CHICAGO – Testa Produce, which added two all-electric trucks to its delivery fleet earlier this year, is now adding 10 new trucks that run on clean-burning, low-cost domestic compressed natural gas (CNG). The new 24-foot refrigerated CNG trucks will replace existing biodiesel trucks in Testa’s fleet, helping the foodservice distribution industry’s green leader to lower its carbon footprint even more and to bring the company closer to its goal of zero dependence on foreign oil within five years.
Manufactured by Cummings (chassis) and Kidron (refrigerator body), Testa Produce’s CNG trucks are quieter, have lower emissions and require less maintenance than diesel/biodiesel trucks with no loss of power or mileage. In addition to being more eco-friendly, the new trucks deliver cost savings: CNG is priced at around $2.60 per gallon compared to biodiesel’s recent $4.30 to $4.89 per gallon including tax, according to Stephanie Testa, Distribution Manager at Testa Produce.
Adding CNG delivery vehicles is in line with Testa Produce’s commitment to raise the bar on sustainability in the foodservice distribution industry. The company is the first perishable food distributor in the nation to earn LEED® Platinum, the highest certification available from the U.S. Green Building Council, for its award-winning state-of-the-art “green” distribution center. The facility incorporates energy-saving solar, wind and water technologies. Prior to piloting electric and CNG trucks, Testa was one of the first to convert its entire delivery fleet to biodiesel and all company cars to hybrids.
“We are always looking for innovative, cost-effective ways to reduce our carbon footprint,” says Peter Testa, President of Testa Produce. “Powering trucks with clean, renewable domestic compressed natural gas is an alternative-fuel solution that we’re excited to implement. Along with our electric vehicles, CNG will help move reduce our dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels. As a transportation-based business, we’re demonstrating that we can, indeed, operate in much more sustainable ways.”
The first of Testa Produce’s new CNG-powered trucks arrived in late June. Nine more will be delivered over the next few months as leases on existing trucks expire.
About Testa Produce:
Founded in 1912, Testa Produce, Inc. is Chicago’s premier independent produce distributor. In addition to a broad line of domestic, local, organic, sustainable, and imported fresh produce items, the company delivers frozen, canned, and specialty foods to fine restaurants, hotels, and institutions throughout Illinois and much of Wisconsin. Testa is a member of Legacy Foodservice Alliance. In 2012, the company became the first food distributor in the nation to earn U.S. Green Building Council LEED® Platinum certification, the highest level available.
Source: Testa Produce
