Solutions for avocado packhouses to meet current and future challenges

On July 7, the Global Avocado Congress will be carried out live online from London and Melbourne. 

So many consumers worldwide have developed a taste for avocado that this superfood has been also called “green gold”. However, as sponsor of the Congress’ interview, TOMRA Food warns: gold rushes don’t last forever.

The Category Manager Director for Avocados at TOMRA Food, Jacinto Trigo, said that there is a future for the avocado industry, but businesses that get complacent could get off the track. Those profiting from today’s boom better be prepared for tomorrow.

One of the main challenges in avocado production is the pressure on packhouses to enhance throughputs. However, the number of appropriate places for its cultivation in the world is limited.

The avocado consumption in the United States more than doubled between 2010 and 2020, according to research by multinational banking and financial services company Rabobank, and the latest data shows that sales are still on the rise.

According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), by 2030, the U.S. will account for 40% of world’s avocado imports, while the European Union will account for 31%, with sales increasing in China, Australasia and the Middle East. 

World production is projected to reach 12 million tons by that time, 3 times more than in 2010 – but by then, the market could stabilize demand and reach maturity. When the offer is sufficient to respond to the demand, competition will focus on higher product quality. 

Sustainability is another challenge because of increased water consumption and deforestation for growing this fruit. Consumers increasingly want to know the origin of the avocados they buy, and this will increase the need for traceability.

So, this is the objective for avocado packers: to deliver with quantity, quality, and traceability, which can be met easily, by adopting innovative sorting and grading solutions, such as those offered by TOMRA Food.

The packhouse capacity can be increased through automation. As an example: Peru-based Agricola Cerro Prieto (ACP) almost doubled its packout to 60 tons per hour after acquiring a TOMRA sorter and grader.

ACP’s operations manager, Richardo Acha, comments that with the Spectrim sorter, their volumes have almost doubled.

When average automated systems typically pack about 1.5 tons of avocados per lane per hour, TOMRA’s machines pack about 5 tons per lane per hour. Another advantage is that the grading and weighing accuracy of TOMRA’s systems help guarantee that packout meets customers’ specifications on both quality and quantity without giving away product through oversupply. 

Moreover, utilizing automated sorting and grading technology eliminates the need of recruiting, training, managing, and retaining labor. 

According to Luis Macher, plant manager at ACP’s facility near Chiclayo, they’ve stopped relying on manpower because their sorter gives the results they need and is not limited by speed.

The need to consistently deliver superior product quality, can also be solved by sorting and grading equipment. Boosting volumes and quality at the same time could become possible with the right technologies. Thanks to TOMRA’s sorters’ multi-category capabilities, it is possible to set certain machine parameters not only for different customer requirements with avocados, but for other fruits also.

Policy of tight communication with customers enables TOMRA to develop solutions precisely calibrated to individual needs.

Solutions offered by TOMRA

The TOMRA 5S Advanced sorting and sizing platform, the Spectrim sorter and grader, and the Inspectra2 grading system are irreplaceable solutions for avocado packhouse operations (as well as for citrus fruit and apples).

The TOMRA 5S Advanced is a sorting platform designed for hygienic operation, with toolless cleaning and stainless steel and food-safe polymer contact areas. The machine’s specialized software features and connectivity to the data platform TOMRA Insight provide even more increased efficiencies.

Its software includes programs for exact packout optimization, element mixing, throughput control, and a Dynamic Lane Balancer - features that improve productivity, quality and efficiency and can be controlled via the sorter’s intuitive graphical user-interface.

Connectivity to the TOMRA Insight, a cloud-based subscription service, can make sorting machines the protagonist of packhouse operations. This service enables better flow of information throughout the supply chain, as well as traceability from bin to pack. Besides, it empowers packhouses to boost efficiencies by taking smart, data-driven decisions.

Spectrim sorts avocados according to color and surface blemishes. Then the fruit is graded for size and such defects as skin blemishes, misshapen fruit, bruising, insect damage, and abrasions. 

Inspectra2 is a non-invasive solution destined for internal grading. Its near-infrared spectrometer detects dry matter content, fruit by fruit.

If you’re an avocado packer and wish to improve your business by installing technologies by TOMRA, send your inquiry