Star Produce adds a fourth Canadian distribution center

July 13, 2012

Star Produce has expanded with a fourth Canadian distribution center in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The new facility, named Vega Processing, joins current Star Produce locations in Saskatoon, Calgary, and Burnaby, BC.

The Vega facility is 36,000 square feet of office and warehouse space and includes multiple temperature coolers, a grading and repacking area, and 12 shipping and receiving doors. Vega will handle fruit and vegetable shipments from the eastern United States, eastern Canada, Mexico, South America and South Africa that are destined for the other western provinces.  

'Winnipeg's central location and its close proximity to the U.S. border make it an ideal place to route shipments through," Greg Kennedy, manager of the Winnipeg division of Star Produce, said in a press release. "Vega will take some pressure off the other Star distribution centers and cut down on travel time in the region."

Fresh Direct Foods, a fresh-cut processor and a sister company of Star Produce, will have a presence in the new facility. It will occupy 5,000 square feet of pre-wash/product prep space, a 3,000-square-foot production room and a 1,000-square-foot packing room. This state-of-the-art facility will provide next-day delivery of fresh-cut fruit and vegetables to the surrounding areas.

Star Produce supplies fresh fruit and vegetables from around the globe to retail and foodservice customers in Canada and the United States. Star Produce is a member of The Star Group of companies, which includes Nova Produce, Consolidated Fruit Packers, BC Hot House Foods, Fresh Direct Foods and Patterson Farms.