Via the Austin Business Journal
Texas State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, is leading a delegation that has traveled to California to meet with the CEO of Huy Fong Foods Inc., David Tran, with the ultimate goal of wooing his company and Sriracha hot sauce to Texas.
Villalba made the journey Monday to Irwindale, Calif., with State Sen. Carlos Uresti; State Rep. Hubert Vo,; Jose Romano director of business development for Gov. Rick Perry’s Economic Development & Tourism office; Daniel Hodge, first assistant attorney general; and Bryan Daniel, chief administrator for trade and business development for the Texas Department of Agriculture.
The California neighborhood in which the company currently resides has complained about the strong, burning odor that the factory has produced in the community. When lawsuits were filed, Denton city councilman Kevin Roden posted a note inviting the company to relocate to the area. Roden was invited to tour the facility and discuss future options.
Villalba’s delegation appears to have received a similar invitation.
“I am confident this group will be able to communicate to Mr. Tran and his colleagues at Huy Fong Foods the benefit of conducting business in the Lone Star State where frivolous litigation is not businesses as usual and we work with companies to create jobs and opportunity for all,” Villalba said in a released statement.
However, Tran doesn’t have plans to move his 600,000 square-foot facility, according to a report on National Public Radio. But he could consider expanding elsewhere, the report states.
In April, the Irwindale City Council was scheduled to vote on declaring the factory a public nuisance. That decision was postponed to May 14. If the Council votes in favor of the declaration, the company will have 90 days to fix the smell or relocate.
Sriracha, a hot sauce often used with sushi, originated in Thailand.
