A Pasco crane collapse halted Reser’s plant construction. Here’s the latest
Despite a November crane collapse, Reser’s Fine Foods is on track to open its new processing plant this summer.
The Oregon-based company known for its potato salad told the Tri-City Herald they are investing $120 million in the new plant, and once it opens they’ll begin renovations on their nearby existing facility.
The new building will come in at about 250,000 square feet, with about 20,000 square feet dedicated to office and employee spaces, such as break rooms, locker rooms and supply areas.
A spokesperson for the company said their 250 current employees will shift to the new building, and they plan to add 125 new jobs once the existing facility renovations are completed.
Reser’s is one of the U.S.’s largest family-owned and -operated prepared foods businesses, says the company website.
The company has over 4,000 employees in about 14 major facilities and in eight cities in the United States and Mexico.
Reser’s has expanded over the years to offer more than its deli salads, including baked side dishes, prepared meal kits, salads, chip dips, salsas, hashbrowns, tortillas, desserts and more.
Construction was briefly halted on the new Pasco facility in November after a worksite crane collapsed. No workers were injured, and an investigation into the cause of the collapse is ongoing.
The land for the expansion was part of a combined $4.4 million sale involving Cox Family Land LLC.
Part of the property was sold to the Port of Pasco for a new industrial park and the other acreage was sold to Reser’s. Both paid $80,000 an acre, according to the Tri-Cities Journal of Business.
The Port of Pasco is currently working to develop its portion of the land.
Randy Hayden, executive director of the Port of Pasco, said they are working to secure a deal to sell land to Darigold which will involve a new tax incentive to help the dairy producer cover the cost of infrastructure. Hayden said that deal is expected to close in early January.
That development is expected to spur about $500 million in investment from Darigold.
This story was originally published December 24, 2021 at 12:34 PM.
