Westfalia Fruit, AgroSustain partner to cut food waste in avocado supply chain

GLOBAL – Westfalia Fruit, a global avocado producer with over 75 years of experience, has joined hands with Swiss-based agri-tech firm AgroSustain to reduce food loss and chemical residues across the fresh produce supply chain.

The partnership builds on shared efforts to maintain fruit quality while meeting growing demand for sustainable produce.

Talks between the two companies began in 2022. Since then, trials have taken place in Colombia, Chile, and Peru, using AgroSustain’s edible coating called Afondo. The coated avocados were shipped to Westfalia’s facilities in Germany and France for testing.

The results have been promising. Current trials with avocados and limes show that Afondo can cut post-harvest fungicide use by at least half while reducing supply chain waste. The coating fits easily into existing machinery and causes little disruption to packing lines.

Following these results, Westfalia has started commercial trials with selected customers. Many buyers have shown strong interest in the coating because it maintains the natural taste of the fruit while reducing waste.

“Westfalia is proud to be at the forefront of innovation in the avocado sector,” said Andrew Mitchell, Head of Innovation at Westfalia Fruit.

“Our collaboration with AgroSustain reflects our shared commitment to sustainability and delivering high-quality produce to our customers. One of the benefits of the Afondo coating is its flexibility, we are able to incorporate it into our existing operations as an option for customers who are impressed by its results. In a dynamic market we believe Afondo delivers better value and results than other coatings available on the market and will shortly be extending trials to other European markets.”

A shared commitment to sustainability

AgroSustain’s CEO, Olga Dubey, expressed similar optimism about the partnership. “Working with Westfalia has been a collaborative and inspiring journey,” she said. “Together, we are optimizing supply chain integration and preparing to launch a bio-coating for organic crops in the near future.”

Afondo has also proven effective on other fruits such as mangoes, citrus, nectarines, cherries, and passion fruit. This opens new possibilities for growers and distributors to reduce reliance on chemical treatments while keeping produce fresher for longer.

Westfalia Fruit continues to expand its sustainable practices across its operations in 17 countries. The company grows, sources, ripens, packs, and markets avocados year-round, supported by Westfalia Technological Services, its research arm. The division leads global studies on fruit varieties, post-harvest care, and environmental management.

Through this partnership, both companies are moving closer to a more efficient and environmentally responsible global supply chain.

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