What contract drying means here
You own the produce and we own the dryer. Your fruit, vegetables, leaves or flowers arrive at our unit in Coimbatore, go through a cleaning and drying process agreed with you, and come back dried to the format you asked for. You don't need to build or run a plant.
If you'd rather not source the raw material yourself, tell us what you need and we'll source it. Either way, we agree the specification before anything goes into the dryer.
Who it's for
- Farmers and FPOs with a seasonal glut. Dried produce keeps far longer than fresh, so it can wait for a better price.
- Food brands and start-ups that want a dried or powdered ingredient without setting up their own dryer.
- Makers of soups, seasonings, beverages, bakery and nutraceuticals who need one dried ingredient to the same spec every month.
- Hotels, restaurants and caterers who want something dried or made to their own recipe.
What we dry
Fruits, vegetables, leaves and flowers: orange, pineapple, apple, kiwi, carrot, beetroot, mushroom, okra, curry leaf, moringa, mint, tulsi, hibiscus, rose, butterfly pea, avarampoo and more. The full list is on the home page. If your product isn't on it, ask. We'll run a small trial and tell you straight how it turned out.
The formats you get back
Whole, sliced, flaked, granulated or milled to powder. For powder, tell us the mesh size you need. Milling is heat-controlled so the powder keeps the colour and aroma of what went in. We handle more than ten formats in all.
How a job runs
- You tell us the product, the format, a rough quantity and how it should be packed.
- We run a small trial lot so you can check colour, taste and texture before committing.
- Produce is sorted, trimmed and washed in an industrial ozone wash. Every batch.
- It is dried slowly at low temperature, within set thermal limits.
- If you want powder, it is milled and sieved to your mesh size.
- Every batch is checked for colour, aroma, moisture and microbial load.
- It is packed in bulk, or in retail-ready packs with your label, and dispatched.
More on each step is on the quality and food safety page.
How much we can handle
The unit processes up to 10 tonnes a month. There is no single minimum quantity. It depends on the product and the format, so tell us what you have in mind and we'll say honestly whether it's worth running. If you aren't sure yet, start with a trial batch.
Why low temperature
Low-temperature drying takes longer. It is also the best way we know to keep the colour, aroma and flavour of what goes into the dryer. Push produce too hot or too fast and it browns, and the aroma goes flat with it.
Questions people ask
Is contract drying the same as toll drying or job work? Yes. You supply the produce and pay for the drying, and the product stays yours.
Do I have to send my own raw material? No. Send your own, or tell us what you need and we'll source it.
Will you keep my product details confidential? Yes. What you share is used only for your work, and we'll sign an NDA first if you like.
Where are you based? 86, Villankurichi Road, Ramakrishnapuram, Ganapathy, Coimbatore 641006, Tamil Nadu. We work with customers across India, and visits are by appointment.
How to get started
Send a WhatsApp message to +91 98652 35829 or write to sales@koelfoods.com with the product, the format and a rough quantity. We'll reply with questions, and with a quote once we understand the job. If you'd like an NDA first, say so and we'll sign it before you share anything.