Frutos de los Andes is the brand name for 100% natural tropical dried fruit produced and processed in Colombia. Our product is 100% natural. The tropical fruit is grown, hand-cut and naturally dried, without any added sugar or preservatives.

Frutos de los Andes is produced by Fruandes Ltda, a social responsible company committed to balance between FAIR prices to producers, FAIR payment and treatment of its employees and respect to its clients through quality and natural production.

Fruandes and Entrepreneurs Colombia work together in order to open new markets and ensure the growth and economic sustainability of the company.

Our commitment to Fair Trade

Fruandes is a Fair Trade registered company, which is member of the International Fair Trade Association - IFAT since 2006 (www.ifat.org). This commitment is reflected on its organizational structure, working conditions, company policies and production techniques:

• Fruandes is giving education and housing funds to its employees as part of their benefits.
• The majority of Fruandes’ staff members are mothers, head of poor families.
• Fruandes keeps its salaries 20% above the average salary of the country for similar activities.
• Fruandes has a direct relationship with small producer farmers, paying a fair price for their products.

For example, one of our employees is Maria. She, her husband and two sons were forced to leave their home in rural Colombia due to violence in the region. They arrived in Bogotá with no prospect of employment or housing. Thanks to Fruandes and a Colombian relief & development organization, Maria and her family have now a stable income, health care and funding for both children to attend school. Maria is a trained nurse, but she requires more schooling in Bogotá in order to find a job in that field. Fruandes is working with Maria to supply funding and a flexible work schedule to help her attain this needed training and ensure in this for a better future for her and her loved ones.

Fruandes cooperates with organizations like MCC - Mencoldes Colombia, Level Ground Trading and Entrepreneurs Colombia Ltda. in order to start as a company and strengthen its activities for social development, ecological production and fair trade.

Organic and secure production practices in Fruandes

Fruandes takes also responsibility for the environment. In this sense, the company has implemented Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point practices (HACCP) in its factory in Bogotá, and will receive this certification in the second semester of 2007. Going further, Fruandes is on the process to ensure that all its products are organic:

• The production plant will receive the organic certification by August 2007.

• The fruit providers are encouraged to implement and certify their organic production techniques in the up coming months. The Mangoes producer is already making organic pest control and an agreement has been set with a group of farmers who are advanced in the process to get the organic certification for their fruits.

Our product

A dried fruit is fruit that has been dried, either naturally or through the control of temperature on a dehydrator. Raisins, plums or prunes are examples of popular dried fruits, but also apples, apricots, bananas, cranberries, figs, mangoes, papaya, peaches, pears, persimmons, pineapples, strawberries and tomatoes are commonly dried.

Dried fruits have a long shelf life and therefore can provide a good alternative to fresh fruit, allowing out of season fruits to be available. Drying (Dehydrating) is a good way to preserve the fruits in the absence of refrigeration. Dried fruit is often used for baking mixes and breakfast cereals.

Due to the water loss experienced during dehydration, dried fruit has a stronger and more intense flavor.

Frutos de los Andes are 100% natural tropical dried fruits, produced without any additives, resulting in a high quality, dark fruit with the characteristic flavor of the fresh fruit.

Our Offer

The offer of Tropical Dried Fruits in Bulk or for Retail includes Mango, Pineapple, Papaya, Gooseberry (Phylasis), Banana and Coconut.