Mucci Farms adding fresh vegetable distribution

Added on 29 June 2020

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Mucci Farms adding fresh vegetable distribution

US- Mucci Farms, a vertically integrated greenhouse company with more than 1,700 acres of lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and strawberries in Canada and the U.S., recently announced that it is adding two new U.S.-based distribution facilities in Romulus, MI, and San Antonio, TX. Furthering the company's rapid expansion efforts over the last several years, the new locations are designed to increase efficiencies and service more regions.

"We're very excited about these two new locations because they will improve our ability to service retailers and consumers in the U.S.," says Gianni Mucci, Vice President of Operations. "Not only will we be able to service a larger area of the U.S., we will significantly reduce our carbon footprint and food mileage."

Both facilities will be equipped with state-of-the-art automation and technology, and serve as cross docks to maximize efficiency. The Michigan warehouse has a 66,300 square-feet footprint and will primarily service the Midwest and Northeast U.S.

"This location will help us pack, repack, and distribute our full lineup to the region in a timely manner," Gianni says. "Romulus is a great location for us as it allows us to avoid wait times at the border and quickly redirect product to several states."

The Texas warehouse is a 54,000 square foot facility strategically located to serve as a cross dock primarily during the winter months. San Antonio is a central location that will help the company service southern states and addresses an industry-wide labor challenge.

"The San Antonio area has a population of 2.5 million people, and the labor market is particularly experienced in produce," says Ronnie Alvar, Director of Operations at Mucci Farms. "This helps us onboard a knowledgeable team of people that understand the nuances of the produce industry and can efficiently manage the supply chain."

The warehouse is also equipped with a unique feature in its loading docks.

"With hot temperatures in Texas, our dock allows trucks to back into the warehouse in a manner that doesn't break the cold chain," Alvar says. "The doors actually open up right inside our pre-cooled loading dock, so we are able to preserve product quality, as there is no temperature fluctuation transferring product from the truck to the warehouse."

With a large focus on U.S. expansion, this announcement supports Mucci Farms' first U.S. project in Huron, OH, a 75-acre greenhouse/warehouse operation. Built in three 25-acre phases, the first phase has been harvesting and servicing retailers since 2018, and phase 2 is currently under construction with a goal to harvest its first crop this fall. The entire project is equipped with supplemental grow lights allowing for local production 365 days a year.