European Supermarkets: `First Sindhri consignment dispatched

KARACHI: The first-ever trial shipment of Sindhri mangoes for Europe’s high-end supermarkets has been dispatched directly from two orchards in the Sindh province. Eight such shipments are taking place from across the country. Pack houses have been set up at the two farms in Sindh, where mangoes undergo hot water treatment, amidst modern farming practices, which is a pre-requisite for sale in European and other developed countries’ super markets. As part of the USAID project, farmers were provided with equipment for hot water treatment, grading, packing, blast chilling and cold storage – besides picking fruits as per required methodology. After applying modern farming techniques, the fruit was directly exported in refer containers from farms to seaports to foreign markets – which is a less expensive channel, as opposed to transporting via air. Normally growers lease out their farms to contractors, who market the crop according to their preferences.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2011.