History

Organized in 1914 as a canners association, Food Northwest supports the needs of the Pacific Northwest food processing industry in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington in a variety of food processing & packaging segments: fruits, vegetables, seafood, dairy, bakeries, specialty foods, juices, and more. Food Northwest’s membership base includes national companies with operations or headquarters in the Pacific Northwest, regional companies, and locally run family businesses. Food Northwest is one of the nation’s largest food processing trade associations, with current membership of 350+ members. The office sits at a mid-point for the State capitals of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

Historical Timeline:

1914 - Northwest Canners Association formed (incorporated in Oregon 1922).

1926 - Northwest Barrelers Association formed; became Northwest Frozen Foods Association in 1937.

1956 - Merger of Northwest Frozen Foods Association and Northwest Canners Association to form Northwest Canners and Freezers Association.

1969 - Name changed to Northwest Food Processors Association; membership limited to processors of fruits, vegetables and potatoes.

1985 - Processors of other products accepted as “Associate” members.

1989 - Northwest Food Processors Association Endowment Fund established to help fund the education of promising students in food processing related disciplines at Idaho, Oregon, and Washington colleges.

1999 - “Processor” membership opened to companies processing nearly all food products.

2007 - Northwest Food Processors Education and Research Institute incorporated with purpose of enhancing overall economic health of the northwest food processing cluster and the communities it supports.

2014 - Northwest Food Processors Association celebrates its Centennial!

2018 - NWFPA is rebranded Food Northwest. Read more here. 

2022 - Food Northwest celebrates 50 years of it's largest event, "Food Northwest Process & Packaging Expo" formally known as "Northwest Food & Beverage World".