Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the repeal of the Agrarian Promotion Law, and the unstable economic situation caused by the recent political crises in Peru, Verdeflor invested approximately 5 million soles in preparing its two packing plants for this avocado campaign and in increasing their growing areas.
Verdeflor has opted to invest in Peru, acquiring new machinery, renewing equipment, diversifying its services, expanding the storage and cold capacity of its two packing facilities –located in Huaral and Ica–, providing packaging service to hundreds of small avocado producers, generating foreign exchange, and creating jobs for nearly 500 people in both plants, said Eric D'Angles, the founder and general manager of Verdeflor.
Eric D'Angles
“There are large agro-export companies that threatened to take their investments to other countries in the region because of the new Agrarian Law. In fact, many have already done so. Small and medium-sized companies stay here. We bet on Peru," said D'Angles, who sent the first container of avocado from the Peruvian highlands to Europe more than 20 years ago.
Two decades later, Verdeflor has become the main partner of the small producers of avocado from the highlands. The company, which is approved by Senasa, provides producers with certified packaging and processing services so they can export their products.
Balers
Verdeflor provides maquiladora services to producers in northern Peru at its Huaral plant with a processing capacity of 20 MT/hour, 6 storage chambers, 3 cold tunnels, and a 4-lane Compac line. It also provides maquiladora services to southern producers at its plant in Ica, which has the capacity to process more than 120 tons per day, 2 cooling tunnels, and capacity for 300 pallets.
D'Angles announced that the company plans to open a third packing plant in Arequipa to meet the growing demand in the southern zone.
New growing areas
In addition, Verdeflor will start exporting its own avocado production in the coming months. "We will start with 150 tons of Hass avocado from our own plantations and send them to China, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. 70% will go to the Asian market," he said.
The company's goal is to export nearly 500 tons of Hass avocado by 2022 and 1,500 tons by 2023.
Moreover, Verdeflor expanded its plant in Huaral by acquiring an additional 6,000 square meters to have greater processing capacity for avocados, as well as citrus and other products.
For more information:
Verdeflor
Av. La Encalada 1090 oficina 601, Urb. Centro Comercial Monterrico, Surco (Perú)
Tel. +511 3637661
maquilaexport@verdeflorperu.com.pe
www.verdeflorperu.com.pe