George Rodriguez, the son of migrant farm workers, embarked on his farming journey in 1971 when he purchased a small farm west of Ontario, Oregon. Over time, with determination and hard work, that farm grew into what is now Partners Produce. George & Lupe Rodriguez’s journey to success is one of resilience and dedication. Growing up, George started working in the fields at a young age. After marrying Lupe, her father, a local farmer, encouraged him to start farming. With a modest three-acre plot, George and Lupe worked tirelessly, managing their farm while George held a full-time job at an Ontario Oregon packing warehouse. He worked at the warehouse during the day and then devoted his evenings to the farm. This dedication continued for over two decades.​Rodriguez Farms, a family-run operation, saw the daily involvement of Lupe in the field and the help of their children—George Jr., Monica, and Eddie. In 1998, the couple founded Partners Produce, Inc. Over the following years, the company expanded significantly:

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1999: A second packing line was installed, increasing the production capacity to over 2,500 50-pound bags per hour.

2000: An onsite raw onion storage facility was added, capable of holding 4,500 bins of onions.

2003: Partners Produce began processing whole peeled onions.

2004: The company expanded its facilities by constructing a 6,000 square-foot processing building.

2006: A freezing line was installed, featuring a state-of-the-art blancher/cooler and freezing tunnel to enhance the existing whole peeled processing line.

2008: The company added a new building with specialized processing capabilities, including an additional 16 lines.

2012: An additional facility was launched, further expanding operational capacity.

2017: Heavy snowfall causes the loss of four production buildings, including the main line.

2018: Partners Produce opened a new state-of-the-art 100,000 square-foot packing facility, along with four bulk storage units, increasing its storage capacity to over 30 million pounds.

2019: A new, innovative processing facility was completed. Through proprietary development, the company pioneered a method to produce IQF onions with unmatched quality.

2020: The Global COVID-19 Pandemic decreases production- leaving Partner's Produce to process and ship about 10% of what it originally would.

2021: Spring weather & summer heat lead to reduced onion yields​

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​​​​Read More: George Rodriguez’s story was featured in Hispanic Executive Magazine, where he shared how his early struggles shaped his success. Despite the hardships, the Rodriguez family continues to inspire future generations with their unwavering work ethic, belief in hard work, and dedication to improving the lives of their family.​​

 

Most Recent Acquisition; Partner's Produce Acquires Sprouts Farmer's Market in Lancaster, CA.​​​​

 

1. Core Facts About Partners Produce:

2. Plant Size: The facility spans over 16 acres, 350,000+  square feet of production space.

3. Partner's employs more than 200 dedicated individuals, with six foremen overseeing operations.

4. PPI has the capacity to process and pack over 2,500 50-pound bags per hour.

5. PPI is SQF and Kosher certified, with annual HACCP, Primus, and facility audits to ensure top-tier product quality and safety.

6. PPI packs onions in various formats, including 50-pound, 25-pound, and 10-pound sacks, as well as consumer bags (5-pound, 3-pound, and 2-pound). The company also offers bulk packaging in totes or supersacks for yellow, red, and white onions.

7. Fresh and IQF Processing: Partners Produce is equipped to handle both fresh-cut onions and IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) products, providing diced and strip cuts to meet diverse customer needs. PPI employs advanced processing techniques, including metal detection systems to ensure product purity.