Campbell Expansion of Dixon Facility Could Benefit Area Farmers

Campbell Expansion of Dixon Facility Could Benefit Area Farmers
By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | March 28, 2008



The Campbell tomato processing plant in Dixon is planning an expansion that will aloow them handle 15 percent more tomatos. The plan could help local farmers. Photo by Chris Jordan

FAIRFIELD - Plans to expand the Campbell tomato processing plant near Dixon could also change the landscape of some Solano County farmlands.

An expanded plant is to handle 15 percent more tomatoes than the existing one. But it's also to handle specialty vegetables for ingredients in the company's V8 and V8 V-Fusion drinks.

'It's potentially going to open us up to growing different crops than we've done before, on contract with Campbell,' said Joseph Martinez, president of the Solano County Farm Bureau.

County farmers and officials hope this is just a beginning. The $23 million plant expansion comes as Solano County is launching a drive to bring more agricultural processing plants to the region.

'The Campbell announcement was a shot in the arm,' Martinez said. 'It can be the first step down the road of renaissance for agriculture in this county.'

What different crops might be needed by an expanded Campbell plant are still unclear. Campbell spokesman Anthony Sanzio refused to divulge this for proprietary reasons, saying the company will work with its suppliers and farmers.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic Online.