The Utah-Idaho Sugar Company (U and I) joins with a group of landowners for the purpose of developing irrigation facilities and a cropping system suited to irrigation farming in the Eureka Flats of Washington. That project includes 7,000 acres of land of which 2,850 acres are put under irrigation a year later by using water from the Snake River. In another six years, irrigated acres are up to 10,500 in this area, including additional land acquisitions.

The first potato storages are constructed in what is now known as the Eureka area. … Also in 1971, U and I enters into an agreement to acquire approximately 52,000 acres of land in the Horse Heaven region of South-Central Washington.

The initial irrigation infrastructure is completed, and water is delivered from the Columbia River to the Horse Heaven region beginning in March.

Another acquisition adds an additional 52,000 acres of land in the Horse Heaven area.

U and I enters the potato processing industry. The Boardman, Oregon, plant opened a year later.

Due to a downturn in the sugar market this year and the following one, the decision is made by U and I to leave the sugar industry and turn its efforts to farming and potato processing.

Construction begins on the McNary River pumping station and water is delivered a year later. This area of the farm is known as Plymouth.

Construction of the corn elevator and drying facility now known as Grain Handling, Inc. is completed in the Tri-Cities area of Washington in time for the harvest.

The name of the company is changed to AgriNorthwest. … During this same year, the Oregon potato processing operations are sold, and a long-term potato contract is established to produce potatoes for the buyer.

AgriNorthwest starts construction of a 1,465-acre high-density apple orchard.

A rail loop track capable of handling 110-car trains is added near Grain Handling, Inc., enhancing the industrial site for further development. Since the addition of the track, a grass seed cleaning operation and warehouse, and a fertilizer supplier have built facilities at the site.

The orchard is discontinued, with a portion of it going back into potato production while the remainder is leased out to a fruit company.

An additional 4,600 acres of land is purchased at Eureka, with 3,300 of the acres developed into irrigated crop land.

AgriNorthwest purchases approximately 17,300 acres of tree-farmed land just east of Boardman, Oregon. Over the next 4 years, the land is converted into row crop operations under center pivot irrigation systems. … AgriNorthwest also purchases approximately 9,800 acres of land in two different tracts near Echo, Oregon. Water was originally provided by irrigation districts and wells, but a large project is completed which provides most of the water from either our Boardman River pumping station or a new river pumping station.

Approximately 15,000 acres and a 36,000-head feedlot are purchased in a bankruptcy auction. This ground has been integrated into the Plymouth operation it is contiguous to and renamed the Riverbend Farm. … Also in 2021, sister operation River Point Farms builds an onion processing plant, storage, and a new corporate office in the industrial park.