Africa Innovates Magazine - Flipbook - Page 13
FOOD SECURITY
Photo credit: FruitExtract
CLIMATE
SMART FRUIT
PRODUCTION
IN LESOTHO
WHY DID
YOU START
FRUIT EXTRACT?
The idea came about when I was
unemployed. I noticed the huge amount
of fruit drinks consumed by young people,
and that 80% of them are imported from
South Africa. I did some initial research
and saw an opportunity to tap into this
market. But I wanted to offer something
different, and healthier.
WHAT IS THE
SECRET BEHIND
FRUIT EXTRACT?
Fruit Extract (Pty) Ltd is a youth-owned,
licensed fruit production and processing
company. Its mission is to provide high
quality, nutritional, and flavourful fruitbased products for consumption in
and outside of Lesotho. At Fruit Extract
(Pty) Ltd we grow our fruit, including
blueberries, strawberries and passion
fruit, under two greenhouse structures,
on the ground and in gutters, to increase
capacity. We source our seedlings from
local farmers and use our harvest to
manufacture fruit syrups. Our products are
small-batch and handcrafted in Lesotho,
mindfully packaged using eco-friendly
glass to support environmentally-friendly
practices. Our production is climatesensitive, as we intentionally consume
less water and energy.
WHAT HAVE
YOU ALREADY
ACHIEVED AND
WHAT’S NEXT?
We’ve secured a market at one retail
store and four restaurants in Maseru,
and already export to three restaurants
in Johannesburg, South Africa. Our goal
is to expand the current market and
be recognised as the number one fruit
production and manufacturing company
in Lesotho. We’d like to have a modern
processing plant, expand capacity, and
employ more young people in the future.
SHOWCASING AFRICAN CLIMATE CHAMPIONS
Photo credit: Bokang Matlosa
Bokang Matlosa,
Fruit Extract founder
After earning a BA degree
in interior design, Lesotho’s
Bokang Matlosa launched her
first startup, Fruit Extract
(Pty).
The company focuses on
food waste reduction,
working to improve the fruit
production value chain with
its innovative juice products.
Bokang works with local
farmers, creating lucrative
markets for their produce.
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