Ramping up production: Tradin Organic opens avocado processing facility in Ethiopia

02 Oct 2019 --- Tradin Organic has opened a new avocado processing facility in Ethiopia. The Sunvado factory has completed its first test-runs and is now ramping up its organic avocado oil production. The first products should be ready for export in the coming weeks and, with this new project, the company will be able to bring organic virgin avocado oil and organic refined avocado oil to the market by the end of the year.

Globally, there is a strong demand for organic avocado oil, which is driven by the desire of consumers to make their diets healthier and more sustainable,” Mark Bolier, Business Unit Manager Global Oil Desk at Tradin Organic tells FoodIngredientsFirst. 

The shift to more sustainable diets is pushing the demand for organic certified and sustainably produced vegetable oils. “At the same time, the switch towards healthier diets is sparking the demand for vegetable oils rich in monounsaturated fat. Our organic avocado oil project ticks all these boxes,” he explains. 

Additionally, avocado oil has a rich flavor profile, making it a popular gourmet product. Moreover, avocado oil has a high smoke point and a versatile range of applications, according to Boiler. “Organic extra virgin oil is excellent for salad dressings and sauces, while the organic refined avocado oil is also suitable for baking and frying.”

“We expect that the mix of perceived health and sustainability benefits, combined with the flavor profile and versatility will continue to drive the demand for organic avocado oil in the coming years,” he muses.

Organic avocados in Ethiopia have a relatively high oil content. “Our organic extra virgin avocado oil imparts a fresh and delicate avocado aroma with nutty, grassy, buttery flavors and a vibrant green hue,” Boiler adds.

Considering the strong demand for organic avocado oil, Tradin Organic is already strengthening its sourcing network in Southern Ethiopia. “Our team of extension workers and harvest specialists is currently working with over 30,000 organic farmers and, depending on the success of our project, we expect this number to grow in the future,” Karst Kooistra, Sourcing Development Director at the company tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

Through farmer training and the provisions of seedlings, the company is enabling its farmers to increase the avocado production of their farms. “At the same time, we are learning more about the different local varieties of avocado, their respective oil content and their harvest and maturation cycles,” notes Kooistra. “These efforts will help us to continuously increase the quantity and quality of our organic avocado oils,” he adds. 

Fortunately, this project will not put considerable pressure on the Ethiopian avocado supply. “We do not source our organic avocados from commercial farms. Instead, they grow on organic coffee farms, where the farmers use the avocado trees to provide shade for their coffee,” Kooistra explains. “Before the opening of our avocado processing facility, the farmers did not have access to an export market for their avocados. Some of the avocados were used for their own consumption or sold on the local market at meager prices. However, most of the avocados were not harvested at all and were simply left to rot. We made it our mission to change that,” he stresses. 

Local impact
Now that the Sunvado facility is up-and-running, farmers can obtain a better price for their avocados. In addition, Tradin Organic set up an organic certification for their farmers, which gives them access to a premium organic price. 

Furthermore, through farmer field schools and input provisions, Tradin Organic is helping farmers to adopt regenerative agroforestry practices. This will help them to boost the productivity of their farms while improving soil health. The company is also setting up a Fair-For-Life certification, which will provide additional benefits and premiums for its farmers.

Besides providing opportunities for farmers, Sunvado will help create jobs in a region that offers limited employment opportunities. During the avocado season, the company’s processing facility employs around 60 workers, half of which are women. Also, the avocado sourcing operation employs nearly 200 extension workers, field staff, harvesters and collectors.

By Elizabeth Green