FOODNEWS
Friday September 05 2008

SUCOCITRICO Cutrale has bought an orange processing factory in Silves, Portugal, according to the Algarve region's Regional Directorate for Agriculture and Fisheries.

The purchase comes just before the start of the Portuguese processing season, and will allow Cutrale to challenge Spain and Spanish export markets for orange juice. Spain is already finding it hard to compete this year against Brazilian NFC orange juice exports.

The Algarve grows around 300 000 tonnes of citrus fruits (mainly oranges and lemons) annually.