Hide Transcript Show Transcript

THIS HAPPEN. WE ALL KNOW HAND SANITIZERS ARE TOUGH TO FIND IN STORES BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK. BUT A RANCHO CORDOVA DISTILLERY IS TRYING TO CHANGE THAT. KCRA 3’S LETICIA ORDAZ IS LIVE IN RANCHO CORDOVA THIS MORNING TO EXPLAIN HOW THE BUSINESS IS NOW MAKING MORE THAN JUST VODKA AND GIN. WHAT’S GOING ON, LATICIA? LETICIA: THIS IS EXCITING FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, THE ENTIRE WORLD. THEY GAVE US THIS SAMPLE YESTERDAY. IT SEEMED TO BE WORKING GREAT. JJ PFISTER SAID THEY WERE CONTACTED BY NUMEROUS LOCAL BUSINESSES, SO THEY HAD TO FILL THE NEED. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE MAKING VODKA AND GIN IN-HOUSE. THEY HAVE A LOT OF CORN COMING IN, AND THEY ARE ALSO WORKING WITH GRAINS LIKE DRY -- RYE TO MAKE THIS NEW PRODUCT. THE GOAL IS TO MAKE ABOUT 500 GALLONS OF HAND SANITIZER. AFTER BEING CONTACTED BY NUMEROUS TRUCK DRIVERS AND GARBAGE WORKERS, THEY SAID THEY REALLY HAD TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE TO SAVE LIVES. >> AT FIRST, I WAS HOPEFUL THAT THE INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURERS OF HAND SANITIZERS WOULD BE ABLE TO PICK UP THE DEMAND. BUT AS THE PHONE CALLS CAME IN, WE REALIZED WE NEEDED TO SEND SANITIZER NOW, WE ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO SUPPLY IT. >> I DO FEEL THAT HUGE WEIGHT. THE SOONER WE GET IT OUT THERE, THE SOONER WE CAN GET IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT AND HOPEFULLY , THE SOONER THE EPIDEMIC OR PANDEMIC CAN BE UNDER CONTROL. LETICIA: IF YOU ARE WONDERING IF THE HAND SANITIZER REALLY WORKS THE OWNERS SAY THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT ETHYL ALCOHOL WILL KILL GERMS AND IN ORDER TO SELL IT IT HAS TO PASS THE STANDARDS SET BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. WHICH THEY SAY THEY HAVE DONE. THEY WILL BE BOTTLING AND LABELING THIS WEEKEND AND HOPE TO GET IT OUT TO THE MASSES BY NEXT WEEK. THEY HAVEN’T SET A PRICE ON A BOTTLE LIKE THIS YET BUT SAY THE , PLAN IS TO MAKE IT VERY AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE. THEY ALSO WANT TO HANDED OUT FOR FREE TO VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES

Advertisement Rancho Cordova distillery makes hand sanitizer amid outbreak Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Hand sanitizers are tough to find in stores because of the coronavirus outbreak. This week, however, a Rancho Cordova distillery is trying to change that. J.J. Pfister Distilling Co. is working fast to get bottles of sanitizer to the masses. The company said local businesses have been contacting it to help out during the crisis, so it decided to switch gears in their operation. To make this happen, the distiller is putting its regular vodka and gin operation on hold for now. It's hand sanitizer instead that the company will be cranking out."At first I was hopeful that the industrial manufacturers of hand sanitizer were going to be able to pick up the demand, but as the phone calls came in, we realized we needed this hand sanitizer now. We are in a unique position to actually be able to supply it," said Brian Keck, master distiller. For now, J.J. Pfister is using rye, as it awaits a big corn shipment. The plan is to make about 500 gallons of hand sanitizer in the first batch. The owners of the small business in Rancho Cordova said they've been contacted non-stop by truck driving companies and garbage collectors who are worried about catching the coronavirus because they don't have hand sanitizers at their disposal. The company decided it was important to fill a need and to help reduce the spread of the virus. "I do feel that there is that weight: That the sooner that we can get it out there, the sooner we can get it to the people who need it, and hopefully, the sooner the epidemic or pandemic can be under control," said Gail Keck, owner of J.J. Pfister Distilling Co. If you are wondering if the hand sanitizer really works, the owners said the active ingredient, ethyl alcohol, will kill germs. In order to take it to market, it has to pass the standards set by the World Health Organization. J.J. Pfister will be bottling and labeling their products this weekend. The goal is to make it available for people to pick up at J.J. Pfister in Rancho Cordova by early next week. The price of a 4-ounce spray bottle has not been set, but the company said it plans to make it very affordable. They said they will also be giving the hand sanitizer away to vulnerable communities like the homeless. City officials in Rancho Cordova are applauding the efforts of the small business and are asking other distillers in the area to join in on the efforts to produce hand sanitizer.