With the recent addition of 50,000 square feet of warehouse space, the CHS dry edible bean plant in Othello, WA, is increasing its storage capacity by 35%.
This move is driven by the CHS strategy to expand capabilities to better serve its farmer-owners and maximize asset potential.
在2020年的秋天,CHS租赁邻近仓库space, formerly Harvest Fresh, next to its dry edible bean processing plant in Othello. With this additional space, the plant will add a cleaning line, which will nearly triple the hourly rate of beans going through the line. The plant will also add a fully automated packaging line.
Built in the 1950s, the plant processes, packages and distributes 10 varieties of dry edible beans produced by the region’s growers. Beans from the facility are marketed under the CHS brand, including the El Mejor Frejol brand, sold in bulk or packaged under private labels for other food brands, according to the cooperative.
“This investment substantially increases our manufacturing capacity, which will lower our overall production costs and position our plant to better support the growing demand for packaged products,” said Chris Guess, general manager of the plant.
Guess notes that due to lifestyle changes and the impact from COVID-19 this past year, the industry has seen an increase in the demand for dry edible beans across the United States and other countries.
The Othello dry edible bean processing plant adds value to crops grown by area farmers through processing, packaging and delivering 10 varieties of dry edible beans to domestic and international markets. Beans processed at the facility are marketed under the CHS brand (including the El Mejor Frijol® brand), sold in bulk or packaged under private labels for other food brands.
CHS, a global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States, delivers 14 varieties of dry edible beans to markets in California and Central and South America.
