With solutions designed for each stage of the post-harvest process, AgroFresh seeks to consolidate the position of Colombian avocados in international markets, focusing on sustainability, traceability, and technological innovation.

At a time when Colombia is consolidating its position as one of the leading exporters of Hass avocados, ensuring fruit quality at its destination has become a strategic challenge. AgroFresh, a leading company in post-harvest solutions, has entered the country with a proposal that encompasses much more than just products: it offers integrated technologies that preserve avocado freshness, reduce losses, and improve profitability for growers and packers.

“Our purpose is to ensure that Colombian avocados arrive in optimal condition to the most demanding markets, reducing losses and maximizing returns for those who produce, pack, and export them,” says María del Pilar Murillo, Commercial Manager of AgroFresh for Colombia and Ecuador.

AgroFresh's offering is structured around its wide range of technologies, products, and services designed to automate, control, and optimize post-harvest packaging processes. Within the Control Tec portfolio, technologies such as the Control Tec Applicator ULV stand out. This applicator is designed to ensure uniform coverage of avocados during fungicide application. It allows for precise and controlled dosing of various fungicide and sanitizing active ingredients, reducing risks and improving quality at the destination.

Another key focus on sustainability is the Control Tec Eco Washer line, an automatic washing, rinsing, and sanitizing system that reduces water consumption by up to 90% compared to traditional methods. This not only represents significant operational savings but also aligns with the environmental standards of export markets.

To strengthen food safety strategies and plans across various areas of the process, AgroFresh develops and implements its technology through the Control TEC Ultra Sanitizer. This solution sanitizes cold storage rooms, packing rooms, containers, and other areas using ultrasonic water nebulization combined with our latest-generation sanitizer, Fresh Start Disinfect FV 23-15. This system reduces the pathogen load in fruit transit areas, maintaining optimal hygienic conditions.

Complementing these processes, AgroFresh also provides its clients with Control TEC Applicator PAA, a technology developed to automatically control the sanitization of recirculating process water, eliminating the need for manual measurements with test strips. “This frees quality control personnel from repetitive tasks and improves the efficiency of microbiological control,” explains Murillo.

Within its portfolio of science-based solutions, AgroFresh has developed VitaFresh™ Botanicals, a post-harvest coating made from edible plants that protects the fruit's skin and maintains its freshness and weight. Certified as a vegan product by the European Vegetarian Union, this coating preserves the avocado's natural appearance, reduces dehydration, and slows down ripening.

“This solution allows avocados to retain their commercial value for longer, even on long logistics routes. It is especially useful for exporters and marketers operating in demanding markets,” Murillo explains.

Traceability and Monitoring

Traceability and monitoring are increasingly in demand in the agribusiness sector. To meet this need, AgroFresh has implemented the FreshCloud™ digital platform, which allows for the capture of data, graphical evidence, and operational variables from the field to the market, all in real time.

“Many customers don’t need to manage the entire supply chain, but they do require accurate information on key processes. FreshCloud™ allows them to make data-driven decisions from any device,” says Murillo.

This tool is especially valuable for exporters who must comply with regulatory requirements or who seek to certify processes for international buyers.

Beyond its technical focus, AgroFresh has a clear mission: to reduce food loss worldwide. “One-third of the food produced globally is lost before it reaches the table. Our work consists of ensuring that fruits like avocados are not wasted, but arrive fresh, whole, and with added value,” says Murillo.

With its arrival in Colombia, AgroFresh has brought not only cutting-edge technology, but also a vision for the future of avocados as a flagship product of Colombian agriculture. This vision combines quality, sustainability, and technology to ensure that each fruit reaches its destination and delivers maximum profitability.