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12 February 2012
Posted in
Jobs
I have been asked to find experts for Volunteer Short Term Technical Assignments (STTAs) on behalf of Partners of the Americas in Washington DC. The STTA below is to fulfill requirements of Partners’ USAID-funded Farmer to Farmer Program. The program provides technical assistance to agricultural producers, organizations, agribusinesses and universities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Through the program, U.S. specialists donate their time and expertise and spend two to three weeks on specific technical assignments, working directly with counterparts in the region to address local needs. Volunteers may travel individually or in teams. The Program covers all costs of airfare, lodging, meals, insurance, and any work related expenses.
Title: Avocado Oil Extraction Expert
Location: Dominican Republic
Start Date: February 2012--- assignments to last a few weeks.
Assignment Summary:
An avocado cooperative (La Cooperativa Agropecuaria y Servicios Múltiples) in Cambita Garabitos, San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, is currently exporting avocados to the United States via an exporting company called Serafino. However, strict quality control and preference of a specific variety of avocado (Semil 34) have left the cooperative and the town with a large surplus of avocados that cannot be exported or sold on the local market. As such the cooperative and Peace Corps Volunteer Adria “Adriana” Schmidt have come up with the idea to extract avocado oil from the rejected avocados. Market research shows the product to be profitable and the cooperative already has several interested buyers. The cooperative has already contacted several companies who sell oil extraction machines, but since they have no knowledge of the process they need help choosing the right machine and in the actual production.
Below is a list of the problems/issues that the volunteer will address:
- Assist in choosing the correct avocado oil extracting machine
- Train people in using the machine
- Help insure the quality of the raw materials and the final product
- Assist in the production of avocado oil
- Assist in the bottling/packaging of food quality oil
Volunteer Qualifications Requirement:
a. The volunteer should have knowledge of extracting oil from plants, seeds or fruit.
b. Knowledge of avocado oil extraction is preferred
c. Knowledge of Spanish is helpful (but not required)
d. The volunteer should have knowledge of oil extraction machines and the ability to train others to operate such machines.
e. US Citizenship required
Expected Results:
a. During the visit the cooperative would like the volunteer to assist them in choosing or producing the most appropriate avocado oil extracting machine for the project. Since the machines would take a few weeks and possibly months to arrive, after choosing the machine the volunteer will work on training people on the basic technology of oil extraction.
b. The volunteer should also train workers on which avocados to use, what chemicals if any to use, how to maintain food quality sanitary conditions in the factory and throughout the packaging of the product. (See itinerary below for further details).
c. The desired impact is that the volunteer will be able to assist the Cooperative in the technical aspect of producing quality avocado oil and meeting safety and sanitary standards. In doing so the volunteer will give the Cooperative the knowledge it needs to be a competitive avocado oil producer, thus creating a sustainable industry that secures the sale of “rejected” avocados and creates jobs.
2)Expected Deliverables:
a. Within the first week the volunteer would be expected to have produced an analysis of the possible extraction machines with a final conclusion as to which machine would be best for the project. A presentation of this analysis to the Board of Directors of the Cooperative will take place at the end of the week.
b. Following, there will be presentations to the key factory workers and the Board of Directors to train them on basic technology of oil extraction, quality of the raw materials, food quality sanitary conditions, packaging of avocado oil.
c. Trip report is expected at the conclusion of the assignment.
How to Apply: Please send resume/CV that clearly shows you meet the required qualifications of the position by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please include (Avocado Oil Extraction Expert- DR) in the subject line of your email.
Deadline for Application: February 20, 2012