In Chapada Diamantina's Mucugê, the inauguration of a Red Fruit Processing Unit has sparked optimism among strawberry producers. This facility, established with a R$3.6 million investment from the Bahia state government through the Regional Development and Action Company (CAR), is set to benefit approximately 200 family-run farms by increasing strawberry production and income. The unit is equipped with advanced processing machinery including cooling and freezing chambers, a refrigerated truck, and strawberry processing machines.
Ivan Fontes, from CAR, highlighted the unit's role in enhancing the value of local produce and expanding productive inclusion opportunities for family farmers. The CoopChapada Cooperative's president, Cristiano Rocha, pointed out the unit's capacity for improved product storage and its potential to encourage strawberry cultivation expansion. Raimundo Lopes, a local producer, noted the significant economic boost strawberries provide to the region, emphasizing the new unit's impact on job creation and product quality assurance.
Source: abrafrutas.org