Gourmet Trading facility provides home for Washington asparagus
Gourmet Trading facility provides home for Washington asparagus
Washington asparagus growers that previously packed with Seneca will have a new home at Gourmet Trading Co.'s new packing facility in Pasco, WA.
The move comes in response to the well publicized closure of the Seneca asparagus processing plant, which left some of the top asparagus growers with fields at their peak of production without a market. Chris Martin, president of Gourmet Trading Co., which is headquartered in Los Angeles, said in a statement, "After many months of research by the Gourmet team, the decision was made to take a substantial volume under contract for the 2006 season.
We found in Washington a great group of people involved in the industry," continued Mr. Martin. Everyone including Governor Gregoire, Director [Valoria] Loveland of the Department of Agriculture, Director Juli Wilkerson of the Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development, Carl Adrian of the Tri-City Industrial Development Council, Dr. Alan Schrieber of the Washington Asparagus Commission, and the many growers of Washington asparagus have been influential in our decision to enter the Washington asparagus industry.
Mr. Martin noted that Gov. Gregoire met with him, along with key Cabinet members, and said that she wanted to do all she could to help Gourmet Trading Co. provide a needed lift to the industry. As a result, Ms. Loveland and Ms. Wilkerson have worked very hard to bring Gourmet Trading Co. to Washington.
"This governor and her staff obviously realize the economic benefits of this decision to locate a new facility here and are willing to support us, Mr. Martin stated, adding that the governor's assistance "clearly demonstrates her concern for agriculture and the economy of eastern Washington.
The Tri-City Industrial Development Council has played an instrumental role in bringing this business to Pasco. Carl Adrian, president of TRIDEC, indicated that it has negotiated a financial incentive for Gourmet if it locates in the area. "Our goal here is to help maintain and perhaps expand jobs in this segment of the agriculture industry, he said. "This may seem like a small project, but it is very big for the overall health of agriculture.
The 100,000-square-foot packing facility will be located in Pasco, WA, and will employ 400 to 600 people from the state during the season.
"We are excited to join the industry as a packer and to participate in the industry's transition from processed asparagus to fresh, said Mr. Martin.
Gourmet Trading Co. was founded in 1982 as an importer and distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables. It partners with growers in South America, Central America, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and the United States in order to deliver the best possible produce to its customers on a year-round basis.
Gourmet Trading has additional offices in Auckland, New Zealand; Lima, Peru; Tokyo, Japan; Caborca, Mexico; Pasco, WA; El Centro, CA; and Miami, FL.
The move comes in response to the well publicized closure of the Seneca asparagus processing plant, which left some of the top asparagus growers with fields at their peak of production without a market. Chris Martin, president of Gourmet Trading Co., which is headquartered in Los Angeles, said in a statement, "After many months of research by the Gourmet team, the decision was made to take a substantial volume under contract for the 2006 season.
We found in Washington a great group of people involved in the industry," continued Mr. Martin. Everyone including Governor Gregoire, Director [Valoria] Loveland of the Department of Agriculture, Director Juli Wilkerson of the Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development, Carl Adrian of the Tri-City Industrial Development Council, Dr. Alan Schrieber of the Washington Asparagus Commission, and the many growers of Washington asparagus have been influential in our decision to enter the Washington asparagus industry.
Mr. Martin noted that Gov. Gregoire met with him, along with key Cabinet members, and said that she wanted to do all she could to help Gourmet Trading Co. provide a needed lift to the industry. As a result, Ms. Loveland and Ms. Wilkerson have worked very hard to bring Gourmet Trading Co. to Washington.
"This governor and her staff obviously realize the economic benefits of this decision to locate a new facility here and are willing to support us, Mr. Martin stated, adding that the governor's assistance "clearly demonstrates her concern for agriculture and the economy of eastern Washington.
The Tri-City Industrial Development Council has played an instrumental role in bringing this business to Pasco. Carl Adrian, president of TRIDEC, indicated that it has negotiated a financial incentive for Gourmet if it locates in the area. "Our goal here is to help maintain and perhaps expand jobs in this segment of the agriculture industry, he said. "This may seem like a small project, but it is very big for the overall health of agriculture.
The 100,000-square-foot packing facility will be located in Pasco, WA, and will employ 400 to 600 people from the state during the season.
"We are excited to join the industry as a packer and to participate in the industry's transition from processed asparagus to fresh, said Mr. Martin.
Gourmet Trading Co. was founded in 1982 as an importer and distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables. It partners with growers in South America, Central America, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and the United States in order to deliver the best possible produce to its customers on a year-round basis.
Gourmet Trading has additional offices in Auckland, New Zealand; Lima, Peru; Tokyo, Japan; Caborca, Mexico; Pasco, WA; El Centro, CA; and Miami, FL.
