Reser’s plant crane collapse in Pasco was nearly disastrous. Here’s the latest
Construction is on track at a new Tri-Cities food processing plant, despite November crane collapse at the job site.
A spokesperson for Reser’s Fine Foods told the Herald that they anticipate meeting their target opening date.
The company will begin testing next month at its new plant in Pasco. The plant represents a $120 million investment in the area, and is the first of two major projects the company is undertaking.
They expect to be fully operational at the new plant, which will be used to make potato salad, by late summer.
Once the plant opens, the 250 employees at their current facility in Pasco will move over to the new building.
At that point, Reser’s will begin an update and modernization project at the current facility. They plan to add an additional 125 new jobs once that work is complete.
The new building comes in at 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.
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.
Growth in Pasco
Reser’s new plant will mark the completion of the first of several major construction projects in East Pasco’s industrial area.
The new plant is at 5526 N. Capitol Ave, just off Highway 395.
On the west side of 395, the Port of Pasco is laying the groundwork for growth at its 300-acre Reimann Industrial Park.
They recently approved about $20 million in infrastructure funding.
The infrastructure spending aligns with Darigold’s Tri-Cities expansion. The dairy company is building a $500 million processing facility as the first major tenant at the Reimann site.
To the south Amazon continues work on two massive new warehouses. The facilities on South Road 40, just off A Street near Highway 12, will both come in at more than 1 million square feet.
Last month Amazon told the Herald that construction continues at those sites, but they will not be opening on time.
They were originally estimated to come online in August or September of this year.
Those warehouses will create a combined 1,500 jobs.
