FLORIDA — The Hero/Beech-Nut company announced plans Tuesday to hire 100 people to accommodate an increase in production.

The baby food maker is building a new 550,000 square-foot facility in the Florida Business Park south of Amsterdam, and new employees are expected to begin work in the Canajoharie facility until the new building is complete.

The company will invest in training programs for new workers to learn how to use new equipment the company describes as "state of the art."

Hero/Beech-Nut intends to create 140 positions while maintaining 350 existing positions as part of the $124 million project.

Construction at the site is slated for completion in the summer of 2009 and production is expected to cease in Canajoharie and at a cereal plant in Fort Plain not long afterward.

Hero/Beech-Nut President and CEO Christoph Rudolf announced plans to staff a job fair booth at the Fonda Fairgrounds. The Fonda Fair, located at 21 South Bridge Street in the village of Fonda, opens today.

People interested in positions opening up can learn more information on the Internet at www.beechnutbuilds.com.