Safe Food Alliance is a division of DFA of California, which provides accredited laboratory analysis, training and consulting, and certified audits to a variety of food sectors.

The new facility — Safe Food Alliance’s largest laboratory to date — will be located off Highway 99 at the Kingsburg Business Park on the northwest corner of W. Bratton Street and Morgan Drive. The builder on the project is West Star Construction in Kingsburg.

The laboratory will provide 20,408 square feet of space for lab services that include chemical, microbiological, water testing, commodity fumigation research; expanded analytical capabilities for food testing and challenge studies for food spoilage. The complex will also house commodity inspection services for DFA and serve as a food safety training facility.

The project is scheduled to be completed in December. At completion, the facility will initially support more than 100 jobs that serve the food safety and quality needs of the San Joaquin Valley. Additional positions will be added as the business expands.

“As we expand our lab capabilities in Kingsburg, we will be uniquely positioned to help our growing customer base globally to navigate a dynamic food safety arena,” Safe Food Alliance CEO Sam Keiper said in a statement.

“The food industry faces a rapidly changing regulatory environment where dynamic technological breakthroughs are constantly challenging us to expand our portfolio of expertise and competency.”

Kingsburg City Manager Alex Henderson said the city is happy to welcome Safe Food Alliance to Kingsburg Business Park.

“Safe Food Alliance fits perfectly into our ag-based community, providing services to growers, packers, processors and manufacturers,” Henderson said in a statement. “We know we’ve gained a long-term partner, and we’re ecstatic they’ve chosen Kingsburg for their next venture. With our generous incentive program and plenty of shovel ready lots, we’re looking forward to working with other agricultural-related businesses in the near future.”