AgriNurture to produce more coco juice for US-based Vita Water

The coconut water exporter that secured a $15-million dollar purchase commitment from United States-based Vita Water said it will build two to three plants and can expand production capacity by 36 million liters per facility. “Probably one in the Visayas and two more in Mindanao. All of these will happen in the next 12 to 18 months," AgriNurture Inc. (ANI) president and CEO Antonio Tiu said late Thursday. “Each facility will require $5 million in investment," noted Tiu. "We got Vita Water to commit to buy as $15 million worth of our production for 2012. We expect to generate $3 million per month from our CamSur plant once operations ramps to full capacity," Tiu said. Vita Water is a subsidiary of Pepsi Cola Inc. The ANI plant in Camarines Sur is rising on a two-hectare property. ANI is also setting up 10 to 15 refrigeration and cold storage facilities at coconut water collection stations in the Camarines, Albay and Sorsogon provinces. "The chillers will help retain the freshness of the coco water and prevent the enzymes from acting up that could result in the souring of taste," Tiu explained. Tiu said ANI is expanding its coconut juice operations because of the “growing demand for this healthy drink in the US and in other countries." — ELR/VS, GMA News