BAF. Mozzi-Mort. Fresh Fruit and Juice Suppliers March 23, 2010

Hi David, Philip, John, Cicely and Nikki,

RSVP

David - Ref RSVP - I do expect to be at the Britsh African Federation meeting on Thursday 25th March.

Mozzi-Mort

Philip - Will you be at the BAF meeting too? Thank you for all the additional information you sent me me after our phone conversation, following the last BAF meeting. I have forwarded it all. People are impressed by the descriptions of Mozzi-Mort and are keen to be involved if we can find the right way forward. Mozzi-Mort is on the agenda again for the UK-Nigeria Dadamac meeting tomorrow, so I will probably be getting back to you with more questions soon. 

Juice processor

David, John, Cicely and Nikki - Ref : Fresh Fruit and Juice Suppliers Required - UK fruit and juice processor seeks new suppliers for banana, pineapple, mango and passion fruit – they are looking both for the fresh fruit and a processor for juicing. Contact David Smith, British African Federation.

I wonder if this is only for immediate supplies, or if it is possible to join in later. I am thinking of all the beautiful seasonal fruits that are available around Fantsuam.

SMEs and fruit supply

David - I know that, at Fantusam, John and Cicely are looking at various ideas ref setting up local SMEs. They have explored starting some juice production on a small scale to serve local need. They have not explored supplying the export market, but if someone is interested - well - there is fruit, there are people needing work, and a well established local organisation ready to help make things happen. If this opportunity for fruit supplying is something that could be built up, rather than sometthing more immediate, then it could be well worth exploring. 

Processing

If we are really looking longer term then it could be worth exploring the possibility of setting up a new processing plant (rather than just supplying fruit). If the juice processors are intersted in eco-issues they may like to know that at Fantsuam there is already experience of effective technology transfer, and an active interest in constructing eco-friendly buildings and in permaculture. It is possible that a fruit processing plant could fit in well with Fantsuam's plans for sustainable community development and be a model development for the juice processors to be proud of. 

Existing interest

John and Cicely - I thought of this because of the juicers that Fantsuam Foundation was trying out last year, for possible micro-businesses, and the fruit juice that was served at Dadamac Day. I forget what what fruit you were using, but I know you were looking at all kinds of issues around fruit and fruit juice.

Quality

David - I remember the "banana lady" who used to keep coming to the compound last time I was at Fantsuam. John usually bought a whole stem full (is that "a hand" of bananas) and everyone ate loads of them. They were ripe and good-tasting and infinitely better than any I ever get here in UK.

Agenda item

Nikki - depending on what David says we should consider adding this to the agenda for our UK-Nigeria meeting next week.

I look forward to our next meetings, on-line and face - and discovering what you all think about taking these ideas forward.

Pamela

(Private/public and posterous Dadamac introduces people to each other - usually UK-Nigeria - and then helps them to do useful stuff. The more we do in public, the easier it is for people to benefit from the dadamac community and see where they might fit in. Naturally we don't share private or confidential information without permission. This email will be sent to you in the usual way and will also be published on the Internet via http://dadamac.posterous.com/ as one of my open letters. Your email addressess will not be shown there, and replying will be done privately via email in the usual way. However if you do want be more visible via dadamac - perhaps by writing a guest blog on our website or something - please let me know.)

Pamela McLean
UK-Africa Connections
Dadamac Ltd - Knowledge Brokers
www.dadamac.net
pamela.mclean@dadamac.net