Courtesy of Cargill
Since 1854, local salt makers have harnessed the sun and wind to make sea salt along the San Francisco Bay shoreline. From pick-and-shovel harvests of the Gold Rush era, to today’s mechanized harvests, the industry has traced a colorful history, mirroring both the growth of the West its environmental values.
Today, Cargill, a Minnesota-based agricultural company, is the sole producer of San Francisco Bay sea salt, harvesting 500,000 tons annually to serve food, agricultural, water quality, and industrial customers.
Courtesy of Cargill
Since acquiring the Leslie Salt Company in 1978, Cargill has re-engineered operations to focus on high-value salt products and reduce its operational footprint, leading to creation of the first urban wildlife refuge and the largest wetland restoration effort on the West Coast.
Cargill’s land transfers total more than 40,000 acres and involve donations exceeding $150 million. They include:
- Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (15,000 acres)
- Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area (11,400 acres)
- South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project (15,000 acres)
- 75 miles of Bay Trail
- 3,000 acres to local governments and non-profits for access, open space, recreation, and environmental education.
cargill.com | Headquarters: 800-227-4455
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BPC is proud to have Cargill as a valued member. Thank you for your continued involvement!
Tags: cargill, salt harvesting
