Turtle Island Foods opens $10m LEED Platinum food processing plant

Turtle Island Foods will have an open day for its $10m, 33,000-square-foot food processing plant in Hood River, Oregon, US from September 6-8.

The facility was made using 80% locally sourced materials and includes 400 solar panels, which produce more than 100kw hours of electricity a year, a 1,400-square-foot eco-roof with vegetable garden and a solar-powered electric car charging station.

The building is 34% more efficient than the Oregon code standard for energy efficiency, and 40% more efficient in water use. It will be fully operational in 2014.

According to Jaime Athos, executive VP, Turtle Island, the processing plant will save 40 to 50%, energy on its Tofurky production.

Tofurky is one of the fastest-growing brands in the natural foods meat-free category in the US.

Its brands include frozen Pockets, Pot Pies, vegan Quiche, frozen pizza, tempeh, deli slices, sausages and hot dogs, made from organic soy and/or tofu.