Westfalia Fruit drives avocado expansion in Africa with new plantations and processed products
The company is strengthening its presence in South Africa and Mozambique, increasing production of fresh avocados, guacamole and oils, while modernizing its nurseries and facilities to meet growing global demand.
Thabo Mavundza, Westfalia Fruit's managing director for Africa, confirmed that the company currently manages approximately 2,500 hectares of avocado orchards in South Africa and Mozambique, primarily focused on export. From his base in Tzaneen, he oversees the company's nurseries and warehouses, which previously produced up to 300,000 trees per season. However, due to current international market conditions, production has been temporarily reduced to 50,000, with plans to increase as demand stabilizes.
The growth strategy includes a significant expansion of planted hectares and infrastructure improvements. Thanks to South Africa's diverse climate, Westfalia can maintain consistent production year-round, while in Mozambique it is strengthening its presence in the first quarter with new orchards. Furthermore, the company is collaborating with local communities to expand its plantations by the fourth quarter of 2026.
Beyond fresh produce, Westfalia is also positioning itself in the value-added market, transforming avocados into guacamole and oils—crude, virgin, and refined—for food and cosmetic uses. To this end, it is modernizing its packing plants and expanding its guacamole facilities. In turn, the growing demand for avocado oil has driven the development of future processing plants in Mozambique and Kenya, solidifying Africa's role as a key player in the global avocado industry.
Source: freshplaza.es
