Reser's Fine Foods expects electricity use at its Don Pancho West tortilla plant in Salem, Ore., to fall by more than a fifth, about 1.9 million kWh a year, after finishing refrigeration and compressed-air upgrades with nonprofit Energy Trust of Oregon, the company said in a Sept. 29, 2026, PR Newswire release. It projects roughly 8% lower emissions for the site.

The biggest change is refrigeration: one central CO₂ system now does the work of six older units that ran on a refrigerant with higher global-warming potential. Reser's projects about 41% lower power draw than its modeled baseline, steadier temperatures and 114% more cooling capacity. On the air side, a variable-speed compressor and a heated-blower dryer that adjusts to demand are expected to cut electricity about 44% against baseline.

Don Pancho took over the roughly 300,000-sq-ft building in September 2025 to add tortilla capacity, and Reser's used the move to build efficiency into equipment choices. Energy Trust provided the energy study at no cost and reviewed performance after installation. Capital projects director Rusty Corriell credited its technical help. Reser's has 14 plants in the U.S. and Mexico and has partnered with Energy Trust since 2003; Supermarket Perimeter followed up Sept. 30.

Companies Reser’s Fine Foods Don Pancho Energy Trust of Oregon

Read the release / full story at Reser’s Fine Foods