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ZimTrade, the country’s trade development and promotion organisation, said the Netherlands offers a growing market for organic fruits particularly dates, figs, mangoes, pineapples, avocados and guavas. Organic produce refers to how farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat.Generally, organic farming excludes the conventional methods of fertilising and weed control.
It, however, includes the use of natural fertilisers to feed soil and plants, and crop rotation or mulch to control weeds.
The import bill for mangoes, mangosteens and guavas in The Netherlands has been on an upward trend, increasing by 38 percent from $197 million in 2011 to $272 million in 2015.
The Netherlands is one of the largest importers of fresh mangoes and other fruits (under HS code 080450) globally, as it does not produce these fruits.
Therefore, it is entirely dependent on imports.
In 2015, amongst the European Union (EU) 28 member countries, The Netherlands accounted for 25 percent of the total import bill ($929 million) for mangoes, mangosteens and guavas.
It was followed by Germany and the United Kingdom, both at 18 percent.
The Netherlands imports the bulk of its mangoes between November and May, which coincides with Zimbabwe’s mango harvesting season (December to mid-April).
The interim Economic Partnership Agreement offers opportunities for Zimbabwe to export its fresh produce to the EU bloc duty free and quota free.
Consumers in The Netherlands prefer fibreless, juicy and tasty mango varieties with a red-yellowish colour.
Some of the varieties include Ataulfo, Francis, Haden, Keitt, Kent and Tommy Atkins.
According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Standard FF-45, mangoes to be exported should meet the requirements regarding size, tolerances, presentation, marking and quality. The quality checks (minimum requirements, maturity requirements and classification) for mangoes are carried out at the export-control stage after preparation and packaging.
Zimbabwean companies in the food and agro-processing sector now have access to a new Chromatography Trace Elements Testing Laboratory.
The facility was made possible through the EU-funded Trade and Private Sector Development Programme as part of efforts to upgrade the national standards, quality assurance and testing infrastructure in Zimbabwe.
The laboratory is housed at the Standards Association of Zimbabwe head office in Harare.
It can assist mango producers/exporters in testing their products for safety and quality in order to ensure that they meet international standards for export. Commercial production of mangoes in Zimbabwe has been minimal.
According to a study done by Farming Solutions for Windmill (2014), there is untapped potential for good quality mango farming in Zimbabwe. The study indicates that a range of improved mango cultivars with exceptional skin colour and excellent internal quality as well as flavour, which were bred in Florida, have been cropping well on a research station in Chiredzi.
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