The processing of cocoa, a raw material to produce chocolate, in Baracoa municipality, in eastern Guantánamo province, where Cuba's largest crops grow, has benefited from the installation of modern Italian-made equipment.

During the first four months of 2004. the company in charge of producing cocoa fulfilled all export contracts and reported a 34.2-percent increase in production, compared to the same period in 2003.

Cocoa butter and cakes are the main products exported from Baracoa, which produces nearly 75 percent of the raw material to make chocolate in Cuba.

The new equipment allows packing some 50 bags of cocoa powder per minute, thus contributing to increasing production of cocoa byproducts.

Production of chocolate tablets has increased so far this year, and bonbons and other preserves were produced for the first time.

By: Dtcuba