Garden Fresh Foods was established as a Washington state corporation on Aug 26, 1987. Located in Woodinville, Wash., founders Jim Dugdale and Steve McFarland were driven by the idea of supplying the Pacific Northwest food service industry and fresh food processors with an alternative source of value-added vegetable and potato products. Garden Fresh Foods became an employee-owned company on Feb. 7, 1997, providing a means for all 80 employees to contribute as shareholders. McFarland, who is the president and Dugdale, who is vice president, serve as principal owners, sharing equally in the day-to-day operation and direction of the company. The two Garden Fresh Foods processing facilities cover a total of 31,923 square feet, with options for future expansion of an additional 22,052 square feet. Refrigerated storage and processing areas total 8,000 square feet. The state-of-the-art hydro-cooling wash system pre-chills all processing water to 36 degrees, ensuring product freshness. Consistent with maintaining the cold chain and product freshness, its fleet of eight temperature-controlled vehicles provides deliveries seven days per week.