Testa Produce, Inc. is building upon its sustainability initiatives through a partnership with U.S. Gain, which recently completed construction of a private natural gas fueling station at Testa’s headquarters. The new modular station will supply alternative fuel for the company’s fleet of delivery vehicles.
Testa operates a fleet of 50 delivery vehicles that is used to transport fresh produce to restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, country clubs, and other business segments throughout Illinois and regions of Indiana and Wisconsin. Today, forty of their vehicles run on natural gas, with plans to convert the remainder of their fleet in the future.
“We’re a very environmentally-conscious organization,” said Testa Produce President Peter Testa. “Our motto, ‘Green in Nature, Greener by Choice’, is something that we live by and seek to continually improve upon on in all aspects of our business. This new partnership builds on our efforts and we’re pleased to not only partner with a firm that shares the same philosophy, but also for the benefits this relationship creates.”
The use of natural gas as an alternative fuel significantly reduces transportation-related emissions for Testa Produce, improving air quality for communities they serve. In addition to environmental benefits, the new private station provides economic savings as well. Instead of refueling offsite at a nearby public natural gas station, delivery trucks are now able to be parked onsite and simultaneous fueled overnight, saving both driver time and cost. Retroactive tax incentives courtesy of the Alternative Fuel Tax Credit program further strengthens the economic rationale for natural gas.
“We’re proud to help Testa Produce achieve even greater environmental sustainability,” said Ross Finlan, Business Development Manager for U.S. Gain. “The company is truly a leader in how business can operate successfully with sustainability as a key element in their business model.”
