Church Brothers Farms will be expanding its shipping capacity through the recent purchase of roughly 200,000 square feet of warehouse space on 18 acres in central Salinas, Calif.
The company, also based in Salinas, plans to immediately begin improvements to the properties, which will be used for product storage and shipping, according to a news release. Church Brothers Farms says it anticipates distribution activities will begin fall 2023 at the new locations, with the long-term goal of accommodating all the company’s shipping needs.
The acquisition includes properties at 1230 and 1250 Hansen St. as well as 780, 806 and 889 Airport Blvd. in Salinas. The approximately 45-year-old buildings have previously been used for produce processing, cold storage and distribution, according to the release.
“The expanded storage and shipping capacity we will gain with the purchase of these properties is going to be a game changer for us,” Church Brothers Farms CEO Brian Church said in the release. “This acquisition not only sustains our current growth trends and accommodates future plans, it will allow us to continue to provide excellent customer service while doing so.”
Church Brothers Farms says the properties’ proximity to where commodities are being harvested will reduce cut-to-cool and transit times. The orientation of the sites also allows for more efficient logistics and loading while offering customers a convenient pickup location off U.S. Route 101, the major north-south artery of California’s central coast.
“It’s a nice piece of real estate in a hard to beat location,” Church said in the release. “We’re excited about this deal and look forward to being able to provide standalone distribution services for key customers that will greatly enhance our overall value as a supplier-partner.”
The company will continue using its San Juan Bautista facility for value-added processing with additional shipping capacity as needed, according to the release.
Church Brothers Farms is a vertically integrated family-owned and -operated company that produces a full line of fresh vegetables year-round.
