Foodlink has begun construction on a new 28-thousand square foot state-of-the-art kitchen, located next to its Mt. Read Blvd distribution center.
Officials gathered there today for a groundbreaking -- actually an apple slicing -- to mark the start of the $4.6 million dollar project.
Board Chair for Foodlink, Matthew Ray, says the new community kitchen will enable Foodlink to triple its output.
"This will be a state-of-the art community-based kitchen. It'll have anything you can think of that'll provide 12-thousand plus meals a day to children in the community."
Executive Director Julia Tedesco notes that Foodlink always had a community kitchen, but it was located at another site.
This way, they can be more efficient with how they receive and distribute food.
She says the addition will have three core functions: provide more healthy meals for Rochester's children, enhance its value-added processing operations -- better known as its apple slicing program -- and offer a culinary training program in conjunction with Wegmans.
"The new facility will enable Foodlink to increase the number of healthy meals it prepares and serves daily to children in the City of Rochester, while making significant investments in the regional economy and fostering workforce development," she says.
Ray says Foodlink worked out a lease arrangement with Flaum Management to acquire the space, which is adjacent to its 90-thousand square foot warehouse.
Foodlink hopes to have the new kitchen up and running in time for the new school year in the fall.
Here’s Foodlink’s Board Chair Matthew Ray with more on the new kitchen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBdAAnfBjas">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBdAAnfBjas
Officials “slice the apple” on the new expansion: