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New Appel Farms cheese production and cold storage facility

Appel Farms positions for growth with new cheese production facility

Ferndale-based Appel Farms moves its cheese operations in December to a new 12,800-square-foot production and cold-storage facility, positioning it for future growth while increasing the farm’s efficiency and food security.

“We can grow a tremendous amount without running out of room,” said John Appel, who runs the cheese production operations while his wife Ruth directs retail and marketing functions.

Faber Construction of Lynden built the unique pre-engineered steel building, located at 6605 Northwest Drive. It incorporates an exo-skeleton technique, placing steel columns on the outside, while utilizing insulated metal panels for exterior walls, coolers and the freezer. This created an uninterrupted interior wall around the perimeter, increasing efficient use of the space, according to Rick Faber, president of Faber Construction.

The building also has to be capable of reaching a wide range of temperatures. Some blast freezers can get below 0 degrees while in dairy production coolers are expected to get as low as 37 and incubators as high as 108 degrees.

“The Appel Farms Cheese Plant is a one-of-a-kind facility in the Northwest Washington dairy industry,” Faber said.

Appel Farms started cheese production 30 years ago in an 800-square-foot building on the farm founded by John’s late father Jack Appel and his mother Audrey. They added on to it and utilized adjacent buildings to accommodate growth until the family was convinced a new building was necessary.

Cheese production currently uses more than half the milk from the farm’s 600-cow dairy herd, which is run by John’s brother Rich Appel. Appel Farms in mid-2016 began producing havarti, parmesan and maasdammer cheeses, adding to a product line that already included gouda, cheddar, quark, feta and paneer. The new building includes a window for viewing gouda production, although interested visitors should call ahead for times.

John Appel said steady growth has resulted in this expansion, but the family wasn’t taking all of the credit. “God has blessed us even despite some of our decisions,” he said.

The Cheese Shop, the retail arm of Appel Farms, is adjacent to the new production facility and open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturdays. For more information, call the store at (360) 312-1431 or visit www.appel-farms.com.

With success constructing and managing commercial, civil and industrial projects, plus education institutions, apartments, restaurants and tenant improvements, Faber Construction has become a fully integrated company with 85 employees and the versatility to handle projects ranging from $25,000 to $15 million. For more information, call Faber Construction at (866) 354-3501 or visit www.FaberConstruction.com.

> Check out the Bellingham Herald’s article and photos of the new creamery

Lopez Island School Campus Improvements - Rendering

Four major school projects started by Faber Construction

The end of school for students means the start of site work on four major school projects in Western Washington. These projects total nearly $17 million for Faber Construction.

Providing Western Washington with quality commercial buildings and site work since 1987, Lynden-based Faber Construction recently began building the following projects:

Lopez Island School Campus

Extensive renovations, repairs and small additions to the 58,500-square-foot Lopez Island School Campus just began. The school houses K-12 classrooms for the Lopez Island School District. The $7.6 million project will replace and refurbish building safety, electrical, heating, plumbing and septic systems and upgrade energy efficiency. The school’s technology infrastructure and classrooms, common areas, and building exteriors will also be updated. Projected completion date is August 2017.

Aldercrest Campus

The modernization of the Aldercrest Campus is a $3.4 million project that will allow the Shoreline School District to reopen the elementary school in September.

Discovery Elementary School

The Discovery Elementary School Addition is a $3 million project. It includes demolishing an existing play shed, and adding a new gymnasium and play shed for the Mukilteo School District. An expanded prep kitchen with service counter will be added to the existing multipurpose room. Electrical, communication, mechanical and fire systems will be brought up to code as well.

Bellevue College B RISE Learning Institute and Physics Lab

This project is a renovation of Bellevue College’s B RISE Learning Institute and Physics Lab. This $2.9 million project also includes the addition of 1,500 square feet.

With success constructing and managing commercial, civil and industrial projects, plus education institutions, apartments, restaurants and tenant improvements, Faber Construction has become a fully integrated company with 85 employees and the versatility to handle projects ranging from $25,000 to $15 million.

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