Westfalia Fruit will be exporting avocados for the first time from new production areas in the Western Cape of South Africa.
The Western Cape is a new production area, with the main plantings in the George and Heidelberg region, with these avocados currently being packed at Arisa Packers near Swellendam.
Westfalia has been involved with growers in the Western Cape for many years, channelling the fruit into South African programmes after the main season has come to an end.
Fruit maturity from these growing areas is more comparable to mid-season production areas in Chile, which supplies the European market from October–January.
“Hass and Gem plantings in the Western Cape have increased over the past few years, and the crop has been absorbed into a strong local market,' said Hans Boyum, general manager of Westfalia Marketing Africa. 'This is the first season that Westfalia Fruit has exported from the Western Cape, with the first container of Gem avocados to be shipped by next week.'
Westfalia Fruit launched the new Gem avocado last year in the UK, aimed at delivering even greater eating pleasure to avocado lovers. Recently on-shelf at Tesco stores in the UK and Ireland, the offering is an example of how the multinational is working to deliver value-added and novel products to meet the demands of both its retail customers and their patrons.
In the launch statement, the Gem avocado is described as a premium, perfectly-ripened ‘gourmet’ avocado. “It is easily recognised for its characteristic yellow lenticels or speckles on the dark skin of the ripe fruit.”
This year Gem avocados are being packed in increasing volumes at Arisa Packhouse in the Southern Cape, and at other packhouses through the country.
“The spread of plantings through different production areas in South Africa has allowed over three months of availability of this cultivar to the export market,' Boyum continued. 'As other plantings across the world come into full production, the Gem avocado season will be further extended.'
Westfalia Fruit said independent tasting panels confirmed that ‘British consumers love the smooth flesh of the Gem with its creamy, melt-in-the-mouth texture, and they enjoy its slightly sweet taste and subtle nutty aroma'.
Another noticeable feature of the new branded avocado include a thicker skin, which allows the flesh to be easily scooped out with a spoon.
At the time of launch a Westfalia spokesperson said: “We are convinced that the Gem avocado is going to become a household name for discerning avocado lovers and look forward to being able to deliver more of this gourmet fruit in the coming seasons.”
