The Hamburg-based company ElbeFruit has been able to expand its existing product range this season. After the successful launch of 
high-quality legumes from Guatemala, this year the company made the step towards organic products. And the expectations are promising, explains company spokesman and sales manager, Edgar Günther.
The season for legumes from Guatemala is coming to a close after a satisfactory course. The company has also recently purchased mangetouts and snap peas cultivated in Egypt. By cooperating with exporters there, they enjoy the advantages of both growing areas, explains Günther. "The Egyptian product is comparably cheaper, but the season in Guatemala takes a few weeks longer. At the same time as the end of the season, we are gradually starting to work with other countries, such as Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Thus, we are able to deliver high-quality pulses all year round."
Two varieties, cultivated in Ethiopia: On the left common Hass avocados, on the right the Pinkerton variety.
Cultivation projects in Ethiopia
However, the latest hobby-horse of ElbeFruit is its partnership with Ethiopian producer and exporter GreenPath Food. The main focus of this company is the small-scale organic cultivation - currently about 150 producers - many products, like avocados, chillies, herbs and green beans. Günther: "We now represent the company exclusively in German-speaking countries. Seasonally we are currently offering more of their avocados, which are available in 5 varieties. In addition to the tried and tested Hass and Fuerte we also offer the varieties Ettinger, Pinkerton and Nabal. While these complementary varieties will not quickly become mainstream, we can cover an interesting niche here."
A plantation in Ethiopia
The partnership between the two companies began in 2017 as a result of a trip to Ethiopia, organized by the Import Promotion Desk (IPD). "At that time GreenPath was working on a pilot project for organic legumes and was already planning the move to the European market. After this first meeting, we offered ourselves as a link between the exporters and the European trade. Currently, the goods are delivered twice a week by direct flight from Addis Ababa to Liège, after which they are delivered to the respective customers."
In addition to avocados, green beans and tomatillo from Ethiopia are also available.
Multiple opportunities for organic premium products
Through the cooperation with GreenPath Food and the continuous supply of organic products, ElbeFruit hopes to finally gain a foothold in the German organic trade. "We see more opportunities for our specialties in the organic trade than in conventional trade, as the organic sector is a little broader. On the one hand, there are the larger wholesale and retail chains, and on the other hand, a large number of subscription services, which are rapidly increasing at the moment. Because of this, we have been to several trade fairs - such as the Biofach - on the way to get in touch with these companies and get to know the industry itself. Through this research, we also came across the Hamburg start-up Lütt Gröön whose bio-certified microgreens we have now included in the range."
The year-round availability of pulses is still of utmost importance for the company.
For more information:
ElbeFruit GmbH
GF: Edgar Girón
Hauersweg 2
22303 Hamburg
Office: + 49 40 2999 64 304 opt. 2
[email protected]
www.elbefruit.eu