New Zealand food tech startup innovates with freeze dried avocado powder

Dive Brief:

• Ovāvo, a New Zealand startup, has produced a freeze-dried avocado powder.
• The powder is made from avocado, that are either too small or have blemishes and imperfections making them unfit for retail sale.
• After the production process, the powder is in an 18-month shelf-stable format and can be used by the food, cosmetic and nutraceutical industries.

Dive Insight:

Using vacuum technology and sub-zero temperatures, Ovavo’s avocado powder turns dehydrated avocado flesh into a concentrated powder. 

“The process turns ice crystals within the frozen avocado into vapor, which is then extracted,” the company said. 

The resulting powder retains its natural properties — structure, color, flavor, nutrients — and can be stored at room temperature, unopened for over a year, according to the company.

Ovāvo has been working on a variety of applications for the powder including in ice creams, chocolate truffles, muesli bars, tortillas, chocolate-flavored breakfast drinks, and hummus. 

The company also claims its product has a variety of commercial applications, such as a replacement for butter in baked goods. 

Ovāvo adds that its product has benefits including dietary fiber, potassium, and vitamins B and E. 

Avocado powder isn’t the only product of its kind on the market. A recent analysis from Fact.MR found that the role of freeze-dried powder in preserving vital nutrients in food and beverages and extending their shelf life led to increased product sales. 

The market was estimated to stand at $27.7 billion in 2023., and was forecast to rise at a 7.2% compound annual growth rate through 2033.

The use of avocado powder in breakfast bars and baked goods are among the most popular for these types of products and have propelled its growth. But it is also used to enhance the flavor of various food and beverage items such as ice cream, shakes, yogurt, juice, and granola and preserve fresh fruits and vegetables.