SunOpta Opens Organic, Natural Sesame Hulling Plant

TORONTOSunOpta International Sourcing and Trading Group, in hand with its joint venture partner, completed the construction of the first natural and organic sesame hulling plant in Ethiopia, operated as Selet Hulling Plc ("Selet").

The operation is 35 percent owned by Tradin Organic Agriculture B.V., a division within the SunOpta International and Sourcing Group, and 65 percent owned by Kaleb Service Farmers House, an Ethiopian company.

Located near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the plant was funded by the joint venture partners with a financial grant from the government of the Netherlands and has current capacity to process 10,000 metric tons of sesame per year with the potential to generate revenues in excess of $20 million. Selet's natural and organic sesame products will be sold exclusively by Tradin Organics to export markets to be used in the food ingredient and bakery industries.