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Durabilis, an international impact investment firm and owner of the fresh produce importer FairFruit in Belgium, is pleased to announce the successful arrival of trial Hass avocado exports from Ethiopia.
The first container arrived in the UK on September 20, 2020, followed by a second shipment on October 5, 2020. The vast majority of GlobalGAP certified fruit has been sold to two major importers serving primarily UK retailers. . Trial volumes have also been offered to customers in Belgium and the Netherlands. Separately, two test air cargo shipments have been received positively in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Evert Wulfrank, CEO of Durabilis, explains: “Considering Ethiopia’s agricultural potential, this successful trial with avocados creates a completely new perspective for a number of Ethiopian products that qualify for export to Europe. The 750km refrigerated rail connection from the dry port of Modjo in Ethiopia to the port of Djibouti means that exporting Ethiopian goods by sea freight has become a real option. The train offers a regular and reliable service that lasts 30 hours, compared to two or three days by truck. In general, the transit time from Ethiopia to Europe is now less than 30 days or so, and there is a possibility of reducing it to 24 days in the future. “
Wulfrank adds: “This is important for buyers looking for new and competitive sources of fresh fruits and vegetables and who, until now, have ignored Ethiopia as a viable option because the country lacked maritime connections. We are looking for more avocado buyers in the UK, Europe and the Middle East because our projected production volumes will grow substantially and we will have a variety of sizes. ”
Ethiopia has considerable agricultural potential thanks to its fertile soils, temperate climate, competitive labor costs and abundant water available within the Koga region (south of Bahir Dar), where Durabilis is working with small farmers together with its local subsidiary Koga. Veg Agricultural. Developing.
Jan Michielsen, CEO of Koga Veg in Ethiopia (owned by Durabilis), adds: “At this stage, our main focus is to establish a commercially viable business model; source from small avocado producers and supply their fruit to the international market through a reliable logistical link. These producers have already adopted environmentally friendly production methods that meet the quality requirements for the ready-to-eat sector in Europe, for which they receive a fair price. In the future, we would like to invest more in more sustainable methods, efficient use of water and ultimately in certified organic production. “
The first of two reefer containers carrying Ethiopian Hass avocados left the Koga Veg packing plant on August 21, 2020; traveling by train from Modjo Dry Port to the port of Djibouti before refrigerated shipment to Italy, and to the UK by truck. Both loads contained 22.4 tons.
For more information:
Evert Wulfrank
Durabilis
Tel: +32 (0) 9 248 42 03
Email: [email protected]
