Nunda, NY As peanut allergies increase along with the demand for natural, organic nut-based products, Once Again Nut Butter is taking a dramatic step toward customer safety. Construction, which is managed and coordinated by DiMarco Constructors, has begun on a new and separate facility with the specific purpose of handling peanut-based products. “The focus is on the customer, to give them assurance that we have good allergen controls in the specialized facility,” said Robert Gelser, president and general manager of Once Again Nut Butter. “The natural and organic industry has been growing at a rapid pace and nut butters, especially peanut butter, are a staple in most households,” Gelser said. The new 39,000 s/f food-processing facility will address that positive trend by spreading out the production load and updating equipment. “From a food-quality aspect, we’re definitely using the latest technology in roasting, and roasting in the peanut butter world ensures you’re providing a safe product to the consumer,” said Gelser. This concern comes from four decades of making the customer the bottom line. The essence of Once Again’s products is to ensure customers are buying a quality, natural, organic product. “It’s a healthier alternative,” Gelser said. “People question what’s in their food, and let’s be honest — in some cases, they’re not sure. If you look at our ingredient panel, everyone can understand everything that’s in our product.” A new, pre-engineered metal facility is underway at 9365 State Highway 408 in Nunda, according to Gelser. DiMarco Constructors is the general contractor for the project, responsible for construction, budget, safety, and site improvements. DiMarco also coordinates scheduling and processing to keep a robust pace of development on behalf of Once Again Nut Butter. Gelser said working with them has been a positive experience. “We interviewed them along with a few other candidates,” Gelser said. “When we looked at their attention to cost, schedule and safety, those were areas they excelled in, and it’s proven to be true.” Tags: