Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 14, 2017)
10 CapitalPress.com April 14, 2017 Oregon Fruit Products taps into fermentation market For the Capital Press When Max Gehlar found- ed Oregon Fruit Products in 1935, he was just looking for a way to stabilize the revenue of his cherry and plum or- chard in the Eola Hills north- west of Salem. He likely nev- er imagined that his modest canning operation would last for the better part of a century, buoyed by Oregon’s world-fa- mous fruit industry. From modest beginnings, the business grew, employing dozens of local workers and buying fruit such as straw- berries, cherries and cane berries from local farmers and orchardists. Over the de- cades, Oregon Fruit Products started looking farther afield to source its fruit, building an international base of suppliers while retaining their North- west grower network. The business remained in the Gehlar family until 2011, when it was sold to Ed Ma- letis, the former owner of Portland-based beverage dis- tribution company Columbia Distributing. He brought on Chris Sarles, also formerly of Columbia Distribution, to be the new CEO. Under Sarles’ leadership, the company has dramatical- ly expanded its fruit for fer- mentation program while also pursuing new products for foodservice — although they KE R A Courtesy Oregon Fruit Products Cherries arrive at the Oregon Fruit Products processing facility. assure customers that their iconic black, illustrated cans aren’t going anywhere. Fruit for fermentation, a line aimed at the craft brew- ing, wine, spirits and kombu- cha market, consists of fruit purees in a wide range of fla- vors, from classic apple and cherry to exotic seasonals T S UP P LY M & DISTRIBUTION, INC. World Class Berry & Produce Packaging Solutions #1 Source Serving & Delivering In the Northwest Since 1988 All Sizes - Customizing Available! Farm • Agriculture • Packers • Food Processors, etc. #1 in Labeling Your Berry Containers... 20 Cases or a Truckload aisles, first you’re in cheese, then you’re in chips, then bev- erages, and every one has a tie somehow to fruit,” he says. For potential suppliers, Sarles notes that documenta- tion, especially in light of the new Food Safety Moderniza- tion Act, will continue to be essential. “We want to make sure that the people we’re buying from are thinking for- ward and doing all they can to be compliant ahead of be- ing required to be compliant,” says Sarles. “(All our clients) want proper documentation, and that’s certainly very im- portant to us.” As demand for fruit prod- ucts continues to grow, Ore- gon Fruit Products is optimis- tic about the future. “As an 82-year-old company, all of us feel very fortunate to be where we are,” says Sarles. “We’re the caretakers of what some incredibly bright, hardwork- ing people have built over all these years. It’s our responsi- bility to carry it forward for the next generation, so somebody else can celebrate the next 80 years.” KFS & Wax Boxes with Overlap Bottoms 253-479-0111 • Kent, WA • www.marketsupplydist.com such as guava and gooseberry. Sarles attributes the cate- gory’s growth to wider indus- try trends, as well as Oregon Fruit Products’ ability to de- liver a broad selection of fla- vors. “Like anything, when you have some experience, you recognize where oppor- tunities might exist,” says Sarles. “For me, it was ‘go with what you know.’ How could we be more relevant to the evolving craft beverage scene?” From his past work, Sarles knew that seasonality was important to brewers, so he introduced rotating, seasonal fruit products with relatively limited availability. He says it gave the company “the op- portunity to bring innovation to the brewer, to make them think about what they’re going to produce next.” Sarles is also excited about market opportunities he sees in food manufacturing. “As I go to different trade shows, I see fruit popping up in all differ- ent product types, even areas you wouldn’t have thought of before … when you walk the BANDING FERTILIZER SPREADER SIDEDRESSER Fertilizer Where You Want It ONV17--2/#8 • Stainless Steel • Hydraulic Drive • Ground Drive ONV17-7/#5 503-981-7517 • Hubbard, OR ONV17-1/#7 By MARGARETT WATERBURY
