Dutch fresh produce importer Cool Fresh International has revealed that it has been awarded a contract by EVD International, the official investment agency of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will allow it to build a modern produce packhouse in Ica, southern Peru.
The contract, which will see Cool Fresh join with a Peruvian partner for the project, is part of the Dutch government's Private Sector Investment programme, supporting innovative investment projects in emerging markets.
Cool Fresh and its Peruvian partner Agrovictoria SAC first submitted their proposal to EVD in August last year, under the heading 'Alta Grazia: a direct link between small Peruvian fruit and vegetable farmers and the world markets'.
According to the partnership, the philosophy of the link-up is to go beyond the 'traditional modus operandi' involved in exporting and importing fresh fruit and vegetables, supporting local farmers to achieve increased volumes, better quality and direct access to world markets.
'For Agrovictoria the project opens up new international opportunities, and also introduces the Peruvian farmers to new developments and concepts in the retail markets,' said Oscar Benalcazar, president of Agrovictoria SAC. 'Agrovictoria's management has always strived for a strategic approach to partnerships, and together with Cool Fresh International we are really excited to create new commercial opportunities for Peru’s small farmers.'
Niels Stolk and Nic Jooste of Cool Fresh International - the two project leaders - noted that Alta Grazia's unique selling proposition would be the creation of extremely flexible options in terms of packing and exports.
'By entering into the joint venture with Agrovictoria, we are able to assist Peruvian small farmers in creating a new future, and also in improving the product availability for the Cool Fresh group’s international retail clients,' they explained. 'The most important spin-off is that the project will have far-reaching social development effects on the poorer people of Ica. For this we make intensive use of the lessons which we learnt from the very successful CSR project of Cool Fresh International in South Africa, Stars in their Eyes'.
Agrovictoria and Cool Fresh International will present their plans for the Alta Grazia project at Fruit Logistica in Berlin during February 2011, while construction will commence in the second quarter of 2011.
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