Okanagan Specialty Fruits® Breaks Ground on Arctic® Apple Processing Facility; Neal Carter and Don Westcott Comment
WASHINGTON - Expansion is on for Okanagan Specialty Fruits® (OSF) as the grower revealed it has broken ground on a new centralized facility for receiving, storage, processing, packing, and shipping Arctic® apple products in Moses Lake, Washington. The project began in September 2022 and is expected to be completed and operational by mid-2023.
“We have over 1,250 acres of Arctic apple trees currently planted in Washington State, and harvest yields are ramping up quickly as our orchards come into full bearing,” explains Neal Carter, President of OSF. “With our continued growth, it makes sense to have a facility closer to our orchards, so we can optimize efficiencies, quality, and minimize transportation. We can focus on ramping up our production capabilities and delivering superior quality products to our customers.”
The facility is being built on a parcel of land that was acquired by OSF’s parent company Third Security as part of a 42.5-acre development deal, a release explained.
This development will create approximately 60 local jobs once the facility is built and operational. Plans for more hiring opportunities will also be announced later.
“This is a large-scale project that will require the use of many local vendors and service providers to bring it to fruition,” says Don Westcott, OSF’s Senior Vice President. “As growers, we recognize the importance of strong roots. We look forward to establishing ours in the community of Moses Lake.”
As this new facility gets closer to completion, AndNowUKnow will keep you in the loop.
