Ovāvo, a startup based in New Zealand, has successfully introduced a groundbreaking freeze-dried avocado powder, leveraging its unique vacuum technology. This inventive process allows Ovāvo to preserve the nutritional properties of avocados while transforming them into a shelf-stable product.
The avocado powder is sourced from avocados that may be deemed too small or possess blemishes and imperfections, making them unsuitable for traditional retail sales. Post-production, the powder adopts an 18-month shelf-stable format, making it versatile for application in the food, cosmetic, and nutraceutical industries.
Ovāvo employs vacuum technology and sub-zero temperatures to convert dehydrated avocado flesh into a concentrated powder. The process involves transforming ice crystals within the frozen avocado into vapour, which is then extracted, ensuring that the resulting powder retains its natural properties such as structure, colour, flavour, and essential nutrients. Remarkably, this powder can be stored at room temperature, unopened, for over a year.
The startup, Ovāvo, is exploring various applications for its innovative avocado powder, including integration into ice creams, chocolate truffles, muesli bars, tortillas, chocolate-flavoured breakfast drinks, and hummus. Moreover, Ovāvo asserts that its product can serve as a viable replacement for butter in baked goods, showcasing its versatility.
The nutritional benefits of Ovāvo’s avocado powder include dietary fibre, potassium, and essential vitamins B and E. While this product is not the sole one of its kind on the market, its emergence aligns with a growing trend. An analysis from Fact.MR reveals that the role of freeze-dried powder in preserving vital nutrients in food and beverages, thereby extending their shelf life, has led to increased sales. The market, valued at $27.7 billion in 2023, is projected to experience a 7.2% compound annual growth rate through 2033.
The popularity of avocado powder in breakfast bars and baked goods has been a driving force in its market growth. Beyond these applications, it is also recognized for enhancing the flavour of various food and beverage items, including ice cream, shakes, yoghurt, juice, and granola, as well as preserving the freshness of fruits and vegetables. Ovāvo’s innovative contribution to this market reflects a promising future for the utilization of freeze-dried avocado powder across diverse industries.