GreenFruit Avocados achieves organic certification at Colombian farms

GreenFruit Avocados has announced that its farms in Colombia have achieved Organic Certification for the US, Canadian and European markets.

The company, made up of third generation Mexican farmers, grows, packs and ships Hass avocados to worldwide markets. Five years ago it decided to invest in 1,200 acres of production in Colombia’s Valle del Cauca to meeting rising demand from its retail and foodservice customers.

“We took our growing experience from Michoacan and adapted it to the fertile soils and microclimate of Colombia,” said Kraig Loomis, vice president of sales and marketing.

“Today GreenFruit is one of the few companies supplying organic avocados out of Colombia and has the largest farm certified for the global market. Around half of our Colombian avocado output will be sold as organic.”

Loomis said the company is also being audited by Demeter to obtain Bio Dynamic certification.

Developed by Dr Rudolf Steiner in the 1920s, biodynamic agriculture is a holistic, ecological and ethical approach to food production in which farmers strive to create diversified, balanced ecosystems.

As a vertically integrated supplier, GreenFruit controls the entire avocado supply chain. “We are proud to be able to provide a highly consumable and in-demand product, without compromising its quality, year-round,” Loomis said.

“Sustainability and social responsibility were two big factors as to why we decided to graft our own trees, control our nurseries and make our own fertilisers in our orchards – the avocados we consume as well as the people that cultivate them are equally important.”

Loomis foresees a bright future for the company’s Colombian venture. “Although our orchards are only five years old, we have noticed that the trees are producing quite a bit of volume for being so young and can see four blooms per year,” he said.