AVALON FRESH PICKS MALAYSIA AS SOUTHEAST ASIA EXPORT HUB

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 -- Avalon Fresh, an organic grower from Mexico, is making its first foray outside the United States (US) with the establishment of Malaysia as its Southeast Asia regional export hub due to the country’s strategic location.

Director of international operations Patricia Vazquez Marin said via the hub, Avalon Fresh is planning to export more than 20 types of organic produce to Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Middle East.

“Malaysia is a strategic location for the Southeast Asian hub for the Avalon Fresh brand with extra perks such as a facilitating government in regards to international investments, a stable and growing economy boosted by high purchasing power, high quality of life at affordable rates, a big pool of skilled talents and many more.

"Hence, the decision to expand our brand outside of the US. Prior to this, 100 per cent of Avalon Fresh’s organic produce was exported to meet American demands," she said in a statement today.

She said Avalon Fresh’s organic chia seeds reached Malaysian shores on Aug 22, 2020.

Vazquez said her team has gone into negotiations with some of the leading importers and distributors in the region as part of their expansion strategies.

She said Avalon Fresh has also been working closely with Instituto Halal Junta Islamica, a Shariah governing body that determines the ‘Garantia Halal’ (Halal Certified) status for companies in Spain and Mexico.

“The Halal institute is already in talks with the Department of Islamic Development in Malaysia (JAKIM) to receive JAKIM halal certification for its vast line of products, which are accepted worldwide.

“We have already built our Avalon Fresh brand as a supplier of socially-responsible, conventional, organic and halal farm-fresh vegetables and food products in the Americas,” she said.

She added that the company’s organic products are grown only in Mexico to ensure adherence to organic farming standards and the high quality of the products.

Founded in 2013 by Alejandro Vazquez Alcazar, Avalon Fresh has grown to become a leading supplier of fresh, healthy and organic produce in the US, exporting 4,276 tonnes in total last year and winning the National Award for the Exporter of the Year by the Mexican Business Council of Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology last year. 

-- BERNAMA