Green Cuisine Plant

Contessa is "Going Greener"

Air Handling System

Contessa has long been committed to protecting the environment. Our shrimp is farm-raised and harvested through a process known as aquaculture, a sustainable, environmentally sound alternative to catching seafood in the wild. Our methods are entirely turtle-safe, and we've long supported conservation organizations dedicated to preserving a specific species of marine turtle. And now Contessa is taking that commitment one step further with its new Green Cuisine plant.

Located in Los Angeles, the new plant is certified by the United States Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) New Construction (NC) green building rating system. Contessa's Green Cuisine plant achieved Gold-level certification.

The new plant uses advanced design, technology and processes to significantly reduce Contessa's environmental impact. Special features include:

Vertical Conveyer Belt

• A solar-power array that reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than 730,000 pounds each year, producing an effect similar to conserving nearly 300 acres of pine forest.
• A water preheating system that saves energy by using waste heat from refrigeration compressors to preheat water used for sanitation purposes.
• An innovative loading dock that prevents the loss of refrigerated air, reducing temperature fluctuation — and energy use — in the loading dock area.
• Variable frequency drives that adjust the amount of power supplied to motors at specific times or under specific conditions to minimize energy use.

Contessa's Green Cuisine plant is so innovative that it was featured on "CBS News Sunday Morning" in a segment called "The Next Hot Invention."

Contessa is proud of its efforts to minimize the environmental impact of its facilities and operations. Check this page often for updates and photographs of Contessa's new Green Cuisine plant.

Extensive Refrigeration Piping

Solar-Power Array