of fruit will be carried out in special reefer vessels from the port of Piraeus in about eight days, which automatically gives Greece an advantage over Spain. The country's major competitors, are Italy and Turkey, according to president of the consortium, Christos Giannakaki.