Page 18 - AMEFT Journal 2021-4

FOCUS: CONFECTIONERY & SNACKS
Pacific Nuts premises outside view
Bühler’s optical sorting solution for Pacific Nuts
(Source: Pacific Nuts)
One of the leading exporters of nuts and dried fruits in Chile, Pacific Nuts, has reduced its input shell contami- nation from 5% to 0.4% after investing in Bühler’s ‘three- machines-in-one-solution’, the SORTEX F optical sorter. The company has also successfully adhered to the strictest qual- ity export standards of a maximum of one shell per 250 kg of walnuts.
Often cited as the best quality walnuts in the world, Chilean walnuts are renowned for their distinctive light color, rich fla- vor, and long shelf-life. Loaded with proteins, fatty acids, anti- oxidants, and phytochemicals, regular consumption of these walnuts is believed to maintain the brain’s cognitive function, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, and boost heart-health and metabolism. In tandem with the ongoing healthy eating trend that’s gripping consumers across the globe, demand for Chilean walnuts is increasing.
Pacific Nuts chose to invest in Bühler’s BioVision technol- ogy to meet this growing demand and to maintain its high-
Pacific Nuts quality products
quality standards in walnut
processing. Besides walnut,
the company has four pro-
cessing facilities, each dedi-
cated to a different com-
modity, almonds, prunes, and
raisins. The company works
hard to connect nut and dried
fruit growers with consumers from all over the world. 20% of the products processed are grown from their own or- chards.
Cristian Infante, General Manager for Pacific Nuts, says, “We studied the FB2 machine, and we liked its performance and versatility; it was the perfect fit to fulfil our goal of hav- ing the greatest quality walnuts in the market. The Chilean walnut industry as a whole is expecting a harvest of be- tween 1,40,000-1,45,000 tons of walnuts in 2021, a volume that will, of course, be confirmed once the season is over.
(Source: Pacific Nuts)
Cristian Infante, GM, Pacific Nuts
18 AMEFT 4 2021
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