THE JOY OF FRUIT

Starr Ranch Story

In 1934 Paul “Tommy” Thomas started Oneonta Trading Company in Wenatchee, Washington and was an early pioneer in exporting Washington Apples all over the world. As the business evolved, he established Custom Orchards and Packers, while also sourcing from companies like Gilbert Orchards to meet their customers needs. In those early days, Paul’s son Dalton Thomas and Cragg D. Gilbert would decide pricing and logistics for export customers by the stove with a cup of coffee in the small Wiley City office. In 2006, a formalized partnership began between the two companies, and Gilbert has been packing in the Starr Ranch label ever since. Today, Starr Ranch specializes in sales service in every major market for Washington apples, as well as reaching directly to North American consumers through value-added packaging and service.