Wednesday, Aug 21 2013 04:23 PM

Worth noting in business: Roll Global buys Wasco grapevine producer

 By THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

Roll Global LLC, the Los Angeles-based parent company of Paramount Farms, has acquired Vintage Nurseries LLC, a Wasco producer of grafted grapevine rootstocks.

The deal gives Roll 755,300 square feet for producing and growing space, plus 1,169 acres of Central Valley owned and leased farmland, according to a company news release.

Vintage works with more than 100 varieties of scions -- the above-ground portion of a grapevine -- and 26 varieties of rootstock for the wine, table grape and raisin markets.

Cal State Bakersfield's latest Kern Economic Journal points to slightly more optimism in the local business community and an unchanged, somewhat pessimistic outlook among consumers. 

University economists, writing in this year's second quarter report, stated that the journal's Consumer Sentiment Index remained steady at 98, same as last quarter. A year before, the index was listed at 99.

(A reading of less than 100 indicates pessimism; anything above 100 denotes optimism.)

Meanwhile, the journal's Business Outlook Index improved by 2 points to reach 122. The reading was 114 a year before.

The state Employment Training Panel has approved Paramount Citrus Packing Co. LLC's application for a $482,400 job training program. 

Paramount is not expected to receive any of the money until the workers' training is complete, they have been on the job for 90 days and are earning money.

Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, announced the program approval.

A Woodland Hills investment firm has paid $16.7 million for six multi-tenant industrial buildings totaling 526,000 square feet  along Brundage Lane and District Boulevard in Bakersfield.

Adler Realty Investments Inc. stated in a news release that it plans improvements to the properties, which are 62 percent leased and have tenants including Crystal Geyser, On-Trac, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, Bimbo Bakeries and the state of California.

Adler listed its leasing agent as Stephen Haupt of Colliers Tingey International. M.D. Atkinson Co. is the property manager.

Telecommunications consulting firm Omega TeleServe has expanded to the West Coast with a Bakersfield office  serving small and mid-sized businesses from Los Angeles to Fresno.

Based in Frisco, Texas, Omega offers free telecom audits, bid solicitations, installations and support for voice, Internet and fiber Ethernet. The company has offices in Las Vegas, Houston, Dallas and Midland, Texas.

The Bakersfield office is headed by West Coast Sales Manager David Reed, an information technology executive with experience in wide area networks and data line installations.

http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x740580105/Worth-noting-in-business-Roll-Global-buys-Wasco-grapevine-producer