Tree Top purchases Ore.-based fruit puree company

Tree Top Inc. has purchased a Medford, Ore.-based maker of fruit purees in a move by the grower-owned cooperative to expand product lines and outlets for fruit grown by its members.

Tree Top announced Monday the purchase of Sabroso Co. for an undisclosed sum.

The deal closed Friday.

Sabroso is the nation's leading manufacturer and seller of fruit purees. The firm also manufactures dried fruit flakes and other products for the ingredient and food-service markets.

Sharon Miracle, corporate communications manager for Tree Top, said Sabroso will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Selah-based Tree Top.

Miracle said the two companies have been discussing the purchase for about a year.

"Sabroso has been a fairly profitable component of the fruit business," Miracle said. "It rounds out our offerings to our customers. It also provides an outlet for our growers."

Sabroso has $90 million in worldwide sales annually with a work force of 180 in three locations. In addition to Medford, the firm has processing facilities in Woodburn, Ore., and Oxnard, Calif.

Sabroso's products are used as ingredients in a number of finished food products including baby food, baked goods, beverages, breakfast food, confections and dairy products, primarily ice cream.

Sabroso processes apples, pears, peaches, apricots and several varieties of berries.

Tree Top, whose 1,300 grower-owners produce fruit in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, has about $300 million in annual sales and employs 900 people at its plants in Selah, Wenatchee, Prosser and Rialto, Calif.

Miracle said no changes are planned in the Sabroso operation through 2009.

"Our intent is that both Sabroso and Tree Top will continue to operate as planned through fiscal year 2009. Then, we will collectively do a strategic planning process to take advantage of opportunities together," she said.

Sabroso had its genesis in the early 1930s, according to the company's Web site.

The company's chief executive officer, Jim Root, will stay on in an advisory role.