J.M. Wade first came to the Wenatchee Valley in the early 1900's as a cash buyer for a Philadelphia Produce company. While here, J.M Wade formed a partnership with A.Z Wells. The Wells and Wade fruit company bought apples for shipments east and then also purchased packed as well as loose fruit for their own packing operation. In 1946 J.M Wade advised his people he was closing his Wenatchee operation. His former employees Ike Wade, Bob Shultz, Rollie Cranmer, Walter Cox, and growers John Grubb and Elmer Cranmer formed Columbia Fruit Packers.
Today Columbia Fruit Packers is one of the finest apple and cherry operations in the Wenatchee Valley. It's our vision to be a leader in providing warehouse services and returns by recognizing the importance of grower tonnage, maximizing returns for grower fruit while efficiently utilizing labor, expenses, and capital assets. We continue to look forward to future successes of our growers, employees, and company.