Food Fairs

Berlin's International Green Week fair bills itself as the largest international agricultural fair and focuses on the food and agriculture industry. It usually sees German leaders make a bit of a fool out of themselves by cutting cheese, peeling potatoes or joining hops/milk/wine/ queens for a taste of their favorite beverage. The week-long event features everything from meat products to live animals to garden and horticulture equipment. Some 1,600 exhibitors from 53 countries and 430,000 visitors took part this year.

Next dates: Jan. 18 to Jan. 27, 2008

Cologne's International Sweets and Biscuits Fair bills itself as "the largest and most important sweets and biscuits fair in the world." The exhibition includes sweets, chocolate and bakery products as well as ice cream, among others. Some 1,600 exhibitors from over 60 countries and 36,000 visitors came in 2007.

Next dates: Jan. 27 to Jan. 30, 2008

Biofach in Nuremberg focuses on the organic food sector and brings together about 2,000 exhibitors from 112 countries. In 2007, about 45,500 visitors attended the event. The fair has offshoots in Japan, the US, South America and China.

Next dates: Feb. 21 to Feb. 24, 2008

Anuga and Anuga Food Tec fairs in Cologne focus on the food industry. The bi-annual Anuga calls itself the "world's most important trade fair for food & beverages" and draws some 5,500 exhibitors from about 90 countries as well as 160,000 visitors. Anuga Food Tec takes place every three years and is an international trade fair for food and drink technology. About 1,000 exhibitors from 44 countries attend, as do 35,000 visitors.

Next dates: Oct. 13 to Oct. 17, 2007 (Anuga), March 10 to March 13, 2009 (Anuga Food Tec)