FLORIDA, N.Y. (AP) -- The area congressional delegation says a second federal food inspector will be assigned to the new Beech-Nut plant in the Mohawk Valley town of Florida, allowing growth of up to 20 percent this year.
Congressman Paul Tonko and senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to appoint the second inspector so the baby food company can add at least two shifts per week.
The approval of the second inspector will be effective Wednesday.
Beech-Nut currently employs 435 workers in the Capital Region. Without the second inspector, it would be at a disadvantage with competitors such as Gerber, which has inspectors 24 hours a day, seven days a week at plants in Michigan and Arkansas.
