Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1508599
10 PalletCentral • September-October 2023 palletcentral.com POLICY PLAY AT I n a display of commitment to her district and following historic rainfall throughout the region because of Tropical Storm Hilary, Congresswoman Julia Brownley visited Oxnard Pallet Company, a National Wooden Pallet and Container Association member. Located in the heart of California's 26th Congressional District, which encompasses most of Ventura County and the Conejo Valley, Oxnard Pallet Company is a prime example of the local businesses that serve as the backbone of our communities. Brownley's visit underscores the often-overlooked importance of wooden pallets in the supply chain and the sustainability narrative. Oxnard Pallet Company was started as a trucking business in 1987 by Elias and Beatrice Vasquez. It expanded into pallets in March 1993 when the Vasquezes purchased a two-acre industrial lot next to an old lima bean factory. As Oxnard continued to grow, so did the Oxnard Pallet Company's operations. e factory lot grew to 10 acres, where the company continues robust operations today. (See page 12 for more on the family-run business.) As an advocate for small businesses, Brownley understands the value they bring to our local economies and the success of our communities. In the 26th District, where agriculture plays a significant role, companies like Oxnard Pallet Company are not just businesses but partners in the region's economy. With 55 employees, Oxnard recycles and refurbishes approximately 50,000 pallets a month and produces export, custom, and new pallets and crates as demanded, touching all industries because of the wooden pallet's versatile nature. Moreover, wooden pallets tell a compell- ing sustainability story. As businesses and policymakers seek economically sound U.S. Representative Brownley's Visit Celebrating Local Business and Sustainability at Oxnard Pallet Company By Hallie Fuchs