Pacific Trellis Fruit, the parent company of Dulcinea Farms, grows, ships and markets fresh fruit—seedless melons, cantaloupes, grapes, stone fruits and oranges, among others. Its products are shipped year-round, while its partners are spread throughout the Western Hemisphere. It’s headquartered in Los Angeles.
 

Challenge

The company wanted to locate its fourth international sales office in Tucson. There it would coordinate sales and shipping of its produce from Mexico and California growers to accounts across the United States. It wanted easy access to freeways and Mexican ports of entry, as well tap into a talent pool of partners and employees.
 

Response

Commercial Real Estate Group of Tucson checked the requirements Pacific Trellis had for Tucson office space against available property that CREG Tucson broker and tenant representative Michael Coretz knew existed through his contacts and close monitoring of the market.

He identified several potential locations, including space at Tech Parks Arizona, the University of Arizona’s business and research centers for private businesses. The Tucson office space at the Rita Road park had been built out for another company, but was never occupied because of COVID-19 disruptions. Pacific Trellis chose this space and CREG Tucson negotiated the lease contract.
 

Results

Pacific Trellis moved into a space that was ready-made for its sales operations. It also was able to obtain the new office furniture that was still in the space and got early access prior to the start of the lease.
 

Take-aways

• The Tucson office space market continues to roil as businesses make difficult expansion and relocation decisions. Lease agreements that collapsed during the pandemic disruption have now created opportunities for available spaces at competitive rates.
• By locating in the business park, Pacific Trellis tapped into a wealth of support from the UA. The company is looking at ways to establish internships with university students. Aligning with a college’s commercialization arm gives companies access to strengths such as research, business development and workforce development.