BERLIN — Competition was fierce at Fruit Logistica 2026 last week, where 10 companies competed for the coveted Innovation Awards in the fresh produce and technology categories.
Attendees of the three-day trade fair, held Feb. 4-6, were encouraged to vote for their favorite innovations in both categories, with the winners announced Feb. 6.
The Fruit Logistica Innovation Award for Fresh Produce went to allergy-friendly apple brand Pompur from German company Züchtungsinitiative Niederelbe, or ZIN, which exhibition organizers say won by a large margin.
The breeding initiative nabbed the award for its development of the world's first apple brand certified by the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation. The apple derives its name from “pom” (meaning apple) and “pur” (meaning pure). Thanks to its low allergenicity, Pompur can be consumed by allergy sufferers, the company says.
“We have created a product that gives many people access to apples that they previously couldn't enjoy. In Germany alone, there are between 3.5 [million] and 4 million people with this allergy,” ZIN Managing Director Maik Stölken said at the Feb. 6 awards ceremony. “Our apple hasn't come this far just because it's allergen-free. It also simply tastes good. Today, we are celebrating the result of 20 years of development work.”
In the fresh produce category, Pompur was up against other innovations including Boombites Red Berry Grapes from Bloom Fresh, the result of natural breeding that combined desirable characteristics of table grapes and old wine grapes like grenache, Fiachra Moloney of Bloom Fresh, part of the Amfresh Group, told The Packer.
“The grapes were bred to [not only] taste great but also to be a superfruit, as Boombites contain antioxidants comparable to blueberries,” added Moloney, who said the grapes were more than 10 years in the making.
Mastronardi Produce's Pop Its snacking cucumbers were also a contender.
“They're a sweeter cucumber and a refreshing snack that are very different from other snacking cucumbers,” Mastronardi's Andrea Salter Meloche told The Packer. In addition to having higher Brix and uniform sizing, Pop Its snacking cucumbers also come in fun, grab-and-go packaging that Salter Meloche says fits in most car cupholders.
“Innovating with varieties, packaging and branding is all-encompassing of what we do and truly what drives us,” she says. “We want to continue to push the envelope and differentiate from our competitors. Freshness and flavor are top for us.”
The Netherlands' Sapori, Finest Selection from Wim Peters Kwekerijen was a finalist for the fresh produce innovation award for its mini cherry tomatoes, while Tribelli Seedless from Enza Zaden was a finalist for its sweet, seedless, full-flavored mini peppers.
Technology Award Winner
The Fruit Logistica 2026 Innovation Award for Technology went to a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)-based agricultural spraying L50 Drone from Hungary's ABZ Innovation.
Thanks to its high-performance battery and smart control system, it can remain airborne for significantly longer than comparable aircraft, covering up to 24 hectares, the company says. Its large 50-liter (or about 13.2-gallon) tank makes the L50 Drone particularly well-suited to supporting agricultural businesses with large areas, helping them to apply pesticides and fertilizers efficiently.
“This award is a great recognition of our work and means a lot to us,” said Gyula Törok, chief commercial officer of ABZ Innovation. “We are the first drone manufacturer in Europe to develop this type of drone. Winning the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award shows us that we are on the right track.”
