D’Arrigo Bros. Co. To Build Cooler

July 2005 – Salinas, CA  

D’Arrigo Bros. Co., one of the largest agricultural grower-shippers in the Salinas Valley will break ground on a new $27 million cooler facility and main office complex  near Spreckels, CA. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved the project in March of 2004, however shortly afterwards, LandWatch filed a suit against the company, preventing it from moving forward. In January 2005, a Monterey County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the supervisors and gave it’s blessing for D’Arrigo to move forward. Again, LandWatch appealed the decision and progress was thwarted.

It looked likely that the project could be delayed for as long as 1-1/2 to 2 years, in litigation and would dramatically increase the overall cost of the project to D’Arrigo. Fortunately, the two parties were able to come to an agreement in June of 2005. In an attempt to settle, D’Arrigo offered to place 35 acres of prime farm land, adjacent to the town of Spreckels, in permanent conservation – an easement that will prevent further expansion of the town of Spreckels onto that agricultural land. 

D’Arrigo’s project will provide for a state-of-the-art, 219,000 square foot cooler on 27 acres of ground which the company owns and is adjacent to their existing maintenance shop and seed research facility.  The plant is needed to consolidate their operations and to provide top level service to their customers. Allowing enough space to receive, cool and ship all of the company’s commodities out of one facility will strengthen D’Arrigo’s position in the iceberg lettuce market, also. 

This is a giant leap forward for the 81 year old company who services the retail, foodservice and wholesale segments of the fresh produce industry.  It enables them to remain competitive and to provide top quality, fresh vegetables to consumers across the United States and Canada.

For more information, contact Judi Yednak at D’Arrigo Bros Co at 831-753-5407 or jyednak@darrigo.com.

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