History...

(1976-2002)

The birth of Cal-Ore Produce was initiated in the spring of 1976. Present at the initial meeting were approximately 15 growers, all of which had reputations as quality potato growers. These growers had previously marketed their crops through one of many local commercial packing sheds. In many instances, their quality potatoes were blended by the commercial sheds with a potato of inferior quality. In this respect, the end product did not reflect quality or financial reward due to the grower for his dedication to quality production.

From this initial meeting, five growers, representing a production base of approximately 800 acres, agreed to the formation of Cal-Ore Produce. Negotiations were initiated to purchase a building and equipment from Stateline Produce, a packing facility that was discontinuing operations. Throughout the summer of 1976, extensive repair and modernization of the facility was undertaken. Although initial startup was not without problems, plant efficiency improved with time, and a marketing network for our product was soon developed.

With the commitment to improve packing equipment and quality, operations continued until April 30, 1980. At that time, a fire originating in an adjacent grain cleaning/storage facility completely consumed the entire packing shed and contents therein. Grower/Owners were able to lease a neighboring packing shed and, through this facility, were able to pack the remaining potatoes held in storage, thus assuring a dependable supply for our customers for the remainder of the 1980 shipping season.

The present site and original building of today’s facility was purchased in the spring of 1980. Extensive remodeling of the building was required and a complete line of packing equipment was installed in time for the marketing of the new fall crop. To accommodate the additional capacity of the new packing shed and help defray extraordinary costs, a sixth partner was accepted into the organization. Coupled with the production of the existing owners, the additional partner raised our grower acreage base to approximately 1100 acres.

During the 1990s, Cal-Ore Produce continued to modernize and grow. In the early part of the decade, the packing shed was refitted with all new, state-of-the-art, packing equipment. To help maintain finished product quality, a 6000 square foot refrigerated cold storage was added. In 1993, Cal-Ore Produce acquired John O’Neil Potato, a highly respected quality potato packing company. In 1994, due to a serious need for dependable truck transportation for our customers, Carriage Overland Transportation was created to service Cal-Ore Produce throughout the Western United States.

At the end of the decade, Cal-Ore Produce acquired Maddox Truck Brokerage in order to contain Carriage Overland’s growing demands. An additional 12,000 square feet of cold storage was added to oblige Cal-Ore Produce’s growing demand.

Today, Cal-Ore Produce is the largest Grower/Packer/Shipper of fresh potatoes in either Oregon or California. With a grower acreage base that has risen to over 3,200 acres, we’re able to pack and ship over 4000 truckloads of quality product annually.

For more than 25 years, Cal-Ore Produce has strived to be the best fresh potato Grower/Packer/Shipper in the West. Our attention to quality will continue to reflect our commitment to excellence in the future.