Compac Renews Commitment to Columbian Market

Compac – a company that provides integrated post-harvest solutions and services to the global fresh produce industry – has received the official visit of the major of Manizales, capital of the Caldas department in Columbia, at its facility in the country.

The event, which was organized with the support of New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, is part of a fact-finding mission about best practices and technologies capable of supporting the development of Columbia’s horticulture sector.

The meetings focused on how Compac and its partners in Columbia can help the region’s horticulture sector grow and take advantage of global markets. A key area of interest was improving post-harvest operations to enable high-quality export produce. The horticulture sector is key to the economy of Manizales and the Caldas department.

“The visit to Compac was very informative and valuable. On the one hand, it clearly showed New Zealand’s technological and industrial development. On the other hand, it has enabled us to understand the extended agroindustrial model where the processes to guarantee product quality rely on technological equipment, which becomes a strategic partner in the process,” stated Mayor Cardona after the visit.

Compac is well placed to support Mr. Cardona’s efforts to develop the region’s horticulture sector with its post-harvest solutions. Having entered the Colombian market in 2018 through an association with Agrosermaq, a company based in Medellín specializing in post-harvest operations, it has already supplied multiple sorting and grading solutions. This approach, which leverages a local partner in a best-of-breed model, enables Compac to meet the specific requirements of each country.

Compac remains committed to the Colombian market and continues to innovate to ensure that it can meet the specific needs of the market. The company is exploring with central and local authorities, Chambers of Commerce and industry groups opportunities to collaborate in programs involving farmers’ associations and post-harvest operators with the aim of developing Colombia’s horticulture sector and helping local producers to take advantage of the global markets.

Compac is a member of the TOMRA Group that was founded in 1972 that began with design, manufacture, and sale of reverse vending machines (RVMs) for automated collection of used beverage containers. Compac provides integrated post-harvest solutions and services to the global fresh produce industry using advanced grading technology. Combining industry solutions with platforms like Spectrim, the company’s mission is to enable its customers to improve returns, gain operational efficiencies, and ensure a safe food supply via smart, usable technologies.

In the picture: From left to right José Octavio Cardona, Mayor of Manizales & Ian Norton, Compac, and Tim Marshall, Compac