RENMARK-based nut producer Almondco is set to expand its Riverland processing facility to nearly double its capacity.
The expansion will include construction of a world class value-adding almond processing facility, a new specialised sorting room with advanced electronic sorting equipment to double brown kernel processing and also full use and treatment of the site's wastewater.
It is expected to create 30 construction jobs and an additional 20 production jobs at Renmark, on top of the 170 people Almondco employs in SA.
Almondco managing director Brenton Woolston said almonds were Australia's most valuable horticultural crop, with this expansion allowing significant growth.
It is projected to increase the almonds processed from 28,000 tonnes to more than 45,000t a year by 2026.
"Australia is ranked second at seven per cent on world almond production which is dominated by California in the USA, which produces 80pc of the world's almonds," he said.
"Almondco is proud to play a role in assisting our industry and local economy grow.
"This expansion will further provide opportunities for local employment and open up new export markets due to higher processing capacity."
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This project has been assisted by a $28.55 million state government loan.
Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Tim Whetstone made the announcement during Almondco's 75th anniversary celebrations in the Riverland.
"The global demand for high quality almonds continues to grow and Almondco's Renmark expansion is a huge boost for not only the Riverland almond industry, but the state's economy," he said.
"Almondco is the second largest processor of almonds in Australia processing approximately 30pc of the national almond crop, exporting over 50pc of its output."
Mr Whetstone said the SA almond industry was worth $108 million in farmgate value in 2017-18, while this could help it grow a further 3pc as part of the Growth State agenda.
The Almondco loan is under the Loans to Cooperatives Scheme, which assists economic growth in the state by supporting investment in new processing and storage infrastructure.
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