Fresh Express Agrees to Pay $280,000 for Exposing Over 80 Employees to Noxious Bleach Odors

SALINAS, California – Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on March 15

that her Environmental Protection Unit entered into a stipulated judgment with Fresh Express

Incorporated for violations of pesticide-related laws that exposed its employees to noxious odors

resulting from the use of sodium hypochlorite (commonly known as bleach) for approximately one

month in early 2020. Over 80 Fresh Express employees complained of symptoms consistent with

exposure to the strong chlorine-like smell resulting from use of sodium hypochlorite during this

time period at their Salinas processing plant located at 900 E. Blanco Road in Salinas. Reported

symptoms included coughing, eye irritation, blurred vision, and chest pain, among others.

Fresh Express ultimately determined that equipment leaks and calibration of its sodium

hypochlorite injection system in its produce washing equipment was causing these symptoms to

various employees. Ultimately, following these incidents, Fresh Express repaired its sodium

hypochlorite and citric acid injection system to help ensure the systems are fully operational and in

good working order.

The judgment requires Fresh Express Incorporated to pay a $280,000 in civil penalties and

investigative costs and includes injunctive terms prohibiting future violations.

The Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office investigated this incident and referred

the case to the District Attorney’s Office as a “priority investigation,” pursuant to 3 CCR section

6128, subdivision (e), because the incident caused over five persons to become ill. Fresh Express

cooperated with the District Attorney’s Office during its investigation.

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Fatal 3 Vehicle Accident Involving Wrong Way Driver on Highway 101 Outside of King City on January 10

A fatal multi-vehicle collision happened on Saturday night, January 10 at 9:51 p.m. on northbound Highway 101 outside of King City. According to the King City CHP a 2016 Toyota Tacoma driven by 65-year-old Paul Lee Cooper of Otis, Oregon was heading the wrong way going southbound in the northbound lanes south of Jolon Road, while a 2006 Toyota Corolla driven by 33-year-old Dinora Maribel Gomez of Salinas was heading northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road in the #1 lane and a Honda Accord driven by 36-year-old Ignacio Sangerman of King City was also traveling northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road but was in the #2 lane. Due to Cooper's level of impairment his vehicle went the wrong way on Highway 101 going directly into the path of Gomez' vehicle causing the rear of her car to crash with the front of the vehicle driven by Sangerman. Cooper was arrested, sustaining major injuries and was transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas where as of January 12 is...

Monterey County DA Releases Preliminary Information Concerning an Officer Involved Shooting Incident that Occurred Outside of Soledad on December 16

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni on December 19 released preliminary information concerning the officer involved shooting (OIS) which occurred at about 1:20 a.m. outside the city of Soledad on December 16, 2025. Just before 1:00 a.m., Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Pina, who has been a peace officer for 10 years all with MCSO, and Deputy Blain Councilman, each in separate patrol cars, were dispatched to 32097 McCoy Road. A resident at the farm labor camp reported a suspicious individual with a handgun whose white Honda 4 door sedan was parked in space 18 at the complex. Before parking there, the suspect drove around and around, stopped in front of the reporting party’s (RP’s) truck, and got out. The RP could hear music. Deputy Pina drove the lead patrol car and arrived just after 1:20 a.m. His dashcam video, which does not record sound but which he installed on his own and at his own expense, depicts the following: He drove down ...

King City City Council Announces Selection of José Arreola as New City Manager

January 7, 2025-Following an extensive recruitment process, José Arreola has been selected by the King City City Council to be its next City Manager. Arreola will replace Steve Adams, who is retiring after serving in the position for the past 10 years. Arreola was selected from 31 applicants and 8 finalists for the position. The King City City Council will formally consider the proposed city manager contract at its meeting on Tuesday night, January 13. Arreola's first day on the job is scheduled to be February 23. José Arreola has a distinguished career of serving the community with a particular commitment to youth. He has worked for the City of Salinas for 12 years as their Community Safety Program Manager, Community Safety Administrator and Assistant to the City Manager. Among other responsibilities, Arreola has led several programs to eliminate gang violence which aligns well with the City of King’s efforts and priorities. Prior to that, Arreola worked as an Educa...

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