South African avocado producer partners with Alfa Laval
Ecovado's plant will be driven by the Alfa Laval processing line.
A South Africa-based agroprocessing company called Ecovado has launched an avocado oil processing plant in Vhembe, Limpopo, in collaboration with global heat exchanger manufacturer, Alfa Laval Middle East, South and East Africa (MESEA)
This move follows Ecovado identifying Vhembe's largely unexplored market potential in avocados, which the region is naturally blessed with -- enough to sustain its wider economic progress. Boosting local avocado production will secure long-term supply and open up income opportunities for households. The success of this project will fulfil Ecovado's fruitforcash vision as part of its local development cause for employment generation and agricultural sustainability.
Ecovado's plant will be driven by the Alfa Laval processing line, giving the South African company an instant edge in the export markets with its quality products matching global standards. The project is being funded by Alfa Laval through Swedish export credit agency, EKN. Alfa Laval has also extended its funds beyond Vhembe to cover the costs of avocado seedlings for small scale farmers from the adjacent regions.
Local residents are running the day-to-day operations at the Ecovado plant, with fruits sourced directly from small scale growers. The company is now focusing to scale up production before it can grow its network of community suppliers, and in turn, expand export reach.
“This project represents exactly what sustainable industrial development should look like: world class technology enabling local entrepreneurship, job creation and long-term community development,” said Alfa Laval South and East Africa general manager, Bongani Twala.
