Bee Sweet Central Coast Wash Line Facility, SLO County, California

Project Description:

Bee Sweet Citrus was founded in 1987 as an independent packer and shipper of California oranges. As their business began to grow, so too did the number of citrus varieties they provide. Now Bee Sweet is a prominent leader in California’s citrus industry. The U.S. citrus industry has been fighting the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny insect that infects the plant while it eats. To slow the spread of the disease, various regions of California are divided into quarantine zones. State regulations require that citrus only travel between regions after its been thoroughly cleaned or sprayed with pesticides. Bee Sweet constructed a wash line on the Central Coast for citrus transported through the region to be washed and deemed safe for travel. The facility is a 15,000 square foot facility utilizing state of the art automated line equipment that washes, sorts, and packages the citrus varieties in preparation for travel to the main Bee Sweet packaging facility in Fowler, CA.

Wallace Group provided planning, engineering, and project management services to Bee Sweet Citrus from the planning phase through construction of their Central Coast Wash Line facility.

Services Provided:

• Project Management
• Regulatory Compliance
• Civil and Mechanical Engineering
• Water/Wastewater treatment design
• Stormwater management
• Planning

Project Highlights:

• Green alternative by replacing 700,000 gallons of pesticides per year
• Recycled water use resulting in minimal daily water demand
• Cost effective building design and layout
• Creative solution to stop the spread of destructive pests