Dole Food acquires TucFrut Farms in Chile

Dole Food Company, an American producer and marketer of fresh fruit and vegetables, has acquired Chile-based TucFrut farms and its packing facilities located in the Molina and Linares areas.

The TucFrut farm site is located 140 miles South of Santiago, and features five different farms spread across 1,000 hectares (2,400 acres) that produces fruits such as apples, blueberries and kiwifruit.

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.”

The acquisition of the TucFrut farm will enhance and strengthen Doles product portfolio of offerings with premium apple varieties and kiwifruit.

The purchase of Chilean farm will also enable Dole to have its own production of blueberries. The demand for Chile blueberries has been on rise.

The acquisition also includes a farmland that needs 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.”

The acquisition of TucFrut is part of Doles investment plans towards investing and upgrading it’s packing and post-harvest infrastructure as well as is part of its long-term strategy in Chile.