Blue Diamond Growers, a US-based agricultural co-operative, has opened a new almond processing facility in Turlock, California.
The 200,000ft2 facility is located on an 88 acre land at N. Washington and Fulkerth roads. The products from the new facility will be used in cereals, snack bars, yogurt toppings, baked goods and candies.
The plant will support the significant growth in the company's global almond ingredients business.
Blue Diamond stated that the new facility represents almost half of a three-phased capacity enhancement project scheduled to be completed over the next ten years and will eventually yield a total of about 500,000ft2 of building space.
The phase 1 expansion will cater to the increasing global demand for value-added almond ingredients from food companies across the world, and is expected to create more than 300 jobs
Blue Diamond President and CEO Mark Jansen said added revenues for Blue Diamond's Global Ingredients business rose by 69% between 2009-2011 and almonds continue to rank as the leading nut in new food products worldwide.
"Our expanded manufacturing capacity couldn't come at a more critical time as record demand drives us to process at a faster pace to support our global customers in their growth!" Jansen added.
The company had broken ground on the Phase 1 of Turlock facility in April 2012, as part of a plan to expand its value-added product lines.
Blue Diamond Growers, headquartered in Sacramento, California, is a tree nut processing and marketing cooperative, and engages in processing and marketing almonds in the US and internationally.
