Aug 9, 2017

Mucci Farms going to Ohio with greenhouse, distribution outlet

Kingsville, Ontario-based Mucci Farms is pursuing a large-scale, multi-year investment that will establish its footprint on U.S. soil, in addition to further supporting its growing U.S. customer base. Mucci Farms is expanding into Huron, Ohio.

This new stage of growth in Ohio will encompass a three phase construction project. According to a press release, this project will cover 60 acres and feature the latest state-of-the-art greenhouses, and a 272,000-square-foot distribution warehouse to support the company’s sustainable and successful relationship with a number of large U.S. retailers.

Mucci Farms has already broken ground on the first phase of the project, which includes the construction of a 24-acre range. The company said that it expects produce coming from this facility as soon as March 2018. The company decided to include a U.S. growing facility as a strategic answer to meet its customer demands for locally-grown, year-round, fresh, and flavorful produce. This expansion into Ohio will allow Mucci Farms to reduce the food miles for its U.S. retailers, while giving its customers confidence in bringing fresh produce into their homes all year.

Mucci Farms’ new greenhouses will come equipped with the latest grow lights that simulate sunlight by providing or supplementing the necessary light to optimize plant growth. These grow lights serve to extend the growing season, and keeps Mucci Farms’ produce always in season.

Once the first stage of construction is complete, Mucci Farms expects to employ up to 100 full-time positions. The company predicts that this number will increase to 250 full-time positions by the end of the project’s third phase of construction. The project also expects bring on many different levels of produce professionals and general laborer positions, including growers, assistant growers, and greenhouse labor supervisors that the company is looking to bring on right away.

Mucci Farms had been actively exploring a number of U.S. expansion opportunities for the past 18 months, and selected Huron, Ohio, as the site was a good fit due to its easy access to a number of current and potentially new retailer distribution facilities. Furthermore, the location offers a close proximity to the company’s corporate headquarters in Kingsville, Ontario.

Source: Mucci Farms