ColdHubs, in partnership with Heifer International, is set to commission a new cold room in Abat CBD Market, Elesokan in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State, on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.
The Media and Communication Officer, Harriet Ijeomah, disclosed that the Hubs are one of the eleven cold rooms Heifer International is supporting ColdHubs to commission in South West, Nigeria.
According to Ijeomah, Abat market is one of the most popular fruit and vegetable markets in Lagos State, faced with problems of produce and product losses.
"Before ColdHubs was built in the market, butchers, tomato, fruit, and vegetable traders had said they would sell out their produce to avoid spoilage; sometimes selling below their profit belts", she noted.
Harriet narrated how one of the fruit sellers, Kabiru, danced with joy when he learned about the impact of ColdHubs innovation during the Post-Harvest Management Training in the Market in November 2022.
Kabiru said, "I have longed for a day like this to come, a day where I would not have to waste any of my product over a lack of storage."
The cold room can store 3 tons of food per day which translates to 150 to 300 crates.
ColdHubs increases the shelf lives of fruits and vegetables for more than 20 days with 100% solar cold storage facilities.
The cold rooms also take meat, fish and dairy products.