KAKUZI PLC Agricultural firm
Kakuzi Plc Managing Director
He added that the firm is also providing free maturity testing services for smallholder farmers to ensure that only avocados with a minimum dry matter standard of 24 percent are harvested.
Harvesting and exporting immature fruit, Flowers said, is detrimental to the firm's national avocado development initiatives.
"Maturity testing has been ongoing with the important parameters of dry matter content being closely monitored on our orchards and affiliated smallholder farmers," Flower said.
"Whilst maturity can vary from growing region to growing region at
According to HCD, avocados should be harvested when they reach maturity, which is determined by a minimum dry matter standard of 24 percent.
In a public notice, the Directorate added that harvesting avocados at the recommended stage of maturity of more than 24 percent dry matter content reduces the fruit's susceptibility to mesocarp bruising.
"By measuring that the dry matter content, and hence oil content, is correct before we export, we can provide our customers with the best eating experience of quality avocados," Flowers stated.
"No one wants to buy an avocado you can't eat. Our dry matter content is only 19%, so we have another month before our fruit reaches an export quality."
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