Port of Tampa strikes deal with Cutrale for new facility

The Tampa Port Authority approved a lease agreement with Cutrale Citrus Juices USA Inc. to develop new juice storage and distribution facilities at the Port of Tampa. The lease will cover 2.7 acres near Berth 205, said James R. Renner, the port authority’s senior director of real estate, in a statement.

Cutrale, based in Auburndale, will construct all improvements on the site, including orange juice storage tanks. The improvements are expected to cost $25 million.

The lease is for 25 years with an option to extend it by 10 years.

Cutrale will guarantee shipment of 110,000 tons per year in the second operational year of the lease. This would result in 10 ship calls per year. The company intends to conduct “substantial export operations” from the site, according to Renner’s statement.

Cutrale is a subsidiary of Sucocitrico Cutrale Ltda., which is based in Brazil and is one of the world’s largest growers and processors of oranges.

Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal (www.bizjournals.com)