Oxnard-based Mission Produce announced successful completions to the 2015 seasons in California and Peru. The company opened new packing facilities in each country earlier this spring, marking upgrades in the company’s ability to serve its global customer base. The Oxnard plant was recognized as the largest avocado packing facility in the world--until the Peru plant opened just 30 days later.
In Oxnard, Mission christened a 230,000 square-foot facility, moving from the previous 58,000 square-foot plant it operated since 1983. According to company President and CEO, Steve Barnard, “We really needed the additional production and storage capacity. It is a huge upgrade in speed and efficiency, and gives us much more cold storage and loading dock capacity.
“We transitioned from the old facility early in the California season, and were 100% moved over by July,” added Barnard. “We continue to make off-season changes, including adding hydro-coolers, and streamlining our process.”
Within 30 days of opening of the California facility, Mission opened its new plant in Chao, Peru. The Peru plant is bigger than the Oxnard plant, weighing in at nearly 280,000 square feet. Construction of the facility began in early 2014, and was completed in time to begin production in May 2015.
According to Brian Miller, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing, both California and Peru were positive seasons for the company. “We were able to seamlessly open both packing houses within a month of one another. Both new facilities give us the ability to diversify packs, improve product handling and cold-chain management, and set the stage for future growth,” said Miller.
Barnard added, “Growing in California and being fully vertically-integrated in Peru are big parts of our global strategic vision."
