Online Reporter
Kudzanai Sharara in Berlin, Germany
A leading Zimbabwean horticultural company is leveraging its decade of presence at the world’s premier fresh produce fair to expand exports and integrate thousands more small-scale farmers into its global supply chain.
Clarence Mwale, CEO of Kuminda, revealed at Fruit Logistica, underway here, that his firm contracted over 5 000 small-scale farmers last year to produce mangetout and sugar snap peas for the winter export market. The company is now recruiting additional farmers, including those on A1 and A2 land reform plots, to cultivate blueberries for export.
“We are here at the Fruit Logistica in Berlin for the tenth consecutive time, where we come and meet with the rest of the world,” Mwale said. He described the event as critical for gathering competitive intelligence, understanding stringent market requirements, and securing the certifications needed to access top European and British supermarkets.
“We try to learn from competitors like Kenya, Peru for blueberries, Egypt as well… We also try to understand what the markets are looking for,” Mr Mwale explained. This includes vital details on fruit sizing, permissible pesticide residue levels, and quality standards. Kuminda then channels this intelligence directly back to its network of smallholder growers.
The company’s sustained presence at the Berlin expo underscores a strategic, long-term commitment to developing Zimbabwe’s horticultural export capacity through an inclusive, smallholder-focused model.
