Demand for avocado around the world remains at an all-time high. Sales of the fruit have seen a further increase after health messages appeared in marketing campaigns a few years ago. Avocado growers and traders are now working hand in hand to highlight the benefits of avocado.
Avocado in South Africa
South Africa is the second largest exporter of avocados in Africa after Kenya. The journey from avocado farms in South Africa to overseas markets is a complex one. Just like any other fresh produce, avocados have a short shelf life.
The main avocado season in South Africa lasts from March to September. Being a climacteric fruit, avocado ripens only after harvesting. Only mature avocados are picked so as to withstand the rigors of handling and transportation.
Exporting South Africa Avocado
Keeping avocados from South Africa fresh requires a cold chain. Once they are picked, they are kept refrigerated constantly so as to deliver the best ripeness before they hit the shelves. Ripening and softening is delayed by pre-cooling the fruit immediately after harvest.
Here are the optimum Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage and transport conditions for South African avocado:
- Unripe fruit is stored at temperatures between 8°C and 12°C and for ripe fruit it is between 5°C and 12°C.
- Relative humidity during storage is between 85% and 90%.
- Fruit is stored under proper ventilation at 2% to 5% oxygen and up to 10% carbon dioxide.
- Fruit is stored and transported at very low ethylene levels to reduce early softening.
During the trip from tree to shelf, avocados release carbon dioxide, ethylene, water vapour and heat. As a result, storage for ripe fruit is between 7 and 14 days and up to 28 days for unripe fruit to prevent rotting. CA transportation through refrigerated or reefer containers extends the shelf life up to 6 weeks.
Here are other details you need to know about shipping avocado from South Africa:
- Avocados are packaged in single layers in fruit crates or cartons and sometimes with padding and palletized.
- Avocado cargo is handled carefully because it is sensitive to impact, pressure, heat and moisture.
- Avocados are kept in good hygienic conditions because they can spoil when exposed to dirt.
Avocado Exporters in South Africa
The government of South Africa regulates exporting of avocados primarily through the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) and the South African Avocado Growers’ Association (SAAGA). These bodies ensure that South African avocados sold in markets abroad are of exceptional quality. Avocados leave the country either through the O.R. Tambo International Airport or the Ports of Durban and Cape Town.
Avocado exporters in South Africa must meet the following requirements:
- Have an export license from the South African Revenue Service (SARS)
- Have an export permit from DALRRD
- They must be registered with the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB)
- Have a Phytosanitary Certificate from DALRRD
- Have a Global G.A.P. Certificate
- They must have a Certificate of Origin
Here is a top foreign exporter of South African avocado
Freshela Exporters
Freshela is a Kenyan based company that engages in the sourcing, processing and exporting of avocados and other fresh produce.
Freshela is a leading exporter of avocados. We source avocados from our company farm and partner farms.
We give competitive pricing to our customers and guarantee reliable delivery time.
We use a modern grading machine to achieve desired avocado weight. The fruit is also graded to eliminate any with physical quality defects.
We pack avocado fruit for both air and sea freights. All of our avocado packing is approved by FDA and is certified by HACCP Quality Assurance.