A food processor, Mrs Adeola Balogun, co-founder, LimLim Foods, has urged the Federal Government to promote freeze-dried fruit to reduce food loss and wastage in the country.
Balogun told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that the demand for freeze dried fruits was huge and on the increase in the country.
She noted that there was a huge opportunity in the country’s food and processing sector if government could create a conducive environment for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to thrive.
Balogun said that freeze dried fruit would help prevent food loss and ensure food security of all fruits grown locally in Nigeria.
According to her, freeze-dried fruit is a process of keeping the nutrient and product structure of a fruit intact using technology.
“When put in water, no one can tell the difference between the fresh fruit and the dehydrated fruit,” she said.
According to her, Nigerian has a huge market for the processed fruit and vegetables.
Balogun added that the company had deployed latest world-class technology to process the fruits.
“The technology we are using is different, it’s best in class, it’s world-class and our products can compete with international products.
“We cannot even meet the demand, customers pay ahead and we now schedule them for delivery day.
“All fruits and vegetables grown in Nigeria can be freeze dry,” she said.
Balogun said that the minimum shelf life of fruits was two years.
She added that the product would be available in supermarkets by September for the general public.
Balogun urged parents to patronise freeze-dried fruits for their children and wards to increase for healthy living.
“The whole idea is to help prevent loss and ensure food security of all fruits grown locally in Nigeria from pineapple, banana, mangoes and strawberry.
“Any fruit grown in Nigeria, we are able to process them and turn them into value added products.
“The fruits are good for children as an alternative to fresh fruits because when children take fresh fruits to school you are not sure of how they will handle them.
“The freezer-dried fruits comes out like biscuits, so the kids don’t know they are actually taking fruits. It’s flaky like biscuit so its good for children and fantastic for children.
“There is a difference between dehydrated fruits and freeze dried fruits; we are the first company in Nigeria to process freeze dry fruit in Nigeria locally.
“Our freeze dried fruit take like 70 per cent of the moisture in the best in class technology that keeps the structure and nutrient intact.
“I encourage Nigerians to patronise it, it’s not too expensive but it’s also cheaper than treating your children for dysentery, cholera or diarrhea and the likes.
“I will advise Nigerians to embrace it when you see them in the market. It will be out in supermarkets by September by God’s grace.
“We tried to sell in retail before but we are not too comfortable with our packaging, so now we are rebranding.
“We are coming out as a big brand by September,” she said.
(NAN)
