Blue Diamond Growers scoops up downtown Sacramento real estate for $6.4 million

Blue Diamond Growers is expanding its holdings in Sacramento, following the purchase of two structures near its main campus in January.

On Jan. 3, Blue Diamond Growers finalized escrow on two properties from the Salvation Army, totaling 3.4 acres, across from its Sacramento manufacturing plant and headquarters.

According to the Sacramento Business Journal, the two structures were acquired for a total of $6.4 million.

Lynn Machon, director of communications for Blue Diamond Growers, said that one of the downtown properties, located off of 19th Street, would be maintained as a parking lot for the company’s roughly 900 employees.

Machon added that the company would not share any further details or plans for the former Salvation Army thrift store, located near the intersection of 16th and D Streets.

“Blue Diamond Growers enjoys a long-standing relationship with The Salvation Army,” Blue Diamond CEO and President Mark Jansen in a statement. “The organization has been a top recipient of our community outreach grants throughout Northern California for the past 10 years, and a neighbor for more than four decades.

“This purchase allows Blue Diamond to continue our strategic investment in our facilities, our employees and the Sacramento community.”

The Salvation Army announced the closure of its Sacramento rehabilitation center and several thrift stores in the summer, with plans to use the proceeds to improve its Stockton rehabilitation center and other affiliated programs.

Founded more than 100 years ago, Blue Diamond Growers refers to itself as the world’s leading almond marketer and processor, with more than 3,000 growers across California.

According to Blue Diamond Growers, its operations in Sacramento consist of a cold storage and distribution center, an in-shell production facility, offices and an almond innovation center where the company conducts research and development, spread across more than 1 million square feet.