WHO WE ARE
Growers Ice Company (GIC) is a real estate company specializing in pre-cooling, cold storage, processing, and value added facilities.
MANAGEMENT
Specialized Expertise in Real Estate Development, Acquisition and Management
CEO Jim White brings a wealth of expertise to GIC with over 40 years of experience in buying, expanding, and selling companies worldwide. He has a strong passion for reviving companies and transforming industries with disruptive innovation.
Our leaders strive to uphold the tradition of ethics and integrity that has spanned the company’s history while creating a top-down commitment to corporate responsibility. Our vision, mission, and values are the driving force behind all we do at GIC.
For more than a quarter-century, Jim has bought, expanded, and sold 23 companies, operating in 44 countries. Throughout this journey, Jim has discovered his true passion for helping others succeed personally and professionally.
GIC’s largest property is a 28-acre Campus in Salinas, California and it will be undergoing a redevelopment and expansion project.
Currently, there is 200,000+ square feet of cold storage and 20,000+ square feet of office space on the site. The pre-cooling and cold storage facilities on this campus are leased to various tenants of which Central Coast Cooling, LLC is the largest tenant.
The campus hosts 70 refrigerated loading bays, over 200,000 square feet of cold storage space, a large assortment of pre-cooling equipment, and an ice supply capacity of more than 2,000 tons per day. The campus processes over 30 million cartons annually.
Currently, there is 200,000+ square feet of cold storage and 20,000+ square feet of office space on the site. The pre-cooling and cold storage facilities on this campus are leased to various tenants of which Central Coast Cooling, LLC is the largest tenant.
The campus hosts 70 refrigerated loading bays, over 200,000 square feet of cold storage space, a large assortment of pre-cooling equipment, and an ice supply capacity of more than 2,000 tons per day. The campus processes over 30 million cartons annually.
© Growers Ice Company, Inc.
CA Contractor’s License #1076581
AZ Contractor’s License #343697
Vision, Mission & Values
VISION
We will be recognized as the industry leader in pre-cooling, cold storage, processing, and value added facilities.
MISSION
Our mission is to own and manage superior real estate cold storage, processing, and value added facilities.
We will achieve our mission and vision with passion for excellence, honesty, ethical behavior, and uncompromising integrity.
VALUES
OPERATIONS
Industry Leading Pioneer
State-of-the-art Pre-cooling, Cold Storage, Processing, and Value Added Facilities
State-of-the-art Pre-cooling, Cold Storage, Processing, and Value Added Facilities
Solid Foundation Built on Growth, Achievements & Stability
Spirit of Innovation from Founding Fathers
Spirit of Innovation from Founding Fathers
FOUNDATION
By the end of World War I, the “green gold” growing in the fields helped make Salinas one of the wealthiest cities (per capita) in the United States.
The name “iceberg lettuce” was coined in the 1930’s when train cars full of lettuce were shipped cross country using ice produced at the Growers Ice facility.
Our roots date back to 1936 when the original founders of Growers Ice Company (GIC), T.R. Merrill, Bruce Church, K.R. Nutting, and E.E. Harden, established this innovative pre-cooling business to service the fresh produce industry in the Salinas Valley.
The GIC founders became pioneers of the industry, and were instrumental in Salinas becoming the “salad bowl” of the United States. Salinas, California fuels a $2 billion agriculture industry which supplies 80% of the country’s lettuce.
For more than 80 years, GIC’s story has been about a commitment to putting clients first, innovative thinking, passion for performance and a remarkable collaboration. GIC has led the way as the industry leader in pre-cooling and cold storage solutions.
HISTORY
LEADERSHIP
• Our iconic 28-Acre Pre-Cooling, Cold Storage and Processing campus has been a major fixture in Salinas Valley since our founding in 1936.
28-Acre Pre-Cooling and Cold Storage Campus
JIM WHITE, PHD
PRESIDENT & CEO
RUSSELL GHEEN
GENERAL MANAGER
SALINAS, CALIFORNIA
SALINAS, CALIFORNIA
Salinas is known as the industrial hub for the city and the Salinas Valley produce industry.
The majority of all the produce industry's cold storage, cooling, processing, and value-added plants are situated within close proximity to this area.
The area of the city is a key logistical location for local produce industry offices and freight origination due to its location close to Highway 101 and its ease in entering and exiting the city to the south of the county and the main growing region.
The site is also known to be the birth place of the Salinas Valley produce industry dating back to the 1930's and boasts potential historical marketing capabilities.
Project Details
Located in Salinas, CA right off Highway 101
CONTACT US
1124 Abbott Street
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 424-5781
www.GrowersIce.com
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 424-5781
www.GrowersIce.com
General Manager
Office (831) 424-1596
Cell (831) 915-8980
russell@growersice.com
Office (831) 424-1596
Cell (831) 915-8980
russell@growersice.com
GROWERS ICE COMPANY, INC.
RUSSELL GHEEN
Zoom In
CAMPUS REDEVELOPMENT & EXPANSION
BACKGROUND
Opening For the 2026 Season
GIC SALINAS CAMPUS
Acquisition & Redevelopment of our iconic 28-Acre Commercial Pre-Cooling & Cold Storage Campus
• The name “iceberg lettuce” was originally coined in the 1930s when train cars full of lettuce were shipped cross-country using block ice produced at our GIC facility.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
There are currently four separate coolers:
Cooler 1: 49,126 sq. ft.
Cooler 2: 38,012 sq. ft.
Cooler 3: 57,433 sq. ft.
Cooler 4: 63,026 sq. ft.
Cooler 2: 38,012 sq. ft.
Cooler 3: 57,433 sq. ft.
Cooler 4: 63,026 sq. ft.
GIC FACILITY
The purpose of this questionnaire is to advance the design and build process for your desired facility and create a scope of work for your particular design and operational needs.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Please click below to complete and submit the Facility Questionnaire:
GIC SALINAS CAMPUS
THE FUTURE IS HERE
Our new campus will feature a combination of cold storage and processing space across one 300,000 SF building, in addition to an office building, a parking complex, and an on-site microgrid with solar, cogeneration and battery systems to protect against rolling brownouts and instability from local utility providers.
GIC Salinas Campus will also implement an innovative solar PV-lined shade bay covering the Pre-Cooling yard, with vacuum tubes designed to feed pre-cooled product directly into the coolers for maximum efficiency and minimal spoilage.
357,000 SF temperature-controlled building including 125,000 SF of cold storage and a 199,000 SF processing facility including office space, raw product space, and cooler for processing
500,000+ SF of solar PV-lined shade bay protecting incoming product from the elements
500+ POV spots and 50 long-haul truck parking stalls
On-site microgrid system with solar, cogeneration and battery backup
Food and beverage venues
Designing for throughput volume of 66M units and 340 million pounds of raw product per annum – an increase of over 2x existing conditions
GROWERS
Salinas, California
CAMPUS REDEVELOPMENT
ICE COMPANY, INC.
