Turtle Island Foods are most well-known as the people who brought us Tofurky. Now, they have announced plans to build a $10 million eco-friendly plant.
According to VegNews, the plant will be 33,000 square feet, solar-powered and high efficiency.Turtle Island and Key Development Corp. plan for the building to become certified as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum. Key Development has stated that the plant will achieve this by utilizing “a solar hot water system that preheats water used in food processing and reduces energy consumption by 40 percent, heat recovery from the refrigeration system that can be used as a heat source where needed, the use of efficient mechanical and food processing equipment,” according to Sustainable Business Oregon. The company also said that the only other food processing plant to have this certification is the Lamb Weston Delhi processing facility in Louisiana, owned by ConAgra Foods.
So, when will the new plant be churning out Tofurky? Well, reportedly it will be completed by the end of 2012. Turtle Island also expects its sales to increase by 25% this year, with their vegan products being sold at more and more locations. Sustainable Business Oregon also said the plant will include a station at which the public can charge their electric cars, and 45% of its building materials will be made from recycled contents, and all materials are being sourced locally from the Hood River, Oregon area.
About Jennifer Mishler
Jennifer is an animal advocate and activist. She is a volunteer coordinator with The Girls Gone Green, a nonprofit organization advocating for animals rights, veganism, and environmentalism. She is also an Onshore Volunteer with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and a volunteer with CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm, a nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates farm animals. Along with writing for Ecorazzi, she writes about veganism and animal rights on her blog, A Dog's Eye View. She lives in Jacksonville, FL with her husband and their three animal friends. Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @jennygoneveganView all posts by Jennifer Mishler →
