CHICAGO, IL - Putting a new blueprint in place to continue its mission of fortifying the produce industry, Hazel Technologies has announced a strategic expansion beyond its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. Recently, the solutions innovator revealed a new research center and West Coast customer support office in Fresno, California.

“Planting Hazel’s flag in California’s produce-rich Central Valley is a milestone moment for our company,” explained Adam Preslar, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer. “But even as we grow, our focus remains the same: customer-centric innovation which results in lower waste and higher profits for our customers.”

The new facility is conveniently located adjacent to Fresno’s Yosemite International Airport, and will help service increasing customer demand and further advance the research and development (R&D) of new technological solutions. According to a press release, Hazel Technologies has already begun an aggressive recruitment process to staff the new facility, as the new office will house a wide range of experts including scientists, R&D, and commercial team members.

California's Central Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions and is home to many of Hazel Technologies’ customers. Currently on track to treat 6.3 billion pounds of fresh produce in 2021, the solutions provider works with over 250 of the world’s largest food producers across 12 countries. With the new cutting-edge facility, the company will continue to focus its research on crops such as avocados, table grapes, cherries, and over fifteen other produce items.

The announcement of this expansion follows Hazel Technologies’ recent $70 million Series C funding round. With a rapidly expanding customer base, Hazel Technologies was recently recognized as a 2021 “Tech Pioneer” by the World Economic Forum and was one of Fast Company magazine’s “World Changing Ideas” in 2020.