en.Wedoany.com Reported - Grupo Hijuelas and Nefuen have jointly inaugurated the world's southernmost European hazelnut processing plant in the city of Osorno, Los Lagos Region, aiming to establish southern Chile as a hub for the production, processing, and export of this type of nut.

Located in Las Quemas, the plant will process raw fruit from the Los Lagos and Los Ríos regions. The project integrates receiving, cleaning, drying, grading, cracking, shelling, sorting, and export preparation into a single facility.

The plant's production process covers four main stages: fruit receiving and pre-treatment, in-shell hazelnut grading, cracking and shelling, and final sorting, grading, and export preparation for demanding industrial markets.

Juan Ignacio Goycoolea Sone, CEO of Grupo Hijuelas, stated that this project marks the group's entry into a new, previously unexplored stage—fruit processing and sales—helping the company capture higher value and get closer to the end market.

Through this investment, Grupo Hijuelas and Nefuen plan to accelerate Chile's emergence as a key player in the global European hazelnut industry, achieving full-chain integration from production and processing to sales in the southern region.

Nefuen's involvement in European hazelnuts dates back to 2002, when the Mohr family established the first local orchards. Since then, collaboration with international experts and the development of genetic breeding technology from the United States have driven the expansion of this crop in southern Chile. In 2018, the company completed its first export, processing just 8 tons of hazelnuts in a month and a half; today, the new plant can process the same amount in a single shift, reflecting the rapid growth of the industry in recent years. The project also integrates technology and knowledge from Chile, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States to support this fast-growing sector.

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