The reconstruction of the distillery at MGP Ingredients, Inc.'s Atchison, KS, facility is nearly complete. The distillery will primarily produce 30 million gallons of high purity food grade alcohol for beverage and industrial applications. About one year ago, the original distillery was destroyed in an explosion.

Kettle Valley Dried Fruit completed construction of a new plant in Omak, WA. Employing 15 people, the 30,000-sq. ft. facility will manufacture approximately 42 million natural and organic fruit based nutritional bars.

Sunshine Mills is expanding its Halifax, VA, pet food plant. The $2.5 million expansion will create about 40 new jobs.

An additional 30,000 square feet will be added to Graceland Fruit, Inc.'s Frankfort, MI, processing facility. The $13 million project is expected to be complete by September 2004.

The Stellar Group completed construction of a two-story expansion for Bar-S Foods Co., a processor of meat products. The upgraded facility, now 157,500-sq. ft., was designed to further help prevent cross-contamination by creating a separate break room for employees in the ready-to-eat area away from those who work in the raw area.