The US$645mn project will provide a boost to the region’s growing cherry output
New Day Fruits (NDF), based in the Chilean region of Ñuble, has announced plans to build a new cherry packing facility to handle the region’s growing cherry output. According to official figures, there are currently 3,062ha of cherry production in Ñuble.
As part of the Strengthening and Attracting Technology-Based Productive Investments (IFI) programme, financed by the Ñuble Regional Government and implemented by the Chilean Economic Development Agency (Corfo), NDF will build a plant with the capacity to process at least 3,200 tonnes of cherries. The investment will come largely from private capital provided by NDF partners and public co-financing totalling US$645mn.
Once the new facility is operational, it will provide direct employment for more than 260 people. During the peak season, it is expected to create around 3,000 indirect jobs.
During a recent visit to NDF, Óscar Crisóstomo, the regional governor of Ñuble, reinforced his commitment to growing and promoting the region’s economic development. He said one of the government’s objectives is to improve the state’s export logistics, so that its producers don’t have to rely on other parts of the country.
To date, four projects have qualified for this investment option through the IFI. These include the construction of another cherry packhouse, to the tune of more than US$700mn, by exporter and marketer Cordillera.
