Biorational Pest Control Leader set to Expand Operations at Juniper Ridge
Bioscience pioneer Suterra is already taking steps toward ramping up production capacity at its world headquarters in Bend’s Juniper Ridge business park less than two years after the facility was officially unveiled at a price tag of some $35 million.
Proposals have been put before the City of Bend to include a new 16,000 square foot building aimed at increasing synthetic pheromone production capability, thereby reducing the need for outsourcing to meet supply requirements, as company revenues reportedly rise annually in a number of markets worldwide.
The expansive Bend facility sits on some eight acres and includes state-of-the-art laboratories, offices, storage and manufacturing space in a sustainable architectural environment, as well as additional land for expansion to meet the growing needs of Suterra for providing products to the agriculture industry, domestically and abroad.
Suterra is acknowledged as a leader in the field of ‘biorational’ pest control products – which utilize naturally occurring compounds and biochemicals such as pheromones – generally considered a more environmentally sound alternative to traditional pesticides in being non-toxic to humans and animals, leaving no harmful residue, not contaminating groundwater and not disrupting beneficial insect populations.
The main ‘mating disruption’ product lines disperse pheromones specific to particular pests, which confuse the insects and make it hard for them to find a mate. They are used to help protect such crops as almonds, apples, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, walnuts and certain vegetables, and the company has offices in locations from Mexico to Argentina, Italy, Spain and the U.K.
The company actually originated as an offshoot of Bend Research, Inc. known as Consep – which employed proprietary membrane technology to coat, protect and mete out a constant supply of the active ingredient for maximum efficiency – then based at SW Columbia Street, and was re-named Suterra in 2001 after being acquired by Roll International, a privately held corporation owned by California-based entrepreneurs Stewart and Lynda Resnick.
As one of the largest farmers in California, Stewart Resnick had used Suterra’s products even prior to acquisition of the company, embracing the idea of a non-toxic approach – i.e. pest control without using anything that ends in a ‘cide’ –as a compatible fit with his green sustainable philosophy.
Roll International spans an eclectic and diverse range of interests including agriculture, consumer packaged goods and floral services – from Fiji Water to POM juices, the world’s largest floral wire service Teleflora, largest global pistachio and almond producer Paramount Farms and California orange and lemon production giant Paramount Citrus.
The parent company had originally considered a somewhat logical relocation of Suterra closer to its base of operations in Los Angeles, but decided to stick with Bend primarily due to the talent of the workforce and the attractiveness of the community.
Another factor in the decision was the diligence of groups like Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) which worked on the deal, and the City of Bend which fast-tracked a land sale to Suterra and assisted with facilitating necessary infrastructure and permitting for the Juniper Ridge site.
Suterra’s plant currently has around 75 employees, with the anticipated expansion expected to cost several million dollars – mirroring Roll’s acknowledged strategic philosophy of long-term investments as the way to grow – and create around 10 new jobs.
It is hoped construction on the new building and ancillary facilities could start this summer and be complete by the end of the year.
