Sep 9, 2016

WAPA gains Chinese organization as member

WAPA (World Apple and Pear Association) has welcomed the apple and pear section of the China Chamber of Commerce of Foodstuffs and Native Produce (CFNA) as a new member. The membership was formalized on Sept. 2 in Xi’an, Shaanxi, China, on the occasion of the International Fruit Conference.

The president of WAPA, Daniel Sauvaitre (ANPP, France), attended a signing ceremony on behalf of WAPA. The association was created in 2001 as a platform to address global challenges and to identify new opportunities for the apples and pears growers’ communities around the world. WAPA was so far incorporating the 20 leading apples and pears associations from both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, according to the association. But a representative from China was still missing.

“The accession of CFNA to WAPA is a significant steps for the global representation of WAPA, given the great potential of the Chinese apples and pear production,” Sauvaitre said. “I am very pleased that we have filled this gap and identified the right partner to add a Chinese voice at the table of the association, as this will further enhance the global discussions of the association”.

With inclusion of the Chinese member, close to 70 percent of the apple and 90 percent of the pear production is represented in WAPA, according to the association.