Arunachal signs MoU with Hill Crests Foods for kiwi wine

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh has inked a memorandum of understanding with Pune-based Hill Crest Foods and Beverages Pvt Ltd for manufacturing of kiwi wine initially on a pilot basis. During the MoU signed ceremony on December 6 last in presence of Agriculture and Horticulture Minister, Setong Sena and Horticulture Commissioner Hage Kojeen, the state was represented by the Arunachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing & Processing Board (APHPM&PB), official sources informed here today.

APHPM&PB Managing Director Tage Tatung said that the unmarketable sizes of kiwi fruits from Arunachal Pradesh would be sent to Rhythm Winery of Hill Crest Foods for manufacturing of wine, initially on a pilot basis to produce 5,000 litres of kiwi wine. "If the project is successful, kiwi wine manufacturing unit will be set up in the state for which huge quantity of kiwi will be required. So, more area is to be brought under kiwi cultivation to feed the would-be unit and meet the market demand," he said.

Akalpit Arvind Prabhune, Managing Director of Hill Crest Foods informed that the company at present is manufacturing various fruit wine including strawberry and pineapple wine. "After launching of kiwi wine, we will take up manufacturing of peach, pineapple, strawberry and other fruits wine in Arunachal Pradesh if sufficient quantities of fruits are available to feed the unit," he disclosed.