Team: Programs | Commitment: Consulting | Location: Republic of Georgia

STTA: Juice Production

BACKGROUND: 

The USAID Agriculture Program is a five-year activity that aims to accelerate growth of agricultural sub-sectors that demonstrate strong potential to create jobs and increase micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) revenues. The USAID Agriculture Program plans to deliver firm-level investment and tailor-made technical assistance to entrepreneurial, market-driven enterprises, production clusters and supporting associations and service/information/extension providers to foster inclusive and sustainable market systems development. The USAID Agriculture Program provides competitive cost-shared grants and technical assistance to address identified gaps in targeted value chains (VCs) that will result in the improved productivity and productive capacity of MSMEs, strengthened value chain linkages, increased access to markets, and improved capacity of MSMEs, cooperatives, associations and service/information/extension providers.

 

Development of the processing industry is pivotal to strengthening the Program’s priority VCs. Therefore, the USAID Agriculture Program plans to provide targeted technical assistance to its grantee and non-grantee beneficiaries engaged in processing operations. Natural fruit production is one of the directions with high potential, considering growth in the fruit and vegetable juice world market driven by increasing demand for healthy food. According to Sakstat, Georgia produced 53 million liters of natural juice in 2016, 82 million liters in 2017, and 138 million liters in 2018, most of which was exported.  One of the challenges faced by most local juice producers is limited knowledge on modern processing techniques and innovative product concepts.  In this regard, cold-pressed juices are one of the key segments influencing the growth of the juice market across the world. These juices preserve the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that are lost during the heating and oxidizing phases of the traditional processes for making juices.  With this in mind, the USAID Agriculture Program plans to utilize expertise of international consultants to provide targeted beneficiaries with tailored technical assistance, thereby helping them improve operations and gradually adopt best practices.

 

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical support to natural juice producers to improve their processes and practices in cold-pressed juice production and recommend new fruit and vegetable combinations. 

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Visit the Program beneficiaries engaged in juice production to provide onsite consultancies in cold-pressed juice production technologies, new product development (unique product offerings), most relevant marketing tools, infrastructural improvements, and cost-effective equipment.
  • Conduct a one-day workshop for a broader audience of juice producers and relevant stakeholders to increase their awareness of the world fruit industry and provide them with a general overview of the global perspective on dried fruit.  It is anticipated that the workshop will highlight the following major topics: market trends in juice production, new product development and marketing strategies, market requirements/certifications, and technology innovations (for both fruits and vegetables), etc. In addition, the workshop will serve to summarize findings of the assignment and discuss industry development opportunities within the audience of key stakeholders.
  • Develop report highlighting findings, consultancy-specific briefs and recommendations. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • BS in Food Technologies (Juice production);
  • Minimum 5 years of practical experience in juice production with a focus on cold-pressed juices;
  • Proven experience in new product development, supply chain development, and agriculture marketing areas; and
  • Strong communication skills.

DELIVERABLES:

  • Final Report summarizing consultancy briefs and improvement recommendations;
  • Delivery of a one-day workshop for dried fruits producers and relevant stakeholders to increase their awareness of modern practices, approaches and innovations and to provide them with general overview of global perspective on juice production;

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

This assignment is planned to take place between 04/20/2020 and 05/20/2020. This consultancy will be provided through one visit and follow-up offsite work, and will not exceed 14 days.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status. CNFA takes affirmative action in support of its policy to advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. 

 

Only those candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted. This is an immediate opening and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.