Pioneer Growers is near the completion of an expansion at its Belle Grade, Fla., headquarters plant, which includes expanded cold storage and processing facilities.

This is the third and final phase of a mid-term expansion plan that includes 64,000 additional square feet of space for processing, storage and office space. It’s expected to be operational on March 13. The Florida facility now includes 13 docks and 700 new pallet spaces to aid in cooling incoming product and staging outgoing orders.

“As one of the largest fresh sweet corn growers in the U.S., it’s important that we continue to expand and improve our facilities to meet not only growing demand, but [also] to maintain production efficiencies that continue to improve our product handling and quality,” says Gene Duff, vice president and general manager.

Construction of the Phase 3 project began in August 2016, and was part of a 5-year plan that included previous expansions of processing, receiving and packing areas and added features such as Thermomass tilt wall construction.

Pioneer Growers is currently shipping sweet corn, cabbage and radishes along with green beans, which are processed in the new Phase 3 expansion.

“Pioneer Growers has always been an industry leader, and our growers and employees are proud and excited to work in the most modern facility in the Glades, where we produce and ship some of the freshest, best quality sweet corn and vegetables grown anywhere in the U.S.,” says Duff.

Pioneer Growers is a grower-owned marketing cooperative specializing in fresh sweet corn and mixed vegetables, including green beans, radishes and cabbage. Today, Pioneer Growers offers year-round availability with more than 13,000 acres across Florida, Georgia and the Northeast.