Avocados are highly appreciated in international markets. Whenever they are in season, their sales soar. Additionally, thanks to a tolerance to long-distance shipping, avocados have been well received by countries in Eastern Europe and the Far East region. Consequently, they arrive fresh at distant destinations.
Avocado in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is rising through the ranks to become a major avocado exporting country in Africa. The journey from avocado farms in Zimbabwe to overseas markets is a complex one. Just like any other fresh produce, avocados have a short shelf life.
The main avocado season in Zimbabwe lasts from April to August. 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 Zimbabwe Avocado
Keeping avocados from Zimbabwe 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 Moroccan 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 Zimbabwe:
- 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 Zimbabwe
The government of Zimbabwe regulates exporting of avocados primarily through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and the National Trade Development and Promotion Organization of Zimbabwe (ZimTrade). These bodies ensure that Zimbabwe avocados sold in markets abroad are of exceptional quality. Avocados leave the country through the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. While some of the consignment can be transported via road to South Africa and leave through the Port of Durban.
Avocado exporters in Zimbabwe must meet the following requirements:
- They must be registered by both the ZimTrade and the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA)
- Have an export permit from the Ministry of Agriculture
- Have a Phytosanitary Certificate from the Plant Quarantine Services (PSQ)
- Have a Global G.A.P Certificate
- They must have a Certificate of Origin
Here is a top foreign exporter of Zimbabwe 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.