Nunhems plans to invest $20 million in Parma site
Nunhems plans to invest $20 million in Parma site
Nunhems, the vegetable seed business of Bayer CropScience, announced plans to invest $20 million in the expansion of its Parma, ID, facility. According to Joachim Schneider, head of the BioScience Business Unit, which is based at the Bayer CropScience offices in Monheim, Germany, the expansion is soundly based.
"This investment lays the foundation for the sustainable growth of our vegetable seed business in the United States and beyond," Dr. Schneider said at the fall 2008 groundbreaking ceremony in Parma.
He added that because Parma represents "the main processing facility for Nunhems in the Americas, it is vital that we efficiently meet the needs of our customers - both now and in the future."
Built in the mid-1970s, the Parma site became part of Nunhems in 1997 with the acquisition of Sunseeds. The facility serves to process, pack and store important vegetable hybrid seed crops, such as carrots and onions, with research and development focusing on disease resistance as well as excellent quality, nutrition and appearance.
Currently the Parma facility processes more than 80 percent of the global carrot and onion seeds produced by Nunhems, and the seeds are shipped to customers in the United States and around the globe.
"In addition to the recent purchase of 28 acres adjacent to the Parma facility, we plan to build new seed processing and storage facilities," said Douwe Zijp, chief executive officer of Nunhems. "Furthermore, we will implement technical upgrades in equipment as well as other improvements. During this process we will do everything possible to minimize any disruption in our day to day activities."
One hundred fifty full-time employees work at the Parma site; nationwide, Nunhems has approximately 260 employees. Other U.S. locations include research facilities in Brooks, OR, and California sites in Bakersfield, Lodi, Davis and Salinas. Seed production locations are found in all Western states.
"This investment lays the foundation for the sustainable growth of our vegetable seed business in the United States and beyond," Dr. Schneider said at the fall 2008 groundbreaking ceremony in Parma.
He added that because Parma represents "the main processing facility for Nunhems in the Americas, it is vital that we efficiently meet the needs of our customers - both now and in the future."
Built in the mid-1970s, the Parma site became part of Nunhems in 1997 with the acquisition of Sunseeds. The facility serves to process, pack and store important vegetable hybrid seed crops, such as carrots and onions, with research and development focusing on disease resistance as well as excellent quality, nutrition and appearance.
Currently the Parma facility processes more than 80 percent of the global carrot and onion seeds produced by Nunhems, and the seeds are shipped to customers in the United States and around the globe.
"In addition to the recent purchase of 28 acres adjacent to the Parma facility, we plan to build new seed processing and storage facilities," said Douwe Zijp, chief executive officer of Nunhems. "Furthermore, we will implement technical upgrades in equipment as well as other improvements. During this process we will do everything possible to minimize any disruption in our day to day activities."
One hundred fifty full-time employees work at the Parma site; nationwide, Nunhems has approximately 260 employees. Other U.S. locations include research facilities in Brooks, OR, and California sites in Bakersfield, Lodi, Davis and Salinas. Seed production locations are found in all Western states.
