Three months after the first fresh produce was picked at the facility, company officials say Pure Flavor’s Fort Valley, Ga., greenhouse is already making inroads in the Southeast.
“When we put the first shovel in the ground 18 months ago, we knew we had our work cut out for us as a project of this scope had never been built in the Southeast”, Jamie Moracci, president of Leamington, Ontario-based Pure Flavor, said in a news release.
The first phase of the greenhouse facility was completed last fall, with the first crops of greenhouse cucumbers and tomatoes picked in early December. Over the next five years, the second and third phases of the facility will be completed, eventually expanding to 25 acres under glass.
The Fort Valley greenhouse is now growing tomatoes on the vine, sweet red cocktail tomatoes, long English cucumbers and mini cucumbers, according to the release.
Company officials say construction of a 60,000-square-foot distribution center will be wrapping up this spring, only minutes from the greenhouse facility. The company has distribution centers in Leamington, Ontario, Romulus, Mich., and San Antonio.
“When it comes to bringing new products to market like our new Georgia tomatoes and cucumbers, we have embraced the Georgia Grown brand to ensure that our customers know where the product is grown and who grew it,” Chris Veillon, chief marketing officer, said in the release.
“The response to new products has been very positive on all fronts with feedback coming across all social channels and e-mail,” he said, noting that greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers were served recently at Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s inaugural luncheon.
Pure Flavor will be exhibiting at Booth 1120 at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure March 7-9 in Orlando, Fla.
