The Ugly Company, a dried fruit snacks processor that uses “funny-looking but perfectly edible fruit that would otherwise be thrown out,” has reached a milestone: the grand opening of its new fruit processing plant in Farmersville, Calif. In conjunction, The Ugly Co. unveiled a new packaging design that will position and define the products more clearly.

According to a release from the company, these moves, combined with additional Series A funding secured a few months ago, should help the company elevate its throughput in 2023. Last year, The Ugly Co. upcycled 2.17 million pounds of product, but it is targeting three million pounds this year. The first “fruit dump” of the farming season is expected this month.

The new Farmersville facility sits on 23.5 acres and includes a self-developed sticker-removal machine, class-leading pit extractors imported from Italy, and 32 fruit dehydration tunnels. The company expects to employ 28 workers initially.

The company says the facility will bring processing in-house for the company, which leads to improved quality control and food safety.

Revamped product packaging provides greater insight and transparency into the product line, and celebrates the Central Valley farmers who produce the fruit that The Ugly Co. uses.