Worldwide avocado marketer, Index Fresh, Bloomington, Calif., broke ground on its new state-of-the-art distribution and cold storage facility in Pharr, Texas.

The new 60,000-square-foot facility, built by Tippmann Innovation, Fort Wayne, Ind., will feature 2,600 pallet positions, 10 ripening rooms, a bagging and repackaging area and nine dock doors, all in a temperature-controlled environment.

Index Fresh sources from all major growing regions around the globe, including Mexico, and was in search of the ideal location to expand its southwest distribution.

“We were interested in Pharr’s proximity to the border for our Mexico imports. The city was wonderful in working with us,” says Dana Thomas, president and CEO of Index Fresh.

Pharr is located less than 3 miles to the east of McAllen, Texas, and serves as one of the primary entry points for produce entering the United States from Mexico.

Tippmann Innovation 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. This was a major consideration during planning. It was important for us to allow for future growth without slowing down production,” says Tippmann Innovation’s Rob Adams, who works closely with owners and users, logistics planners and design engineers to ensure clients’ needs are met throughout every project.

The facility, which is the first to break ground in Pharr Produce Park, is slated for completion in late fall.