Global avocado marketer Index Fresh, along with builder Tippmann Innovation, held a groundbreaking ceremony recently for a new distribution and cold storage facility. This facility is located in Pharr Produce Park at 1100 West Capote Central Avenue in Pharr TX.
This new 60,000-square-foot facility will feature 2,600 pallet positions, 10 ripening rooms, a bagging and repackaging area, and nine dock doors—all in a temperature-controlled environment. The state-of-the-art facility will have a positive impact on the local economy due to employment opportunities and serving as an anchor for Pharr Produce Park.
Index Fresh, based in Bloomington CA, is a worldwide marketer of avocados, sourcing from all major growing regions including Mexico. When the company was looking for the ideal location to expand its southwest distribution, it was drawn to Pharr.
Dana Thomas, president and CEO of Index Fresh, said, “We were interested in Pharr’s proximity to the border for our Mexico imports. The city was wonderful in working with us.”
Pharr, which is less than three miles east of McAllen TX, serves as one of the primary entry points for produce coming to the United States from Mexico.
Tippmann Innovation, a leader in the planning and building of cold storage facilities, worked with Index Fresh to design a modern, efficient ripening and storage facility that leaves room for future expansions.
“Index Fresh has experienced double-digit growth over the past five years,” said Rob Adams of Tippmann Innovation. “This was a major consideration during planning. It was important for us to allow for future growth without slowing down production.”
Adams also points out that the building’s innovative layout will enable Index Fresh to ripen and store more fruit with a smaller footprint than previous facilities.
The facility, which is the first to break ground in Pharr Produce Park, is slated for completion in late autumn 2017.
Index Fresh has facilities in California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Colorado and Illinois.
Learn more at www.indexfresh.com.
