The fire at a Watsonville storage warehouse is affecting a local
orchardist and county supervisor, whose business had about 250 tons
of apples stored there when the blaze started.
The fire at a Watsonville storage warehouse is affecting a local orchardist and county supervisor, whose business had about 250 tons of apples stored there when the blaze started.
The blaze started Wednesday afternoon in Watsonville at a cold storage facility, according to media reports. That structure was used by Martinelli & Co. suppliers, such as San Benito County Supervisor Anthony Botelho, co-owner of B&P Fruit Co. The business also owned by Ken Perry had about 500 bins – or around 250 tons – of apples at the storage center, Botelho said.
Botelho said he believes B&P apples were in that facility to be made into juice, but he expressed optimism that “somebody’s insurance” would cover the losses.
“Watching that unfold is a great concern,” Botelho said. “Martinelli’s is a very resilient company, of course. I think we do have about 500 bins of apples (there).”
He said authorities were taking precautions, as they should, about opportunities to recover fruit.
“I’m sure everything will be fine,” he said. “We’re just happy nobody got hurt.”
B&P grows varieties such as red delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji and Newtown pippins. About 70 workers pick the fruit each harvest from early September to late October.
