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Sunkist consolidates lemon-processing facilities
Tipton
September 21, 2007 10:31AM
• Closing Ontario plant; moving work to Tipton
• January freeze prompts decision
Sunkist recently announced its plant in Ontario will be heading to the Central Valley. "It's always hard to make a move, but this move is going to be very beneficial and cost-effective for the growers," said Claire Smith; spokeswoman for Sunkist. “California and Arizona growers who make up the Sunkist cooperative will be able to haul all their fruit to the Tipton facility, sort of like a one-stop shop in the Central Valley,” she said.
A shortage of lemons caused by the January freeze is one factor that Sunkist Growers is pointing to for its decision to consolidate its citrus juice and oil operations into an existing Central Valley plant.
The cooperative says the bulk of the lemon crop will be sold on the fresh market, leaving very little for processing into juice or lemon oil. It says it plans to close a plant it’s operated in Ontario since 1926 and shift operations to an existing facility in Tipton. The Tipton plant currently makes orange and tangerine juices.
The Ontario plant employs about 30 people. It was not announced how many, if any, would be offered jobs in Tipton. Depending on the season, the Tipton plant employs between 70 to 105.
"Lemon peels are used for cattle feed, and that's a popular ingredient now because corn is being used more for ethanol, and the dairies have moved up to Central California," Smith said, "So, it makes sense from all standpoints." The logic behind the move may be sound, but the Sunkist plant's departure from Ontario will be a cultural loss and the news is not celebrated by the employees that will soon be out of jobs. Smith said several employees will be offered to relocate up north, but it's likely they will decline. The Sunkist plant on Sunkist Street in Ontario will continue operations by contract for about a year, until the move to Tipton is complete.
Source: Reprint from http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/
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