The Golden Gate Product Market, the largest and busiest produce terminal in Northern California, today announced the completion of a major upgrade to the facility. The existing Produce Market was built over 50 years ago and the expansion comes just in time to cater for burgeoning growth. To recognize the completion of the project, the Market and Vista Solar, the Bay Area firm that designed and managed the installation of the solar panels, will host a celebration with customers and employees today. The event will feature remarks from U.S. Representative Jackie Speier, South San Francisco Mayor Pradeep Gupta, and Produce Board Member Steve Hurwitz, CEO and Founder of Bay Area Herbs.
"The project has taken four years from conception to completion," said Steve Hurwitz. "The original facility was built 57 years ago and at the time, it was a state of the art facility serving the needs of the fresh produce industry. A lot of things have changed since then in regards to food safety, cold storage, trucking, as well as the issues of climate change and other environmental concerns."
Enhancements improve economics and environmental impact
The enhancements to the facility include the installation of solar panels for the entire market, energy efficiency upgrades, improved cold chain food storage management and worker safety systems, as well as smoother traffic flow within the facility, which is a mile from San Francisco International Airport on Highway 101.
Specifically, they include:
- The installation of solar panels that will virtually reduce the Market’s need to draw energy from the power grid
- Upgraded electronic, water and sewage systems
- Improved traffic flow within the facility
- A number of worker safety upgrades, including better lighting and loading dock safeguards
- Improved cold chain storage management to ensure quality, freshness and food safety
- A complete makeover of the building’s exterior, including new signage, and expanded parking
"With the improvements, we have made things easier for existing tenants to conduct their business," continued Hurwitz. "For example, just in terms of capacity, there is at least 20% of additional space for things like storage and temperature controlled areas. The improvements to traffic flow will make things quicker and more efficient, especially in this part of the Bay Area. The solar panels will generate over 90% of the market's electricity requirements, which is a fantastic outcome from both an economic and environmental point of view."
Built for the future
Building on the success of the original facility, Golden Gate Produce Market's goal is to maintain exceptional standards of business and efficiency as well as environmental excellence. Hurwitz noted that the improvements were a response to the market and customer demands for a safer, greener facility that served the needs of the region's fresh produce industry in an efficient manner.
"We are really excited to be right at the forefront of our industry with this state of the art facility," he said. "This transformation of the Golden Gate Produce Market builds on the original goal of the founding facility, to be a leading partner in the fresh produce chain in the region, both economically and environmentally. We are confident it meets the current and future needs of our clients and customers."
Peter Carcione, President of the Golden Gate Produce Market, also added, "The improvements to the Golden Gate Producer Market set the stage for our continued success for decades to come. These investments expand our capability to deliver the highest-quality fruits, vegetables and specialty produce to deliver to business and consumers across Northern California.”
For more information:
Steve Hurwitz
Golden Gate Produce Market
Tel: 650-583-4886