Avocados
Emseni Avocado Orchards were developed in the mist belt, on deep, well-drained, fertile, and healthy soil.
These ideal growing conditions reduce the associated stress factors on our trees, resulting in above average yields with favourable fruit size distribution.
Harvesting our avocadoes at the perfect maturity provides uniform ripening and excellent eating quality.
Our first avocado orchards were planted in the early 80s and today we have circa 200 hectares of avocado trees of which 150 hectares are in full production, predominantly the Hass Cultivar.
Orchards Information
| Greenskins | 58 ha |
| Hass | 142 ha |
Emseni Farming Optimal Harvesting Window
| Fuerte | ||||||
| Pinkerton | ||||||
| Rinton | ||||||
| Hass | ||||||
| Ryan | ||||||
| Lamb Hass |
Weeks in the European Market
| Pinkerton | ||||||||||||||||
| Rinton | ||||||||||||||||
| Hass | ||||||||||||||||
| Ryan | ||||||||||||||||
| Lamb Hass |
Nursery
Locally grown resilient and virus free avocado seeds are sourced from our local rural community. This produces avocado trees which are more resilient to local disease and better acclimatised to the area.
Irrigation
Reducing water usage is an environmental initiative and target we set ourselves. Traditionally our orchards were irrigated using the micro irrigation method and although highly effective, it was not the most efficient. We have subsequently introduced precision Low flow drip irrigation which delivers the water and nutrients to the rootzone at 0,7 - 1 litre per minute and in conjunction, uses effective water monitoring techniques which measure the accuracy of our irrigation applications. Given our well suited climatic conditions, rainfall of 1000-1500mm per annum, irrigation is restricted to our flowering periods (winter months) which are 3-4 months of the year. Through our improved practices, water usage has been reduced by 30-40%.
Plant Protection Practices
Our practices have restored the critical balance between pests and natural enemies.
The use of glyphosate herbicides has been prohibited on our farms as research indicates it can inhibit nutritional uptake and kill beneficial organisms that maintain an ecological balance in the soil.
Composting & Mulching
Our farming operations have over time reduced the reliance on solely utilising inorganic fertilizers in our nutritional programs and incorporated a more holistic approach by composting and mulching which preserves and promotes healthy living soil-based ecosystems.
All our farm's pruning offcuts, invasive plants, reject peppers and lettuce, end of cycle pepper plants and grass cuttings are used in our composting and mulching processes.
Through these sustainable practices we have improved our tree health and the quality of our produce.
Harvesting
Emseni avocadoes are harvested at the perfect maturity, ensuring that all our cultivars ripen evenly and have a rich and creamy taste, as they rightfully should. Fruit from all our orchards undergo stringent maturity and ripening tests before they are cleared for the season's harvest.
Our team of harvesters receive all the necessary training in good handling, hygiene and harvesting procedures.
Maturity and Residue Sampling
4-6 weeks prior to the anticipated harvest starting date, fruit residue samples are submitted to accredited laboratories for analysis and clearance and we start our fruit dry matter and ripening assessments.
We evaluate the number of days the fruit has taken to ripen evenly - the taste is all important - and check for latent post-harvest disorders. Once the fruit maturity and MRL tests are within the legal limits and all our key criteria are met, the technical team clears the orchard for harvesting.
Packing Facilities
Our packing facilities meet all the current operational and health and safety requirements and in so doing ensure that neither our product nor our staff are negatively compromised during the packing process.
Packaging
As part of our sustainability journey, Emseni has moved over to a kraft carton, which is both 100% recyclable as well as 100% food grade.
Logistics
Time, temperature, maturity and fruit age (from harvest date) are key factors that require constant monitoring to achieve sound arrivals in Europe and equally important for local customer supply. Together with our trusted logistic partners, we co-ordinate our harvesting to coincide with specific sailings.
The shortest, most reliable routes and vessels are optimised, to land our avocados in the planned supply week and in sound condition.
Our Accreditations
