US based global fruit and vegetable producer Dole Food Company has acquired TrucFrut farms and packing facilities in Chile for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition move is to increase volumes and variety of Dole’s produce, in particular with the addition of premium apple varieties and kiwifruit to its portfolio.
The transaction is also part of its strategic investing and upgrading of its packing and post-harvest infrastructure besides helping it improve its grower services.
Dole Food Company president and COO Johan Linden said: “With the acquisition of TucFrut we are strengthening our leadership of Dole’s Chilean deciduous export business and diversified fruit operations.
“Dole Chile has been a success story for Dole since the 1980s based on our grower supply and a worldwide distribution under the Dole label.”
Located 140 miles south of Santiago, the 1000-hectare TucFrut property comprises five different farms. The Chilean firm produces apples, blueberries and kiwifruit that spread over 600 hectares in the Molina and Linares areas.
Following the acquisition, Dole will get an opportunity to produce Chilean blueberries, which currently seeing an increase in demand, for the first time.
Dole also gets a farmland under its assets that is yet to be developed for production.
Dole diversified fruit operations president Francisco Chacon said: “A large portion of the farm is yet to be planted and we intend to plant varieties that will satisfy our customers' needs in the years to come.
“The TucFrut fruit farms acquisition is the most visible part of our growth in Chile this year.”
Dole along with the TucFrut deal, had also acquired three additional grape farms spread over 600 hectares in Chile.
