MIAMI, FL - With sights set on the advancement of its portfolio, Crystal Valley Foods has brought a new state-of-the-art packing house to La Vega, Dominican Republic, in partnership with Island Farms. The Island Farms packing plant will begin packing bulk and retail packs of specialty peppers and tropicals and will continue to expand to include other locally sourced fresh fruits and vegetables from the burgeoning region.

“The Dominican Republic has always been a favored and important growing region for United States’ fresh produce imports,” said Jay Rodriguez, President of Crystal Valley Foods. “Its rich soil and variety of microclimates allows for a diverse range of fruits and vegetables to be grown there year-round and throughout the country. It also has a sophisticated infrastructure and is just a short ride away from United States ports, allowing product to get here faster and at lower costs.”

Solidifying a presence in the Dominican Republic will allow the fresh produce supplier to have better control of the quality and packing of the product it ships from the region. The cutting-edge new packing plant is the first agriculture-related warehouse in the La Vega free zone, according to a press release, and is one of the only pepper packing houses and fields in the country that is certified.

With the opening of the new plant, Island Farms will generate more than 120 new jobs in the area, and indirectly create more than 500 jobs throughout the neighboring regions.

“We appreciate the support and attention the Dominican government, including President Abinader and The Minister of Agriculture, Limber Cruz, have given to this project,” added Rodriguez. “We are looking forward to working with Island Farms and expanding our product line and our footprint in the country.”

Strategic expansions are always taking place within the produce industry, and AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the latest.

Crystal Valley Foods