Organic company to grow 62 jobs

SARASOTA — Wholesale organic produce distributor Global Organic Specialty Source plans to expand to a larger facility in Sarasota County, the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County announced today.

The produce distributor, which serves the Southeast and outlying Caribbean islands, will combine its operations in Miami and Manatee County into the new Sarasota facility, a release from the EDC explains. The move is expected to create 62 jobs during the next five years, Mark Huey, the EDC's CEO and president says.

The business's new facilities will occupy 85,000 square feet in Meridian Center at 6284 McIntosh Road in Sarasota. It will receive $124,000 in incentives from Sarasota County, provided it creates 62 jobs over five years.

Mitch Blumenthal, president of Global Organic Supply Source, estimates in the release that the company will spent $930,000 to renovate the Sarasota building and add new equipment to support its expansion, which includes handling frozen food products. He expects to start operations in the new facility in July.

According to Huey, Global Organic began in Sarasota County, but moved to Manatee County when it outgrew its facility. He says it's now returning to Sarasota County to continue its growth.