YAKUB ABDULRASHEED – Zambian agro-processing startup CherryPick is transforming locally sourced agricultural produce into convenient, nutritious snacks while helping small-scale farmers reduce post-harvest losses and access more reliable markets.
Founded in 2016 by Zama Mwanza (Bbuku) and her husband, Lwando Bbuku, the company began as a modest strawberry-growing venture before identifying an opportunity to preserve surplus agricultural produce and create additional value through local processing.
“At the heart of what we do is a very simple idea, Zambia produces a lot of good food, but too much of it is lost after harvest, while at the same time consumers are looking for healthier and more convenient food options,” Bbuku explained.
The company now produces dried-fruit and cashew nut snacks while developing AgroChain360, a technology platform designed to strengthen agricultural supply chains.
Tackling Food Waste Through Agro-Processing
CherryPick’s business model centres on sourcing seasonal produce from small-scale farmers and processing it into packaged snacks with longer shelf lives than fresh fruits.
By drying and packaging agricultural products, the company aims to reduce the likelihood of food spoiling before it reaches consumers while providing convenient alternatives to some highly processed snacks.
The founders identified a persistent challenge in Zambia’s agricultural sector: farmers can harvest substantial quantities of produce but struggle to sell everything before it deteriorates.
“This exposed us to a reality shared by farmers across Zambia, abundance at harvest and loss shortly after due to challenges with market linkages,” Bbuku said.
The company’s approach seeks to address this gap by connecting agricultural production with processing and consumer demand, creating additional market opportunities for farmers while adding value to locally grown food.
AgroChain360: Technology to Improve Agricultural Supply Chains
Beyond food processing, CherryPick is developing AgroChain360, a technology platform intended to improve traceability, farmer coordination, production planning and quality assurance across the agricultural value chain.
The platform is expected to help the company better understand the origin and availability of produce, coordinate supplies and strengthen connections between farmers and markets.
Bbuku said the initiative reflects the company’s ambition to build a more transparent and coordinated food supply system.
“Ultimately, we want consumers to have greater visibility of where their food comes from while creating stronger and more reliable links between farmers and markets,” she explained.
AgroChain360 is also expected to reinforce CherryPick’s farm-to-shelf business model by improving visibility into the journey of agricultural products.
The platform remains under development, with its anticipated benefits dependent on implementation and adoption.
Funding, Business Growth and the Entrepreneurship Challenges
CherryPick has financed its development through founder investment, business revenue and grant funding. According to Bbuku, the company has received three grants since its establishment, helping it expand its operations.
One significant milestone was participation in the Standard Chartered Women in Tech programme, implemented by BongoHive in Zambia with support from Village Capital, which provided funding and business support.
The company has also obtained Zambia Bureau of Standards certification, expanded its retail presence and increased its production capacity.
Bbuku reported that business uptake and growth have increased by more than 60 per cent year-on-year, although the article does not specify the precise metric used.
Despite this progress, CherryPick has faced challenges involving electricity shortages, access to equipment, consistent sourcing, cash-flow management and market development.
Bbuku described entrepreneurship as “a journey of resilience,” adding that founders must learn, make mistakes, adjust and keep moving forward.
Expansion Beyond Zambia and the Vision for African Agriculture
CherryPick plans to expand its product distribution into regional and international export markets while scaling AgroChain360 to support its longer-term ambitions.
The company believes its focus on reducing post-harvest losses, improving agricultural market connections and meeting demand for healthier convenience foods addresses challenges shared by many African economies.
“Our longer-term plan is therefore to expand our product distribution into regional and export markets while also scaling AgroChain360,” Bbuku said.
She added that the company wants to demonstrate that African agricultural businesses can create value locally and develop products and systems capable of competing beyond their domestic markets.
Through its combination of agro-processing and technology, CherryPick aims to show how locally produced agricultural goods can become higher-value consumer products while creating stronger connections between farmers and markets.
Its expansion plans remain a work in progress, but the company’s approach highlights the potential of food processing and supply-chain innovation to contribute to a more resilient and inclusive African agricultural sector.
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