The son of a Spanish couple who worked a small citrus fruits business around Valencia, Bernard Lliso (64 years old) originally wanted to be an agricultural engineer. However, the terrible winter of 1957 ruined both his and his parents' dreams. While still in his teens, he came to France where he started out as an assistant at the Halles de Paris with his elder brother Salvador. In 1969, the brothers set up at Rungis and created the company Lliso Frères; Bernard Lliso was responsible for the banana ripening compound. In 1982, each decided to go their own way, with Bernard Lliso buying out his brother's share of the company Select Agrumes. Specialised in the sale of bananas and citrus fruits from Spain and South America, the company at that time had just three employees. Next, Bernard bought the Oliver company, specialising in exotic produce of all origins. Today, the two companies count twenty-three employees and sell two hundred product references. Bernard Lliso is assisted by his wife Amparo (named after Our Lady of Bon Secours in Valencia) and their two sons, Gérard (38 years old) and Franck (36 years old). Having graduated from business school and gained an important international business experience, Gérard and Franck joined the family business in the 1990s as In July 2004, Franck became president of the GIE Fructifrui (French Association of Independent Banana Ripeners). "We have developed the company and extended our product range to include over 200 references, explains Bernard Lliso. Our flagship products remain oranges from Spain, and bananas and avocados from the West Indies. Our sales volumes can be broken down as: Spanish produce (citrus fruits, lemons, watermelons, apricots, peaches, and so on) 30%; bananas (5,000 tonnes from the West Indies and 500 tonnes of baby-bananas (frecinette) from Colombia) 20%; exotic produce from all origins 35%, and French produce 15%.

We are the second largest importer of baby-bananas in France. As a specialist in the banana ripening sector, I see that producers in the West Indies are making huge efforts to improve the quality, presentation and taste of their product. The same applies to Spanish produce, which accounts for most of the produce on our stalls. As leading world exporter of oranges, Spain has worked hard to increase its varietal diversity and its logistics systems in order to win market shares and make the most of its natural advantages: rich soils and a sunny climate. Our customer base covers the retail trade for 70% (markets, shops, Cours des Halles, major restaurants and hotels); export for 20% and major retail outlets (supermarkets, hypermarkets) for 10%. While our sales policy focuses on the top end of the market, we recognise today's need to concentrate less on production and more on quality. Rungis is the showcase for the world's best produce and must stay that way…"