Abstract
This research expands investigations into the biomass resource potential associated with California's food processing industry by surveying industries within a two county region in the San Joaquin Valley, California, USA. A previous survey conducted in 2005 for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) quantified residue and waste generation from food processors and food preparation businesses in the Sacramento region. The present survey investigates residue and waste streams from food processors located in Merced and Stanislaus Counties. Sixty food processors were identified to participate in the survey, of which 49 responded (82%) and data were acquired for 38 (63%) (6 facilities closed or moved, 8 decided not to participate). Within the two counties, total annual waste among survey respondents amounted to 24,044 dry tons of high moisture (${\geq}$60%) food residuals, 5,358 dry tons of low moisture (<60%) food residuals; and 23.7 million $m^3$ of wastewater containing 38,814 tons of biochemical oxygen demand ($BOD_5$). The total potential electric power generation from these food residues was estimated at approximately $7\;MW_e$. Total solid waste resource included in the survey response was estimated at about 10% of statewide residue generation for processors falling within the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) System Major Group 20 (Food and Kindred Products) categories.
