Mission Produce Inc. has broken ground on a mega distribution center in Laredo, TX, which will initially create approximately 75 jobs. The 262,000-square-foot capital project will serve as a major distribution hub for Mexican avocados to the United States and is one of many key global investments Mission has made in recent years.
“The Laredo, TX, facility will shorten our replenishment time to our network and add flexibility in managing inventory,” said Mission Produce’s President and CEO Steve Barnard. “The city of Laredo is strategically positioned on the border of Texas and Mexico, making it an ideal location for the distribution of Mexican avocados into the United States. By investing in Laredo, we are redoubling our commitment to serving customers, providing value-added services, creating jobs, and leading the avocado industry.”
The mega distribution center will not only bolster Mission’s advantage within the avocado sector, but it will also favor the company’s ability to provide third-party services to other businesses in the produce industry. Built with scalability and versatility in mind, the center will initially provide Mission with 40 dock positions, ripening rooms, bagging operations, and pallet cooling capacities suitable for any commodity. The facility will accommodate ample refrigerated dock and cooler space designated for third-party logistics crossings and short-term storage. With the completion of this project, Mission can house, cool, and cross-dock the countless fresh products that cross the Mexico-United States border each day.
“We are excited to welcome a great global brand like Mission Produce to Laredo,” said Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz. “Mission Produce’s decision to invest in Laredo speaks volumes for city’s international trade and logistics industry, which has made Laredo the number one port in the country. The new distribution center will create a great number of good-paying jobs for Laredoans, and I look forward to working with the world’s largest shipper, packer, and distributor of avocados.”
A M King Construction Co. LLC performed design services for the new ripening, cold storage, and distribution center. The company began construction in May 2020 and will be completed mid-2021.
“We are happy to join Mission Produce in the design and construction of the largest avocado plant in the country,” said A M King Vice President Dan Crist. “Our food industry expertise, coupled with our track record of successfully completed cold storage and distribution projects, makes this an ideal partnership.”
