The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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October 29, 2012

Canola processing facility to bring 55 full-time jobs

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID, Okla. — Northstar Agri Industries plans to build a canola processing facility in Enid, the company announced Monday.

Northstar, a subsidiary of PICO Holdings Inc., is waiting regulatory approval, commitment debt financing and completion remaining due diligence, but expects to complete construction prior to the canola harvest in June 2015. The announcement was made Monday by the company and by Enid Regional Development Alliance.

The facility will have a capacity of 2,200 tons of canola per day or 760,000 tons per year, and will include a full refinery capable of producing 580 million pounds of food grade refined canola oil and 450,000 tons of canola meal yearly. The plant will create about 55 permanent full-time jobs with a total annual payroll of $3.75 million.

Brent Kisling, ERDA director, called the announcement an opportunity for the state’s agricultural sector.

“The addition of a value-added canola processing plant in Oklahoma will provide regional farmers with a much needed local market to support continued acreage growth. I believe winter canola production is a game changer for Oklahoma agriculture, providing a much needed rotation crop, improving winter wheat yields and quality while increasing and diversifying farm income. We are excited to work with Northstar to bring a new canola processing plant to the Enid area,” Kisling said.



For more information see the Tuesday edition of the Enid News & Eagle

 

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