SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The Golden Gate Wholesale Product Market, one of the largest and busiest produce terminals in Northern California, has announced a major renovation plan, with goals of making a series of infrastructure, environmental, food safety, traffic, and sustainability improvements. 

“The Golden Gate Produce Market plays a vital role in the Northern California’s economy, and the improvements announced today will lay the foundation for the Market’s future growth and success,” said Peter Carcione, President of the Golden Gate Produce Market. “This investment in the Market expands our capability to bring the highest-quality fruits, vegetables, and organics to serve the diverse tastes of the region, and it builds on our long history of supporting California’s agriculture industry in a sustainable manner.”

According to a press release, the terminal’s enhancements will be state-of-the-art, and will include new solar/energy efficiency upgrades, cold chain food storage management, and worker safety systems, as well as smoother traffic flow within the South San Francisco facility.

“This renovation is the most extensive in the Market’s 53-year history and is designed to meet the changing needs of businesses located at the market and their customers who shop there,” said Board Member Steve Hurwitz. “By strengthening the Market’s infrastructure and advancing its commitment to sustainability, we will create a better experience for everyone who works at or visits the Market.”

Twenty-three independent and family-owned businesses operate at the 742,000 square-foot facility, including wholesalers, jobbers, commission merchants, brokers, foodservice distributors, processors, and one restaurant. More than 15 million packages move through the market each year, according to the company, which employs 475 workers and is open to the public. 

These enhancements were decided upon after extensive market research and feedback with customers and businesses at the market, a press release explains. To advance the Market’s long-term goals and its commitment to sustainability, the seven-member board approved the following:

• The installation of solar panels to be complete before the end of 2016 that will dramatically reduce the Market’s need to draw energy from the power grid
• A new recycling/composting partnership with South San Francisco Scavenger to further reduce waste
• Upgraded electrical, water and sewage systems
• Improved traffic flow within the facility 
• A number of worker safety upgrades, including better lighting and loading dock safeguards
• Improved cold chain storage management to ensure quality, freshness and food safety
• A makeover of the building’s exterior, including new signage, and expanded parking

The solar implementation is expected to have a significant positive environmental impact and reduce the market’s overall carbon footprint, the company says. The market’s new 1,322 kW solar installation is estimated to generate more than 2,015,648 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, while the use of a similar amount of conventional energy generated using fossil fuels would create greenhouse cases equal to that of 127 homes, 293 cars or the burning of 1.4 million pounds of coal annually, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Golden Gate Wholesale Produce Market