Wholesum, Fair Trade Certified growers and shippers of organic fresh produce, has completed a major expansion of its distribution center in Nogales, Arizona.
“As the demand for responsibly grown organic produce continues to grow, it is important for us to increase storage capacity and bring new efficiencies to the company’s distribution capabilities,” stated Ricardo Crisantes, chief commercial officer.
Construction began in early 2021 and concluded on Oct. 8, with a 10,000-square-foot addition to the current state-of-the-art facility. The warehouse’s enhancements include two cold rooms with increased inventory storage capacity and accessibility, LED lighting with motion sensors for more efficient energy use, an updated dispatch office to accommodate the growing team and a new repack area to improve on packaging capabilities.
With sustainability in mind, the company also plans to extend its current solar panel system to the expanded area and to an additional dock to increase the use of renewable energy at the facility.
In the last three years, Wholesum has responded to the increasing volume demands of organic fresh vegetables, including organic tomatoes, cucumber, squash, bell peppers and eggplant, with expansions and renovations across the three family farms.
“We are now positioned to support the needs of our customers not only through year-round supply of responsibly grown organic produce but also in our logistic capabilities and a best-in-class supply chain,” stated Crisantes.
Wholesum thanked the teams, including warehouse and supply chain associates, who helped bring this plan to fruition.
“This expansion not only exemplifies our value of ‘problem solvers’ by continuously improving upon our capabilities to serve customers but also aligns with our vision of impacting the organic food industry through a model that cares about its workers,” Crisantes stated.
The expansion will support local job creation, adding 12 openings of year-round employment to the distribution center. These employees also will benefit from the company’s fair trade program, which brings additional funds generated from the sales of Wholesum Fair Trade Certified produce that they can invest into impactful projects of their choosing.
