An investment of €4.8 million (US$5.2 million) is planned for a 35-hectare farm near Coimbra, expected to create 25 direct jobs. The project includes a citrus-based beverage production facility, an interpretive centre, and a restaurant space, according to Arnaldo Baptista, owner of the Coimbra-based group.
The Municipal Assembly is scheduled to vote on recognising the investment as a municipal public interest. Earlier this month, the Coimbra City Council unanimously approved the proposal.
The project will strengthen production of citrosidra, a fermented beverage launched in 2022 that blends must made from equal parts apples and oranges. Part of the raw material comes from the farm's own orange groves and apple orchards, with the remainder supplied by other producers in the region.
Arnaldo Baptista explained that the concept originated from his master's thesis, presented in 2016 in partnership with the University of Coimbra and the School of Agriculture. "I wanted to deepen the image I had of the Coimbra of orange groves," he said, referring to the long history of oranges in the region.
He described the beverage as a dry cider alternative. "It's for people who enjoy dry products," Baptista said. "It has the velvety apple, the tartness, but also the citrus touch, from the orange."
The farm, located on the border between Coimbra and Montemor-o-Velho, also raises cows, sheep, and pigs and applies circular economy practices. Surplus food and coffee grounds are composted and used as fertilizer on the orchards.
Plans include a production unit, with a height of 10 meters, largely buried underground and covered with vegetation. An interpretive centre will explain the fermentation and creation process. Pedro Baptista, executive director of the group, noted that a hotel project may also be considered in the future.
Arnaldo Baptista said that recognition of the project's public interest will help advance the approval process with the Ministry of Agriculture. He noted that unique projects often face resistance from state agencies.
"When a project with any audacity arrives, there is negative discrimination," he said, recalling earlier delays in other ventures.
Source: The Portugal News