Big Crowd Joins in Debating Proposal for Flour Mill

The Fullerton cannery, which once churned millions of pounds of tomatoes into paste, spaghetti sauce and catsup, soon may be converted into a flour mill.

The city Planning Commission late on Wednesday was discussing a proposal to build a flour mill at the old Hunt-Wesson Inc. cannery, next to the Fullerton Municipal Airport.

About 180 people attended the meeting at Fullerton City Hall. A majority of the audience opposed the proposed mill.

ConAgra Inc., Hunt-Wesson’s parent firm, would open a flour-milling operation including 16 concrete silos standing 102 feet tall.

“This would be a tremendously good addition here in Orange County,” said Robert L. Seat, president of the Orange County Farm Bureau. “It would not only boost labor, but satellite operations such as rail transportation, trucking.”

Hunt-Wesson, which was one of Southern California’s largest canneries, closed last year, laying off 325 full-time workers and 450 seasonal employees. Company officials said the flour mill would provide only 20 jobs, because the mill would be mostly automated.

Seat emphasized that ConAgra, which has 25 other flour mills throughout the country, has a reputation of running a safe operation.

“Their safety records are unbelievably good,” he said.

Still, some residents said they fear the mill could be dangerous. They cited the grain elevator explosion that killed five people at Debruce Grain in Wichita, Kan., last month.

Seat, whose nonprofit organization is part of a nationwide federation that keeps tabs on agricultural businesses, said ConAgra is not associated with Debruce Grain and he couldn’t recall any problems at any ConAgra mill.

Residents who live within blocks of the site said they oppose the flour mill because they think it will be an eyesore, noisy, smelly, cause air pollution and lower property values.

“We are going to be in constant fear of our health, safety and economic well-being if we allow this to be built. It scares me,” Bill Wotring said.

Kate Reeves, who lives in the city but not near the proposed mill, said she is in favor of the project.

“I love flour mills,” said Reeves, who grew up near flour mills. “The smell of a mill is not something to worry about.”

She said a flour mill is different from grain elevators that have exploded in the past.

The Planning Commission’s decision will be forwarded to the City Council, which has the final say on the project. The council is expected to hear the proposal next month.