Wholesale and custom fresh-cut produce company, 1st Quality Produce, Fresno, Calif., expanded into a new 35,000-square-foot remodeled facility, what is said to be the largest fresh-cut produce processing facility in California.

“Our customers range from schools, restaurants and hospitals to distributors,” says Mike Kahaian, chief executive officer. “We are capable of meeting everyday produce needs to the biggest buyers in town, yet small enough to provide service to our favorite local mom-and-pop restaurants.”

The building now houses a 20,000-square-foot custom processing facility that is capable of producing over 40,000-plus pounds of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables per day.  It also took on over 50 additional employees.

“With current drought conditions, we wanted to figure out a way to recycle our water. We now have a system in line that gathers all of our rinse water to recycle and reuse. The clean water is then used back into our processing line that reduces our city water needs,” says Kahaian. “It’s a great feeling to know the company is on the rise, best thing is seeing our 1^st Quality Produce family grow,” adds Kahaia.

The plant is expected to be fully completed by June. The company also has plans to plant a vegetable garden on a quarter of an acre open field behind the facility that will be used for educational purposes for local schools.