SALINAS, CA - D’Arrigo Bros. is not spending the beginning of its summer on vacation mode—it’s making moves. The company has recently added two new additions to its sales, marketing, and business development departments, as well as installed a new 2.2 MW solar power system.

D’Arrigo’s two new hires are Cody Hontalas, as Business Assistant, and Chelsea Williams as Marketing and Business Development Assistant.

Cody, who officially joined the company in the spring of 2016, will assist with developing customer relationships, providing assistance with accounts, and commodity managing responsibilities, according to Director of Sales, John Scherpinski.

He added, “He will be making sure daily commodity estimations and information are accurately updated and that supply forecasts are effectively communicated to the sales business office.” 

Chelsea will work on D’Arrigo’s broccoli rabe marketing campaign, create marketing assets for customers, conduct market research, launch new products, travel to interface with customers, and manage tradeshow logistics.

Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos, the company’s Marketing and Culinary Manager, shared in a statement that, “Chelsea possesses many qualities that are instrumental in the world of marketing and business development. She is very creative, energetic, works on assignments independently, and can multi-task between projects.”

Also implemented recently is D’Arrigo’s aforementioned solar power system. The project received its permission to operate from PG&E on Thursday, April 28, 2016, the company says, and is the largest customer-owned net metered solar power project in Monterey County. CalCom Solar, a leader in design-build solar projects for agribusinesses and water districts, installed the system.

"CalCom Solar had the technology and knowledge that helped solar energy work for us, both operationally and financially," said John D’Arrigo, President/CEO and Chairman of the Board of D’Arrigo Bros. "We’ve always put our strong sustainability ethic into practice; harvesting the sun’s power to generate electricity is consistent with our goals. Our business evaluates and assesses technologies and investments to ensure optimal quality and efficiency and we’re always making thoughtful improvements across our entire operation.   

The company's President added that the solar deployment helps enhance both the company’s business and sustainability goals, making it a crucial resource for reducing energy costs while improving the bottom line. 

"We're very proud to be working with D’Arrigo Bros. a leading grower to provide them with clean, reliable, affordable solar electricity," noted Dylan Dupre, Vice President, Business Development at CalCom Solar. "For over nine decades, D’Arrigo Bros. has continually strived for excellence. By deploying 2.2 megawatts of solar-power, D’Arrigo Bros. serves as an example to the entire agricultural sector.  

According to Dupre, the new solar power system, outfitted with NEXTracker’s advanced trackers, will generate 4,320,600 kWh annually. D’Arrigo Bros. will significantly lower operational costs annually on utility bills, and the system will help D’Arrigo save more than $20 million in utilities over the next 25 years.

In addition to the financial savings, the system will also help in California's efforts to mitigate climate change, reducing CO2 emissions by the equivalent of not driving 7,282,000 miles per year.

D'Arrigo Bros.