Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Oviedo, Fla., announced the expansion of its Oxnard, Calif., cooling and fresh-cut facility to better meet the increased demand for celery from foodservice, retailers and consumers.

Scheduled for completion this fall, this initiative provides a footprint for continued growth over the years and enhanced customer service with higher volume efficiencies.

“With the strong growth in the celery snacking segment, we saw an opportunity to get ahead of demand and amplify our capabilities,” says Dan Duda, president. “The expansion of the Oxnard facility allows us to not only continue preparing for tomorrow, but also to grow the Duda family legacy and ultimately the next generation of celery growers.”

The facility site is just under 5.5 acres and is a 35% increase in square footage. This $5 million expansion will allow Duda Farm Fresh Foods to double its current output of fresh-cut product and increase jobs by 17%.