2007 PRESS RELEASES
April 19, 2007
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF RICHMOND COLD STORAGE
Contact: Elaine J. Lidholm, 804.786.7686
Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Robert S. Bloxom and the Agribusiness Development Services Office of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) today announced the expansion of Richmond Cold Storage Company, Inc. at their facility located near Richmond International Airport. The expansion builds upon the original facility, which opened in 1991 and features blast freezing, frozen and refrigerated storage, rail service, a truck/rail cross dock and an RFID lab. The addition encompasses 110,000 square feet of space and when completed in September of 2007, will bring the total of temperature-controlled warehouse space to 184,000 square feet.
Richmond Cold Storage (RCS) provides storage temperatures ranging from -20 degrees F. for ice cream up to 32 degrees F. The facility is located on the CSX rail line and is equipped to cross dock product. RCS is USDA approved for export and is Russian certified for pork and poultry. Customers have 24/7 access to their inventory and information through RCS ColdTrax.
Mike McClendon, Executive Vice-President for Richmond Cold Storage, said, “The facility has provided efficient distribution and logistical services in the mid-Atlantic area for more than 15 years, but with this new expansion, we will be able to offer our contract customers the ability to consolidate freight in Virginia which will minimize transportation moves and logistics’ costs.”
Secretary Bloxom commented that agriculture is Virginia’s number one industry, with nothing else coming in as a close second. “More and more Virginia producers and processors have realized that if they are going to stay afloat in today’s economy, they need to export their products to China, Russia, Japan, Mexico, Egypt, and a host of other countries,” he said. “By assisting them with that process, Richmond Cold Storage is helping Virginia’s agribusinesses grow and remain economically viable. I salute entrepreneurs like Frank Laughon, CEO of RCS, and his team of forward-thinking staff for enhancing Virginia’s worldwide reputation for excellence in food production.”
Click here for additional information about RCS and its services, contact Scott Chapman at RCS, 804.644.2671.