Chelan Fruit Inc.


	history warehouse/production

History of Trout-Blue Chelan, Inc. / Chelan Fruit

	Trout Incorporated was incorporated in July 1921 as Lake Chelan Fruit Growers by eight growers. In 1921, the fruit was picked into one bushel wood boxes. After being sorted, it was shipped in one bushel boxes with labels glued on the ends informing others whose fruit was in the box. They selected Trout as their label. These labels are now a popular collector items. This initial cooperative was the foundation for today's Trout-Blue Chelan, Inc. K.J. Hendershott was appointed manager of Trout, Inc. in 1921, and led the organization until 1966. To recognize his years of service a scholarship fund to further education in the agriculture industry has been established in his name.
	Blue Chelan, Inc. was established in 1942 as Chelan Manson Fruit Cooperative by 26 local growers. At that time they brought in approximately 160,000 boxes of apples at each warehouse. It took nearly 100 days to pack all the apples produced. Each year's crop had to be packed and shipped in a maximum of four months because apples could not be kept and stored beyond that time. Therefore, from January to August each year, the warehouse would virtually shut down until the new crop was delivered.

September 1, 1995 Trout, Inc merged with another co-op, Blue Chelan, Inc. to form the new company, Trout-Blue Chelan, Inc., the leader and largest fresh fruit apple packing cooperative in the world. Acreage delivered to the warehouse is located from Canada south to the Mattawa area and from Manson/Chelan east to the Bridgeport area on the Columbia River. Currently the Association has 280 memberships delivering approximately 320,000 bins of fruit from 11,000 acres and ships over four million boxes of apples worldwide. The policy for the Association is set by the Board of Directors and, in cooperation with the sales staff and management staff, work hard to stay up to date on growing and sales trends, storage techniques, and equipment technology. The industry is constantly changing, and in order to maintain a strong foothold in the markets, the Association procedures and policies must also change. The willingness to learn and improve is what has made Trout-Blue Chelan, Inc. a strong company. This strength will also ensure a strong position in the future. A seven member Board of Directors set Policies and procedures that are to be administered by the general manager. Under the auspices of the general manager are a sales staff, administrative staff, and warehouse staff totaling 350 employees. Trout-Blue Chelan, Inc. is known worldwide for the crisp, juicy apples that are grown and packed in this beautiful Pacific Northwest region.