As the world’s fruit and vegetable community prepares to meet at Fruit Attraction in Madrid, Spain (4 – 6 October), an annual commercial fair is known as an innovation stage for the market, the Westfalia Fruit Group is showcasing four pioneering projects that have taken sustainable farming to the next level.

Customised water conservation plans

As Westfalia operates in various types of climates with different water conditions, the company is continuously building on its industry-leading water strategy to decrease its water use by 50 percent by 2030.

Water plans already developed for South Africa, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Portugal are reporting on water-related key performance indicators to track the progress of water savings and the success of the interventions chosen.

In a leading approach, each operation is working on and will submit an 8-year Water Plan that outlines how they will decrease water use and improve water use efficiency. The KPIs will be reported every four months to track the performance of each water-saving intervention. Based on the success of this program, Westfalia is developing and implementing customized plans for each of its operations worldwide.

Developing a new buzz

With regulations for pesticide use continuing to tighten around the world, Westfalia is turning to biological control methods as a more sustainable way of controlling pests. In projects in Chile and Colombia, Westfalia is rearing five different beetle and insect predators for the control of white and red scale mites, aphids, and mealybugs among others in citrus, avocados, and blueberries.

Working with a new expert entomologist Westfalia aims to increase the production of pests and improve the harvest systems for the different insects produced. The release of these natural enemies produced in the company’s laboratory is incorporated into the crop management program. Westfalia is working to planning to expand this approach beyond Chile and Colombia.

Farming in nature

Another pioneering project is underway in Portugal where Westfalia’s conservation work is protecting a highly biodiverse habitat and the endemic species found within it. The previously abandoned farm is situated within a Site of Community Importance and managed as a Natura 2000 site.

Before the current avocado orchard was planted in the Alcácer do Sal habitat in Portugal, Westfalia and its local partners carried out floral inventories and environmental impact surveys. This extensive process guided the development of the agricultural project and determined which areas of the reserve needed to be preserved.

As required under both Portuguese and EU law, Westfalia is maintaining 50 percent of the land as a reserve to protect the species that live there and, in addition, the company’s maintenance and tree branch clearing have spared the area from the devastating wildfires that have scarred many other parts of the country this summer.

The project has already demonstrated to locals its sustainability credentials in terms of biodiversity conservation and low water use.

New facility in France

Westfalia Fruit France also announces the construction of its new facility in Graveson, in the Provence area of southern France. This new state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to be operational in November 2022 and will include avocado storage, ripening rooms, and packing capability to support Westfalia’s pan-European operations.

In addition, the new facility in Graveson has been built with extensive energy-saving facilities, including solar panels across the roof space, taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint and increase the capacity of green energy use towards our sustainable goals.

Find out more about these and other sustainability initiatives as well as how you can work with Westfalia Fruit at our booth: Hall 10 booth F10

About Westfalia Fruit

The multinational Westfalia Fruit Group is a leading supplier of fresh and processed produce to international markets, offering a diverse range of quality fruit and related products via its vertically integrated supply chain. Founded over 70 years ago on guiding environmental, social, governance & sustainability principles. These practices, premised on the legacy of Dr Hans Merensky are at the heart of all that is done by the Group – “To Do Good”, – which continues to underpin our approach today.

Today, operating in 16 countries spread over 5 continents, the Westfalia Fruit Group prides itself on advancing sustainable agricultural practices and being a responsible corporate citizen within the communities in which it operates.

As a frontrunner in the avocado industry, Westfalia grows, sources, ripens, packs, processes, and markets accredited avocados across the globe throughout the year. Value-added products include avocado oil, low-preservative guacamole, frozen avocado, and dried fruit.

Westfalia grows fruit in all major origins in the Americas and Africa and sources from partner orchards, giving the Group the most diverse avocado-growing footprint in the world. Westfalia’s dynamic and integrated supply chain from research to the consumer benefits all stakeholders. The Group’s research division, Westfalia Technological Services, is the world’s largest privately funded subtropical fruit research unit. Its dedicated team of scientists and technicians focuses on varietal development, innovation, and environmental matters, and provides a pivotal role in defining the future of the global avocado industry.

A supplier of choice to retail, wholesale, and food-service customers, Westfalia operates sales offices in the UK, Europe, North America, Latin America, southern Africa, and Asia. Fruit is packed in diverse formats and expertly ripened to deliver optimal eating quality.

For more information visit www.westfaliafruit.com.