North Coast nutcracker processing plant opens doors to US export market for small and medium enterprises
The United States Agency for International Development has provided financial backing of R3.69-million to establish the plant.
A large aggregation facility officially opened at the Doringkop Nutcracker Processing Plant on Tuesday and will boost export trade to the United States, significantly benefitting small and
medium enterprises (SMEs).
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided financial backing of R3.69-million to establish the plant, which will be used to aggregate, process and package products procured through SMEs from across sub-Saharan Africa.
Joined by USAID representatives, parent company Foxfin Financial Services CEO Warwick Blamey oversaw a tour of the facility and said it will enable sister company, African Trade Platform (ATP), to meet the growing demand for products in the United States.
The products, which will also be sold in South Africa, include honey, macadamia nuts, macadamia butter, moringa-related products such as tea and more.
“The opening of this plant will kickstart the programme of unlocking export capabilities of SMEs in the region,” said Blamey.
The Nutcracker processing plant, which opened its doors a year ago, is strategically positioned in the North Coast’s macadamia and tea tree oil production regions, both products being highly sought after in the use of manufacturing of food and even cosmetic products.
Senior USAID South Africa outreach and communications officer, Victoria Stoffberg, said they were working to increase trade from regional countries such as South Africa to the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
So far, 60 jobs have been created as a result of the new plant. Nutcracker processes an average of 200 tons of nuts every eight to ten weeks, while in-season operations see them cracking on average two to three tons of macadamia nuts per day.
Tasting the macadamia nuts, US Consul General in Durban, Anne Linnee, was impressed with the quality of the products.
“I’ve never tasted such a delicious macadamia before, let alone one as large.”
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