50 new jobs coming to Statesville

Good news for Iredell County:

Origin Food Group LLC held a ribbon-cutting this week for a new processing plant in Statesville. The company is investing $7 million in the plant and plans to hire 40 to 50 workers by 2014.

The new facility will produce the company's frush line of drinkable yogurt and fruit shakes.

Origin, based in Statesville, is a partnership between the Alarcon family of Ecuador and the Stameys of Iredell County, which combines more than 60 years of experience in the dairy farming and cattle business.

Gov. Bev Perdue was on hand for the announcement and cited the state's investment in education and job-training programs for the "strong business climate."

Don Greenloe, Origin general manager, said in a prepared statement: "Our products promote a healthy lifestyle, giving our customers a delicious product that they can grab 'on the go.' All of us at Origin are excited about the future of this company and what it will mean in investments and jobs going forward."

For more info about Origin, visit www.originfoodgroup.com and www.gofrush.com.