MESSINA VERPAKKING (M-PAK)

Flip Nel fulfilled a dream in 1983 by establishing a smallholding on uncultivated land near the Limpopo River's banks. This entrepreneur met the expanding consumer markets by producing a diverse selection of high-quality fresh produce. As packing volumes increased and larger facilities were required, the initial pack-house moved from the farm to Messina, now Musina.

On the farm, there was a small mango orchard, so the idea to make dried mangoes first surfaced in 1990. M-Pak was able to expand its product lines and offered mango farmers in the area a chance to make additional money.

The worldwide demand for dried mangoes and the convenience of purchasing a seasonal product year-round sped up the process of establishing markets for them. However, the rapid rate of market growth was not met by the availability of fresh mangoes as demand increased. M-Pak needed to track down a way to satisfy this need, administering extra global clients and staying aware of shopper patterns.

This eventually led to the acquisition of a drying facility in Hoedspruit, a large mango-producing region, where food safety and quality standards were met and fresh mangoes were sourced from out-growers. M-Pak is currently adding more suppliers to its list.