Fresh Del Monte forms banana partnership in Somalia

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. and Moze Holding Ltd., a Talc Investment company, have formed a multiyear banana partnership in Somalia.

The partnership will reduce transport times to consumers in the Middle East and North Africa, according to a news release. Current transport times to those areas from producers in Central America or the Philippines average 20-35 days, according to the release.

Fresh Del Monte will have operational oversight on the ground and purchase its banana supply directly from Moze’s newly established farm. The fruit will be sold and marketed in the Middle East under the Fresh Del Monte brand.

The first harvest is expected in 2024.

“We are pleased to officially announce this partnership, which we believe is a game changer for the banana industry in the region,” said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Fresh Del Monte chair and CEO. “The move to reestablish banana operations in Somalia makes sense on many accounts — from its strategic location on the Horn of Africa to fulfilling our mission of supplying our consumers with the freshest produce available — all while aiding in the country’s recovery.”

Before the onset of its civil war in the 1990s, Somalia was a main hub for banana exports to European and Middle East markets, with production reaching its peak in the late 1980s to early 1990s.

“The Moze and Talc teams are delighted to work with a renowned name in agriculture, such as Fresh Del Monte, to revive the banana cultivation farms in Somaliland,” said Mohammed Aldhaheri, Moze Holding and Talc Investment chair. “This multipurpose approach will serve the communities in the Horn of Africa, the Middle East and the United Arab Emirates. Our intent is to build on this partnership in the near future as we look forward to a fruitful relationship.”