Tree Top History

With our headquarters in the heart of Washington’s apple country in Selah, WA, where our cooperative was founded, Tree Top remains committed to our co-op’s small town roots and rural values. Hardworking and caring growers and employees are what make Tree Top special. Since 1960, we’ve been producing delicious fruit products and ingredients.

Over a half a century ago Bill Charbonneau, his wife and two sons moved to the Yakima Valley from southern California. He purchased a small apple processing plant on Produce Row in Selah, Washington, and set about developing a quality brand of apple juice. Once he perfected his clear, premium juice, Mr. Charbonneau held a contest among his employees to choose a brand name for his product, and the winning entry was “Tree Top.” It was widely believed in those days that the very best quality fruit grew at the top of the trees.

Mr. Charbonneau was a stickler about the quality and taste of his juice. His office was located within the juicing facility so he could personally oversee its making. Apples were pressed and the juice stored in 5,000 gallon holding tanks. Every time a batch of apples was pressed, a sample was brought to Mr. Charbonneau to taste. If the juice did not meet his approval, the entire 5,000 gallon tank would be poured down the drain.

In 1960, a group of local apple growers decided to form a cooperative and purchase Mr. Charbonneau’s company and the Tree Top brand to ensure they had a solid market for their apples. Mr. Charbonneau’s discriminating quality standards are still prevalent in our culture and we’re just as picky about the fruit products and ingredients we put our name on. Today, Tree Top maintains the only trained taste panel in the apple juice industry.

Harvesting Growth with Local Fruit
While our expertise in fruit grew over the last half century as we learned how to turn fresh fruit into healthful products and ingredients, so did our company and our reputation. Tree Top remains a grower-owned agricultural cooperative which provides profits to U.S. growers. Our grower’s orchards are scattered throughout the fertile growing regions in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, however we now operate eight facilities on the west coast close to where the fruit is harvested. These eight plants are capable of producing world famous Tree Top brand juices and the widest range of processed fruit products of superior quality.

More Fruits in More Forms
Regardless of whether we’re producing strawberry or peach puree, dried apples, premium 3 Apple Blend juice, or one of hundreds of other fruit ingredients or products, our dedication to quality and craftsmanship is the key ingredient.

We’re humbly honored to now be recognized as a pacesetter in the fruit-processing industry and a premium, heritage brand cherished by many around the world. Producing healthful fruit products and ingredients for our families and yours to enjoy is what we’re all about!

Consumer Products for Your Family
Tree Top crafts fruit products for families to enjoy. Consumers can find our packaged goods in grocery stores and other retail outlets throughout the western United States. While apple juice and apple sauce are the backbone of our product offerings, we also make a variety of blended fruit juices and a wide range of apple sauce available in organic and flavored sauces, as well as juice-sweetened. Now, Good-to-Go Fruit Pouches offer a convenient way to pack more fruit in your family’s diet. To learn more about our delicious products please click on Products in the menu above.