SALINAS, CA - The Nunes Company farm labor housing in Salinas is officially underway! After years of planning, shovels finally broke ground this month on a four-acre parcel in Salinas, known as the Boronda neighborhood, for the second farmworker housing complex in the region.

“This is a win-win situation for our employees, our company, and our customers,” said Tom Nunes Jr., in a recent press release. “It is not only the right time for such a large undertaking, it is simply the right thing to do.”

Avila Construction of Monterey, CA, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on October 10, 2017, to honor the Hibino, Nunes, and Rodriguez families who recognized the need for beautiful, safe, and affordable housing for their company’s farm labor force. Receiving overwhelming support from city and county leaders, as well as affordable housing advocates, Casa Boronda will not only serve as a model for the future of California agriculture, but also for the nation’s agriculture industry.

“We are blessed to be in this business, and doubly blessed to be able to provide beautiful housing for our employees,” said Mark Rodriguez, the spokesperson for the Rodriguez family and the Growers Company. “This project speaks to our three families’ commitment to the well-being of each and every employee who works for our companies.”

The Salinas Valley community is well-known for embracing change, cutting-edge technology, sustainability and stewardship, and respect and care for the hard-working people who help to feed our nation. The gated Casa Boronda community, when completed, will be available for seasonal agricultural employees and will include six, two-story apartment buildings (75 units total) with up to eight residents and two full bathrooms per unit. The community will also have recreation rooms, a manager’s unit, laundry facilities, basketball and volleyball courts, and a sports and recreation field.

Nunes’ philosophy toward this project is shared by the entire group of families involved in bringing this dream to a reality. Innovative and beneficial, this project not only helps recruit and retain employees, while providing an affordable and safe housing environment, but also serves as a model for social responsibility in the agriculture industry.

“Three very diverse families from very different backgrounds, coming together to accomplish a project like this is indeed rare in the agriculture industry,” said Henry Hibino, partner in the project, grower and former Mayor of Salinas. “While we come from different cultures, we share the same core values of dignity and rewarding hard work.”

Casa Boronda Groundbreaking from TMD on Vimeo.

The first phase of the project is scheduled to be completed by April 2018 with the first occupants moving in on or around May 1, 2018. The Casa Boronda partners teamed up with Avila Construction, a well-known and respected local, family business who has expertise in building projects of this kind.

“This is not only a great project for the employees of The Nunes Company; it is important work,” said Mike Avila, Principal of Avila Construction, about spearheading this project. “It is the type of project everyone at Avila Construction can feel good about.”

The Nunes Company (owners of the Foxy and Foxy Organic brand names) has been a leader and innovator in the fresh produce industry for generations–with the fourth generation now managing the family’s farming operation. The company farms more than 22,000 crop acres in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico. The families share a vision, and are committed to improving the health of their land, vibrancy of their communities, and quality of life for their employees, while growing produce of the highest quality.

We look forward to watching Nunes Company’s housing project unfold. For more produce industry news, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow.

Nunes Company