UNIVEG Logistics America, a Swedesboro, N.J.-based division of Greenyard’s fresh division, broke ground on its northeast U.S. operations.

The new 152,200-square-foot, state-of-the-art packing and cold storage facility marks the first expansion of the fresh division in the U.S. market. The facility is strategically positioned within close proximity of the northeastern ports, a major receiving point for imported fresh produce in the United States.

“Expansion in our northeast operations and the U.S. market is our driving objective and part of our strategic plan,” says Mayda Sotomayor-Kirk, president of UNIVEG Logistics America. “Being part of UNIVEG, the fresh division of Greenyard, has propelled our continued growth. We outgrew our current facility some time ago, and designed the new facility with the ability for future expansion going forward.”

The company’s name will change to Greenyard Logistics USA with completion of the facility slated for late spring 2017. This expansion substantially increases its overall volume and production capability, quadrupling its current operational square footage and capacity. The expansion also significantly adds to the company’s services in areas such as value-added packing, consolidation, controlled atmosphere storage and service providing opportunities. The complex will be a central matching point for both growers and retailers.

Seald Sweet, a Greenyard company and sister company of UNIVEG Logistics America, will also relocate its imports production operations and northeast sales offices to the new facility, enabling the sales and production teams to continue operating within the same location.