Japanese company builds acerola fruit processing plant
Japan’s Nichirei Suco company began construction of a plant to process acerola fruit in Go Cong Dong district, southern Tien Giang province on July 17.
The VND90 billion (US$4.2 million) plant is scheduled to start operation in March 2014.
Tien Giang has the largest area of acerola trees (scientific name Malpighia emarginate) in the country which produce 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes per year.
The acerola, which is as very rich in vitamin C, is one of the seven main fruits grown in the province for export to Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Japanese company has recently invested VND6 billion in building a research centre in Binh Nghi commune, Go Dong district, to help improve the quality of acerola fruits and increase farmer’s income.