Coltrópicos revolutionizes the selection and export of Hass avocados with cutting-edge technology

Thanks to an optical sorting system with artificial intelligence, the company guarantees quality and consistency in every piece of fruit. By 2025, it plans to expand into processed products such as guacamole and frozen fruit pulp.

Since its founding in 2022, Coltrópicos Colombia has transformed Hass avocado exports through technological innovation and a focus on quality. Its key differentiator is the use of Tomra's Spectrim system, based on machine learning, which captures 150 images per fruit for precise selection. “To date, we have taken more than 12 billion photos, allowing us to make data-driven decisions and advise our partner producers,” explain Daniela Santos and María Isabel Gaviria, the company's commercial director and general manager, respectively.

This automated approach ensures uniform and efficient sorting, setting it apart from other packing plants that still rely on manual processes. Thanks to this technology, Coltrópicos exported nearly 200 containers in 2024 and projects exceeding 300 in 2025, with Europe as its main market and sustained growth in the United States.

However, the sector faces challenges such as transportation availability and price volatility, affected by global competition and the entry of new producing countries, such as Morocco. “Our real competition comes from other Hass avocado origins. That's why producers, packers, and exporters must work together to consolidate the strengths of Colombian avocados,” says Gaviria.

By 2025, Coltrópicos will expand its business with a production line for guacamole and frozen avocado pulp, using high-pressure processing (HPP) technology to offer preservative-free products with an extended shelf life of up to 60 days refrigerated and 2 years frozen. This will allow the company to access new global markets with a diversified portfolio.

Given the constant changes in international trade, Coltrópicos closely monitors the evolution of tariffs and regulations. “We are attentive to any policy changes that could impact our competitiveness,” its directors conclude.

Source: freshplaza.es