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Ethiopia begins exporting
"excellent quality" strawberries to Netherlands |
| Addis Ababa, November 24, 2007 (WIC) - The Netherlands based Fruit World Breda has selected Ethiopia's only strawberry grower Ilan Tot plc to supply them with premium strawberries–-the very first to come out of Ethiopia-- for their European Black Label line, according to the website of Fresh Plaza. The introduction of Ethiopia as a strawberry growing region opens up possibilities for year-round availability of quickly-delivered, exceptionally sweet, high-quality fruit, said freshplaza.com. These Ethiopian-grown strawberries benefit from 1700m altitude and strong sunlight concentrations to make them exceptionally sweet, with average of 10 percent sugar brix, it added. According to Fresh Plaza, the strawberries produced in the country are of excellent quality as they are transported to Europe by air as well as delivered very fast---within 24-36 hours from harvesting, making them much fresher than fruit grown in other out-of-season supply countries. Located in Modjo, Ilan Tot plc strawberry farm has created jobs to 450 people, it noted, adding that of those 85 percent are women. The farm also makes a contribution to the infrastructure of the area through the supply of fresh water and electricity. Besides, Ilan Tot plc is investing in the next generation through a strawberry-growing study program in the local school, where children are given plants, taught about cultivating them and encouraged to trade their resulting produce in local markets, it was learnt. |
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