The ron lefore apple farm began in 1946 when ron’s parents planted their first tree.
and so it began.
early years.
World War II had just ended and decorated army veteran, Aaron “Grandpa Bear” LeFore returned to Milton-Freewater and planted his first apple trees in the spring of 1946. Tomatoes were already farmed by the LeFore family and cherries and peaches were soon added.
Build it.
By the 1970’s, “Bear” LeFore’s apple farm stood on 55 acres of ground and consisted of Golden Delicious, Reds, Jonathans, Romes, and MacIntosh. By this time, “Bear’s” son Ron had been farming along side of him from the time he could walk. Ron received his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Oregon State University, married his wife Dona, and returned home to continue farming with his father.
Grow it.
The farm continued to grow from there, and in 1978 Ron purchased his own 10 acres of trees from his father. By the mid-80’s, Ron and Dona had built the farmhouse, where they still live today, on the land where they would continue to grow their farm and raise their three daughters.
The girls.
Ron and Dona’s three girls grew up working on and roaming the farm and packing house. They could often be found “helping” Dad change pipe, sorting in the packing house alongside Grandma, or playing hide and seek amongst the plethora of boxes and bins. If asked, the girls would describe their childhood on the farm as “heaven on earth.”
changes.
Tragically in 1991, while long haul delivering apples for the farm, Grandpa “Bear” suffered a stroke and died at the age of 72. This brought many changes on the farm along with Ron and Dona purchasing all the land and packing house consisting of almost 90 acres. Throughout the 90’s, more land was added and the packing facility was expanded.
now.
Two-thousand and eight saw the LeFore’s youngest daughter, Angie, return from Oregon State University with a degree in Nutrition and Food Management to work full-time on the farm. Angie is now in charge of the packing facility, selling, and the farm’s many employees.
After another 50 acre land expansion and the acquisition of another warehouse and multiple cold storage units, the LeFore farm is currently up to its peak of 210 acres of orchard. Ron and Dona, their three girls, one son-in-law, and three grandsons (who all work on the farm in some capacity) give all of the credit of the continuation of their family farm to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has sustained the farm to this day.