KSCDC to bring out chocolate-coated cashew nuts

KOLLAM: Three years after introducing branded value-added products in the domestic market, the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC) is all set to roll out new products.The chocolate-coated cashews are the new addition to the innovative range of products by the KSCDC.The technology for the cashew chocolates has been developed by the Central Food Technology Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, and the product is poised to be launched by the end of this financial year. They would be available in milk chocolate and brown chocolate varieties and the production will begin at the Kottiyam and Ayathil units of the KSCDC once the machinery is installed.Another product in the pipeline is cashew noodles. Marketed as ‘CDC cashews,’ the four value-added products now offered by the KSCDC include Cashew Soup, Cashew Vita, Cashew Powder and Cashew Bits.  KSCDC Managing Director K A Retheesh told ‘Express’ that the sweet and crunchy chocolate cashews are expected to be  a hit among kids.“The vitamin content in cashew is very important for growing children, but many kids are reluctant to have cashew kernels. On the other hand kids will find the chocolate coated ones attractive,’’ he said.While cashew kernels contribute to the lion’s  share of exports, the value-added products target the domestic market. The turnover from  value-added products during the previous financial year was Rs 12 crore against the total turnover of Rs 212 crore. Almost 90 per cent of the value-added products of the KSCDC are sold in the domestic market. The CDC cashews are marketed also in the Gulf countries.Establishing a strong domestic market is important for the survival of the industry in the country. ‘’With countries such as Vietnam giving Indian exporters a run for their money in the international market, we should be able to establish a strong domestic market,” he said.Retheesh said the cashew kernels exported from India are seen as a raw material for the snack food industry in the European and American market. “The private players are yet to venture into the production and export of value-added products. The shelf life of these products are posing a hindrance in export and research is on to improve this,” he said adding that KSCDC was ready to provide the technology to private firms.