May 21, 2024
Cutrale Citrus Juices Announces Closure of Leesburg Plant, Over 100 Jobs to be Affected
By Cindy Peterson
Cutrale Citrus Juices Announces Closure of Leesburg Plant, Over 100 Jobs to be Affected
Cutrale Citrus Juices USA has announced the upcoming closure of its facility located at 11 Cloud St. in Leesburg. This decision, detailed in a notice filed with the state on May 17, will result in the loss of over 100 jobs due to operational changes by a primary business provider.
The provider, which has not been named, will be relocating its packaging operations away from the area to its own facilities, impacting the Leesburg plant significantly. According to the Orlando Business Journal, the closure is planned in two phases, with the first phase resulting in 101 layoffs effective July 31 and an additional 16 layoffs scheduled for October 31.
This closure marks a significant change for Cutrale, which has been a part of the Leesburg community since acquiring the plant in 1996 along with another facility in Auburndale from Coca-Cola Co. for $21.43 million. The Auburndale location will not be affected by this closure.
The plant itself has been around since 1967 and at one time, was one of the largest orange juice distributors in the world.
Originally from the small town of Berryville, Arkansas, Cindy has become a multimedia specialist in journalism, photography, videography, and video editing. She has a B.S. in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas and produces Style Magazine's Sports Hub Podcast and the Healthy Living Podcast. She also produces for Beacon College’s Telly Award-winning PBS show, “A World of Difference.” When she isn’t working, Cindy loves traveling the National Parks with her husband , Ryan, and son, David, photographing wildlife.
