Brothers Regain Control of Oregon Onion Company
By Oregon Family Farm Association
Bob and Rick Hale, leading a group of investors in an eight-figure deal, have regained control of the largest onion-growing and processing company in the U.S.. Based in Hermiston, Oregon, River Point Farms has about 520 full-time employees and grows 450 million pounds of onions, 85 percent by the company’s own farmers and 15 percent by other growers in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California.
The family has been in the onion business for thirty-seven years. Hale Farms was their original company. Subsequently, they started American Onion, then purchased a customer, Rivergate Farms. In 2007 they sold controlling interest of the combined River Point Farms to CIC Partners, a private equity firm which remains part of the new investor group. The Hales continued to be closely involved with operations at River Point, with Bob Hales serving as president since 2007 and recently adding CEO to that title.
With a strong customer base, including national restaurant chains, grocery stores and food service companies, the Hales want to invest in facilities and operations to meet growing demands and introduce innovations in fresh-cut products.
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