The first line of premium strawberries to come out of Ethiopia was unveiled this week.
Fruit World Breda, based in the Netherlands, has selected Ethiopia’s only strawberry grower, Ilan Tot plc, to supply premium fruit for its European Black Label line.
The Ethiopian-grown Yuval benefits from 1700m altitude and strong sunlight to make it exceptionally sweet, with an average brix of 10 per cent.
The Modjo-based strawberry grower is owned and managed by Ilan Eliyaho, who has previously produced berries in Israel and has considerable experience supplying major supermarket chains, such as Tesco, with premium fruit.
The product will be airfreighted to Europe and will arrive 24-36 hours after harvest. The strawberries will be delivered in 10x250g packaged in black punnets and black boxes.
The introduction of Ethiopia as a strawberry-growing region opens up possibilities for year-round availability of high-quality fruit from the country, produced in a way that will meet with the approval of socially conscious consumers.
Ilan Tot has GlobalGAP certification, and expects to be awarded BRC certification in December.
The farm is staffed by the local population, with the exception of Eliyah and his brother, giving jobs to some 450 people mainly from the nearby villages of Bika and Moda.
The business makes a contribution to the infrastructure of local villages through the supply of fresh water from wells it has had dug, and the firm also supplies electricity to the church.
Ilan Tot plc has also introduced a strawberry-growing study programme in the local school, where children are given plants, taught about cultivating them and encouraged to trade their produce in local markets.
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