Gold Coast & Babé Farms Move Into New Santa Maria Facility

SANTA MARIA, CA — The two prominent farming operations in Santa Maria, CA, that joined forces to build a new processing and shipping facility for their respective harvests more than one year ago, are now under the same roof at Fresh Venture Foods.

Ron Burk, CEO of Gold Coast Packing and Judy Lundberg, CEO of Babé Farms, undertook the cooperative effort in October 2011 The goal was to mutually enjoy an economy of operation in every aspect of packing and shipping their respective harvests. Gold Coast moved its operation to Fresh Venture Foods in December while Babé Farms made the transition on February 24.

The new facility's design and modernized systems allow for future growth and ensure the continuance of the product quality and unsurpassed food safety standards the two companies have established over the past three decades.

The 75,000 square foot plant, with a five-bay loading dock, is equipped for receiving, cooling, cleaning, sorting and packaging the value-added products of its co-owners. Overall, the building also improves the operational efficiency and working environment for the two companies' personnel.

A combined work force of 150 will operate two shifts over six days per week. A second building phase, to accommodate future growth, will bring capacity to 105,000 s.f., and double the number of bays to ten.

"Fresh Venture Foods is basically a cooperative effort between two old friends with similar goals, standards and needs," Burk summarized.

Timing also played a role, according to Ms. Lundberg who said, "Both of our companies were working at capacity, in outdated facilities, on multiple sites. We had to do something and we decided to do it together."

Burk and Lundberg agreed that their mutual desire to maximize customer service guided every plan and decision in the development of Fresh Venture Foods. As a result, they anticipate the joint venture will provide a 50% increase in production, as well as an improved turnaround time from the field to their respective customers' warehouses.

"This kind of efficiency is ideal for those of us promoting the benefits of fresh produce," added Ms. Lundberg.

Fresh Venture Foods will only process orders for the co-owners, Burk emphasized. Babé and Gold Coast will maintain their individual identities and sales and marketing personnel. The new building has 8,000 feet of office space for the separate administrative functions of the two companies.

Cost savings are also found at the loading dock. The customers that Gold Coast Packing and Babé Farms have in common will be able to consolidate loading, which will reduce delivery time and shipping costs, on a year-round basis. Other trucks picking up in the Valley will also be encouraged to take advantage of consolidation opportunities at the new location.

Gold Coast Packing has a primary product line of value-added broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, washed and ready-to-use: cilantro, spinach, parsley and customized packs that are marketed primarily to foodservice clientele. Babé Farms is the pioneer in specialty vegetables, growing over seventy different varieties of baby root vegetables, baby cauliflower, specialty greens, baby head lettuces and seasonal specialties for foodservice and retail.

Both companies offer year round supply and have operated in the fertile Santa Maria Valley, on California's central coast, for three decades.

Source: Babé Farms