GONZALES — Local Agency Formation Commission of Monterey County (LAFCO) has approved the annexation of about 49 acres east of Highway 101 and north of Gloria Road to the City of Gonzales for future agriculture industrial development.
The annexation, which received approval Sept. 25, allows for a planned 313,800-square-foot agricultural cooler processing facility to move forward — 243,800 square feet in base configuration with a 70,000-square-foot future expansion.
The agricultural cooler processing facility will be built on 44.8 acres of a 103.54-acre parcel owned by the Rianda Family Partnership. It will include raw product cold storage and processing lines, as well as office administration space and miscellaneous mechanical and storage rooms.
“The development of the agricultural processing facility will have a positive impact on our community by adding over 430 jobs and contributing approximately $75,000 in tax revenue,” said Gonzales City Manager Carmen Gil.
The facility will receive agricultural crops from nearby fields, where they will be cooled, processed and then shipped to customers. It is expected to open in the spring of 2025.