Ag company addresses need for employee housing

Local agriculture company, Tanimura & Antle, opened up a new 100 unit affordable housing apartment complex Wednesday to provide a home for their workers.

The grand opening of the privately funded complex in Spreckels came after the company experienced a shortage of labor workers in 2015.

“We actually had some of our early crops last year go unharvested and we recognized we had an issue here,” said Rick Antle with Tanimura & Antle.

The facility offers shared living apartments for up to 800 of the company’s domestic workers.

“Our labor is our most critical thing we have here and we have to recognize that they are a valued part of it and we are investing in our workforce,” said Antle.

The highest cost for a single room is $500 a month and goes down from there.

“If you want to play less you go into a high occupancy room,” said Jodi Nunes with the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership.

According to Nunes, that’s a deal compared to the average cost of rent in Monterey County.

“Oh my goodness, it’s a fraction on the cost of housing in Monterey County,” said Nunes.

Although there’s been some controversy surrounding the project, including safety and extra traffic, Nunes said the project will allow workers to have better living conditions.

“800 people would normally not live here, that are traveling through, do not have to be stuffed into garages or inadequate conditions,” said Nunes.

This project isn’t the first of its kind. In Soledad, a similar project to house at least 100 workers recently opened, but 5th District Monterey County Supervisor Dave Potter says more needs to done.

“There is a lot more that needs to be done but I think, when we look at the private sector, they can get it done quicker,” said Potter.