Organic specialst OTC Holland is set to bring the first container of organic Kent mangoes from Senegal into the Netherlands this week, as part of its pledge to develop supply of products from new sources.
OTC worked closely with an organic grower cooperative in the southern Casamance region, embedded between Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, to bring the mangoes to the European market.
The cooperative has 500 members, of which 70 are organic growers, with all members active throughout the entire production chain – from cultivation to harvesting and from sorting to packaging.
The mangoes carry the 'Ecocert Responsible' label, which oversees the ethical, social and environmental procedures of the company. Besides that, the cooperative has its own organic certified packing station.
'By developing new projects and connecting new suppliers to OTC, the company hopes to respond better to market needs,' the group noted.
The Senegalese mangoes will be available for the next six weeks at OTC. After this period, OTC will continue with the supply of organic mangos from the north of Senegal until the Spanish season begins.
