Mahindra Agri Solutions Ltd. (MASL), a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, part of the USD 20.7 billion Mahindra Group, inaugurated its state-of-the-art Grape Packhouse facility in Nashik. The facility was inaugurated by Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
The Grape Packhouse facility is one of its kinds in India and features the newest technologies that are available in post-harvest management of grapes. Mahindra has over 14 years of experience in grapes harvest and post-harvest management and today it is one of the leading exporters of grapes from India. Its latest Grape Packhouse facility will be instrumental in maintaining the freshness of the grapes, through an effective cold chain, from its arrival into the facility till it reaches customers in overseas markets.
According to Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. “The inauguration of this modern Packhouse is another significant step for our Agri-Business. This facility is a testament to the ‘Make in India’ initiative and will further the cause of Delivering FarmTech Prosperity by helping Indian growers meet stringent global quality standards”.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new facility in Nashik, Ashok Sharma, MD & CEO, Mahindra Agri Solutions Ltd., said, “We are delighted to bring this state-of-the-art packhouse for all the stakeholders in the grape value chain. This model facility will go a long way in building the confidence of international customers. With avant-garde refrigeration, processing and packing technology, this packhouse will enable us to ensure the highest quality supplies as per global standards.”
The Grape Packhouse facility can pack 90 tonnes of grapes per day and has been certified by international bodies such as BRC (British Retail Consortium), Fairtrade, SMETA (SEDEX), and the RFA (Rainforest Alliance) besides domestic certification by FSSAI and APEDA. The facility is housed within 6.5 acres of land with a total build up area of 75,000 sq ft. It has 12 pre-cooling chambers and 280 MT of cold storage capacity.
Sustainability is at the very core of this Mahindra Grape Packhouse facility. Energy efficient LED lights have been installed at all places and there is also a provision for captive solar power generation. A rainwater harvesting system has been installed to collect and store upto 7 million litres of water. Amongst other sustainable solutions, there is an in-house sewage treatment plant which provides usable non-potable water for myriad purposes including gardening.
