Columbia Valley Fruit (CVF) of Yakima, Washington is new to the fresh fruit packing world, but holds lifetimes of experience in the most important and critical aspects - growing quality apples, peaches, nectarines and cherries.

Partnership

CVF is owned by three very substantial lifelong growers with expertise in Organic Production. Orlin Knutson grows primarily Organic tree fruits near the Columbia Basin town of Mattawa, Washington. Mark and Tom Tudor are second generation farmers in the lower Yakima Valley, growing apples and grapes near Grandview, Washington and Chris Vizena grows apples, cherries, and row crops in the Babcock Ridge area south of Qunicy, WA.

Together they own and operate the storage, packaging and shipping operation on the outskirts of Yakima, Washington.

With their packaging operation receives, warehouses, packs and ships nearly 1 million cartons of fresh apples to market each year. These three owner operators farm nearly 500 acres in total and comprise nearly 25% of the product handled annually by Columbia Valley Fruit, LLC.

Organic

Organic before it was "trendy", CVF grows and packs over half a million bushels of Organic apples annually coupled with hal a million cartons of conventional apples for family farmers across the Yakima Valley and Columbia Basin. This volume gives the marketing and sales part of the company, FirstFruits Marketing, nearly 20% of Washington's organic product mix. CVF growers also form the major organic production component of peaches, nectarines and apricots in Washington State.

Helping Family Farmers

Columbia Valley Fruit represents some 60 family farmers to the market beyond the growing capacity of the three owners. These family farmers rely on the skills at CVF and their employees in receiving, storing, packaging, selling and shipping these precious and healthy apples and soft fruits. CVF is expert in the processes of guaranteeing Food Safety utilizing the highly regarded "Safe Quality Food system for both Orchard level certification as well as Pack house certification. CVF is also developing qualifying standards in Sustainability, Ethical Sourcing, and Corporate Social Responsibility and expects to be fully certified on these important new venues within a year.

Total Acres - 700 acres in Yakima, Washington and the Columbia Basin
Packing and Shipping - All packing and shipping from Yakima, Washington, USA