Five Things You May Not Know About Willamette Valley Pie Company

This Cascade member’s story starts with about 30 local farm families, who grow the fruit for their all-natural handmade pies, cobblers and frozen fruit packs. Did you know…

1. In 1999, after growing berries locally for three generations, Gerald Roth and his family started a small frozen fruit processing operation in a backyard warehouse just outside of Salem, Oregon, soon becoming a Northwest leader in frozen berry processing. In 2001, with the goal of vertically integrating their business, the Roths jumped at the chance to acquire LaSuisse Pie Company from a neighbor down the road, also adding traditional cake batter cobblers and frozen fruit polybags to their retail product offering.
2. The company buys 3 million pounds of fruit from local farm families every year, and that number is growing. The fruit includes strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries and the local favorite, Marionberries.
3. Each day, about 70 bakery employees make thousands of pies, cobblers, pastries, and other treats by hand in their new 47,000-square-foot production facility located in Silverton, Oregon. Leading up to Thanksgiving this last fall, employees made 2200 pies in one eight-hour shift.
4. The company primarily distributes to grocery stores on the West Coast, including Roth’s, Whole Foods, New Seasons, Market of Choice, Zupan’s and many others. They also operate a popular retail farm store located 5 miles northeast of Salem, where customers can purchase frozen fruits, or enjoy a fresh-baked slice of pie all year long.
5. In the last 12 months, Willamette Valley Pie Company has begun moving into the Midwest and East Coast markets, increasing sales, efficiency, and the amount of fruit purchased from their growers.

Cascade is proud to feature Willamette Valley Pie Company, a member who is passionate about supporting local farm families and delivering the best, all-natural fruit products to their customers.