FRUITLAND, Idaho (CBS2) — A strong, putrid odor traced to Dickinson’s Frozen Foods in Fruitland has prompted a police investigation, a nuisance citation, and a referral to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.
Over the past several weeks, the Fruitland Police Department received numerous complaints about the smell coming from the company’s processing facility.
On June 22, officers visited the plant and found a large accumulation of onion and pepper waste stored on the east side of the facility. Police also detected a strong foul odor that was noticeable well beyond the plant’s property.
During the June 22 City Council meeting, a local business owner addressed the council about the odor and its impact on their business, asking that the city enforce its existing nuisance ordinances.
The following day, officers followed up with several residents who had filed complaints. Most reported that the odor had been present for about two months and had become increasingly worse.
After consulting with the Fruitland public works director and speaking directly with Dickinson’s Frozen Foods’ plant manager, police determined large quantities of organic waste had been temporarily stored on site because disposal options had become limited. Following recent heavy rainfall, water moved through the waste piles into stormwater collection basins, where the organic material created stagnant, septic conditions that produced the odor.
On June 23, police issued a citation to the plant manager for violations of Fruitland City nuisance ordinances related to maintaining a filthy factory yard and allowing offensive odors to extend beyond the property.
Police also forwarded the completed report and written complaints to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality for review and any action the agency deems appropriate within its regulatory authority.
The plant manager told police the company has begun corrective measures, including removing the accumulated organic waste and pumping the affected collection basins to help eliminate the odor. Fruitland police said they will continue to monitor the situation as the case moves through the court.