Rick Antle of Tanimura and Antle Farming accepted the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership’s first public-partnership award on April 26. Tanimura and Antle is a major grower in Monterey and San Benito Counties. MBEP board member and presenter Mary Ann Leffel told the packed conference room about “Spreckels Crossing,” a farmworker housing project that has brought Tanimura and Antle wide recognition. Leffel described the project as both innovative and built in record time.
Antle thanked MBEP for the recognition and thanked both his team and the county for making “Spreckels Crossing” in Salinas a reality. “T&A (Tanimura and Antle) shares a common vision with MBEP for a thriving region and a high quality of life for all residents,” Antle said. The Salinas project is a housing development for farm workers built on the T&A property. The project was started a year ago and the final touches of landscaping is just being completed. Antle told the audience, “Spreckels Crossing is a true testament to what can be accomplished when business and local government work together in cooperation.”
Antle commended Monterey County Supervisor Simon Salinas, who also received an award, for helping to guide the unique project through the necessary departments and governing bodies. “I especially want to thank Simon Salinas, the entire Monterey County Board of Supervisors, and county staff who really stepped up to prioritize this project,” Antle told the crowd.
“Rarely does one have the opportunity to improve the community as this project has. Not only have we addressed the critical affordable housing need of our community, we have changed lives,” Antle said. “It is bittersweet knowing that our resident workers have clean, safe and affordable housing yet it is so sad many are still forced to live in garages and cars,” he continued. “Hopefully this project will be inspiration for others to do as we have,” Antle said, getting a large round of applause.
According to T&A vice president, Wesley Van Camp, the housing project is complete except for some of the exterior landscaping. Tanimura and Antle farmworkers will be living in the units, which were built by Avila Construction, based in Monterey.
T&A is a third-generation growing, packing and shipping company that has been in operation for 30 years. According to the company website, family patriarch George Tanimura passed away in Salinas on April 15, 2016.
The day-long program was the second annual Monterey Bay Economic Partnership Summit. The well-attended event was held at the Hyatt Regency in Monterey. The partnership is an ambitious attempt to bring Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties together to improve the region and regional cooperation. The MBEP has a mission “to create a thriving region with quality jobs, excellent education and health care, and a high quality of life for all residents while preserving the natural beauty and healthy lifestyle we all share”
Several representatives from Monterey and Santa Cruz county government were introduced at the economic summit. There were no elected officials from San Benito County at the awards presentation.
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