Pride Packing

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In 1972, Ernie Spada, Sr. started Pride Packing Company in central Washington and was one of the first companies to adopt the ”Two Leader” growing and pruning technique. This technique is now recognized as an innovative method that lets more sunlight onto the fruit, which increases sugar content and produces sweeter tasting fruit. Because this method also shortens harvest time, the fruit arriving is much fresher than traditionally grown fruit. Since 1972, Pride Packing Company has worked to become one of the top 20 stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, and apricots) producers and top 100 apple producers in the United States. After building a new state-of-the-art packing and processing facility, complete with controlled atmosphere storage for 500,000 packages, Pride Packing Company quickly became one of the leaders in their industry and employ more than 600 people on more than 40 ranches. With more than 3,000 acres in production and three packing facilities, Pride Packing Company recently became the first Food Alliance Certified grower and shipper of stone fruits in the United States. Pride Packing Company also grows several varieties of cherries, apples and pears and currently ships more than 2.5 million packages of fruit annually to national and international destinations. Today, Ernie Spada, Sr. is regarded as an expert in the areas of storage, packaging, marketing and distribution of produce. His passion and expertise regarding the selection of fruit varieties the company grows and his innovative growing techniques continue to shape the way Pride Packing Company does business. With over 65 years of industry experience, Ernie Spada, Sr. is a leader in the wholesale trade, as both a grower and a wholesale distributor. Ernie is actively involved with the Washington Stone Fruit Commission. Leo Spada, the immigrant son of an Italian farmer, and his wife Mary, began farming small parcels of land in a tiny coastal town in Oregon. Like many children of that era, the Spada’s young sons Ernie and Leon, were brought into the farming business at a young age. With solid connections established in the farming and orchard community, Leo and Mary Spada moved their family to Portland in 1940 and founded United Salad Company The company was originally located at 10th and SE Belmont Street in Portland, Oregon. In 1946, United Salad Company moved to a larger building at 3rd and SE Alder Street. In 1949 sons Ernie and Leon were brought into the family business as partners. Leon, known affectionately as ”Junior,” had just come back from the war. From then on, the two boys worked side by side for the next 50 years - and never once had an argument. The unbreakable bond between them was enhanced by their different personalities. Junior was gregarious, very social and loved life. His motto of ”work hard and play hard” served the company well. He had a way with people and was soon in charge of buying and sales. He was known and loved by everyone in the industry and is missed very much. Ernie was the planner and the entrepreneur. While his brother was away at war, Ernie worked from 3:30 am to 8:00 am for his folks, and finished high school during the day.

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