November Vendor of the Month: Willamette Valley Pie Company
Willamette Valley Fruit Company was started in 1999 by the Gerald Roth family, who has been growing berries locally in Salem, Oregon for three generations. What began in 1999 as a small cannery-style operation in a backyard warehouse has quickly turned into WVFC being one of the Northwest’s leading processors of high-quality berry products. WVFC is a family-owned business, not a cooperative, but they work closely with an additional 20-30 local growers each year in order to supply all of their various markets.Each summer they process, on average, 12 million pounds of fruit. They grow strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, blueberries, a large variety of blackberries, cranberries and the local Oregon favorite, Marionberries.
In 2001, WVFC purchased a pie company from a neighbor just down the road from them. They had been supplying LaSuisse Specialty Foods the fruit for their pies and when LaSuisse decided to sell their business WVFC jumped at the opportunity, not only because it was a natural fit, but because the company had notoriety with the locals for having pies ‘as good as grandma’s!’ WVFC continue to use their original recipes and build the pies from scratch using all-natural ingredients. Since acquiring the business they have added to the product line, supplying grocery stores, farm stands and restaurants in the region PLUS NCG Co-ops!
Co-op shoppers were introduced to Willamette Valley Pie Company pies during our hugely successful 2017 holiday pie program. Now it’s a brand shoppers know and trust for great flavor and value. Handmade from scratch with the freshest locally grown whole fruit, these all-natural pies contain no preservatives, starches or additives and are made with ethically sourced Palm Done Right palm oil. The everyday assortment offers three varieties of eight-inch fully baked fruit pies — marionberry, apple and cherry.
Done right, palm oil can be one of the most sustainable oils in the world, nurturing animals, people, communities and the environment. Not only is Wheatsville supporting this program but all NCG co-ops are. Using Palm Done Right palm oils is improvement that aligns with our shared values and strengthens our commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship and fair trade practices. http://www.palmdoneright.com/en/home/
We enthusiastically recommend ALL the pies we carry, but the Marionberry has quickly become THE shopper favorite ALONG with the cherry as a close second!