NEWS

Gills Onions Winner of 2009 GEELA Award!

Governor Names Gills Onions Winner of 2009 Top Environmental Leadership Award

SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Schwarzenegger announced that Gills Onions of Oxnard has won the 2009 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) for its Advanced Energy Recovery System (AERS).

GEELA is California's highest and most prestigious environmental honor. The award program recognizes individuals, organizations and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership for voluntary achievements in conserving California’s resources, protecting and enhancing the environment, and building public-private partnerships.

“This honor recognizes Gills Onions’ commitment to developing socially responsible and environmentally friendly practices that promote environmental protection and economic growth,” said Nikki Rodoni, Gills Onions Director of Sustainability. “Gills Onions has an obligation to our families and community to protect our natural resources and environment for generations to come.”

Gills Onions Advanced Energy Recovery System (AERS) makes Gills Onions the first Fresh Cut Onion Processing Facility in the world to produce ultra-clean energy on-site from its own waste. As the largest fresh onion processing plant in the world, Gills Onions generates 1.5 Million lbs. of Onion Waste per week. The AERS converts 100% of this Onion Waste or 100 – 150 tons daily into ultra-clean, virtually emissions-free, heat, electrical energy and high-value, cattle feed. The innovative technology of the AERS combines an anaerobic digester to produce methane from the Onion Waste that powers (2) 300 kW Fuel Cells, providing Gills Onions with up to 100% of their base-load electricity requirements while reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. The AERS combines energy and waste reduction goals into a successful model for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production facilities worldwide.

Award recipients are chosen in ten different categories based on their strength in eight specific areas including results, transferability, environmental impact, resource conservation, economic progress, innovation and uniqueness, pollution prevention, and environmental justice.  Gills Onions won an award for Technological and Market Innovation.

Gills Onions is one of only 15 other recipients that will be recognized at the GEELA reception at the Governors’ Global Climate Summit 2 in Los Angeles.

The Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards program was established in 1993. The award program is administered by the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Natural Resources Agency in collaboration with the State and Consumer Services Agency, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.

Gills Onions is a 25-year old, family owned and operated grower and food processor with the largest fresh onion processing plant in the world. In concert with Rio Farms and other entities, there are over 15,000 acres of farmland and 300,000 square feet of processing and warehouse facilities under their responsibility. Gills Onions is committed to continuous process improvement to positively impact the Air, Land, Water, Energy, and Communities they rely upon for their livelihood.

Go to www.gillsonions.com/sustainabilityfor more information about the Advanced Energy Recovery System (AERS) and Gills Onions Sustainability program. For more information on GEELA and this year's award recipients, visit the Cal/EPA Web site: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Awards/GEELA/.