Elodie and Faruk Halls technical team

Faruk Ghumra and Elodie Fagegaltier

South African tropical fruit supplier and grower Halls has made two additions to its technical team.

Former Chingford horticulturalist Faruk Ghumra has been appointed as group technical manager. Currently based in the company’s UK office, Ghumra will be relocating to South Africa this summer.

In the past Ghumra worked for an agrochemical firm in Zimbabwe, before moving to Outspan and then onto now defunct UK firm A1 Fruit.

Alongside providing technical support across the entire company, Ghumra told FPJ his first projects have included testing alternatives for sulphur preservation of lychees, in preparation for the possibility of untenable MRLs for sulphur.

New technical officer Elodie Fagegaltier has joined the Rungis team and is overseeing a new quality management system. She will also help meet certifications such as organic and International Food Standards (IFS).

She previously spent three years working for French retailer Intermarché and has also worked in a technical role at an apricot supplier in Switzerland.