Draft:RPAC, LLC
American almond processing company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
RPAC, LLC is an American almond processing and marketing company headquartered in Los Banos, California. The company focuses on processing and marketing brown-skin and in-shell almonds and ships to buyers in more than 80 countries.[1] RPAC is part of a multigenerational family enterprise of almond growers and processors in California's Central Valley.[2]
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 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food processing |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Ned Ryan; David Parreira; Paul Parreira |
| Headquarters | Los Banos, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Almonds |
| Parent | Parreira Almond Holding Company, LLC |
History
The Parreira family began farming almonds in California's Central Valley in the 1950s.[1] In 1973 Louis and Barbara Parreira, together with their sons David and Paul, founded Parreira Almond Processing Company (PAPC), one of the earlier commercial almond hulling and shelling operations in California.[1] PAPC serves growers throughout the state's Central Valley region.[1]
In 1986 the family expanded from farming and hulling into processing and marketing. Ned Ryan, often described as a "global almond ambassador", joined David and Paul Parreira to form Ryan Parreira Almond Company, or RPAC.[1] This partnership integrated the business from on-farm production through hulling and shelling at PAPC to processing and marketing at RPAC.[2]
RPAC has expanded its facilities and processing capacity multiple times since the 1980s, adding warehouse space, fumigation systems and new processing lines equipped with modern electronic sorting and sizing technology.[2] In 2020 Western Farm Press reported that the company was investing in a multi-million-dollar expansion expected to increase packing capacity to about 100 million pounds of kernel weight per year.[2]
In January 2023 RPAC announced the acquisition of Silver Creek Almonds Co. Inc., a premium almond packer serving growers around Firebaugh, California. The collaboration was framed as a way for Silver Creek's owners to broaden their marketing reach through RPAC's grower call pool and align with RPAC's focus on quality, innovation and sustainability.[3]
In June 2023 Manulife Investment Management announced a minority partnership with Parreira Almond Holding Company, LLC (PAHC), the parent company of RPAC and PAPC, to support future growth and further acquisitions.[4]
Operations
RPAC's operations are based near Los Banos, in Merced County, California, in the San Joaquin Valley.[5][6] The company processes the family's own almond production as well as the harvest of selected independent growers.[7] RPAC works with growers across California's Central Valley and emphasises long-term relationships, competitive returns and detailed grower services.[8]
Processing at RPAC focuses on gentle handling to minimise chipping, breaking and foreign material in finished product. The company has invested in staff training, electronic sorting, and other state-of-the-art equipment, and reports global food-safety certification for its facilities.[7] According to its corporate materials and trade-press coverage, RPAC's expansions since the 1980s have steadily increased its annual output and packing capacity.[7][2]
RPAC and its affiliates provide hulling, shelling, processing and marketing services, and offer USDA testing, grading and computerised reporting for growers.[9]
Products
RPAC supplies conventional almonds in a range of forms, including in-shell almonds and kernels. For food-industry customers the company offers whole raw almonds for further processing for value-added almond ingredients.[10] It markets customised product specifications based on USDA grading standards, such as confectionery grades with tighter limits on foreign material, Japanese and Korean specifications targeting lower chip and scratch levels, and premium visual grades.[11]
RPAC's customer base includes industrial users such as bakeries, confectionery manufacturers and health-food companies.[12]
Sustainability and certifications
The company emphasises sustainable farming and processing practices, citing investments in alternative energy, water-reclamation systems and efficient equipment at its facilities in California's Central Valley.[13][7] RPAC reports that its operations hold global food-safety certification and maintain documented programmes for allergen control, HACCP, and other regulatory requirements.[7][14]
SQF Certification
RPAC, LLC is SQF (Safe Quality Food) certified, a program recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) for its rigorous standards in food safety and quality management. The certification involves comprehensive third-party verification of a company’s food safety systems, covering all stages of production from raw material handling and processing to packaging, storage, and shipment.[15]
At RPAC, SQF certification reflects a company-wide culture of safety and continuous improvement. Each stage of almond handling—from receiving and cleaning to sorting, packaging, and dispatch—is governed by documented programs for HACCP, allergen control, traceability, and sanitation. Regular independent audits verify compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices, underscoring RPAC’s commitment to producing almonds that meet high international standards for food safety, consistency, and quality.[7]
Ownership and management
RPAC, LLC is a subsidiary of Parreira Almond Holding Company, LLC, a family-owned almond hulling, shelling, processing and marketing group.[4] The partnership at RPAC has included long-time family members and industry partners. After Ned Ryan's retirement in 2005, Dennis Soares joined the partnership, and Paul Ewing became a partner in 2014.[1]
Third-generation farmer Paul Parreira Sr. is a partner in both Parreira Almond Processing and RPAC. Biographical sources describe his responsibilities as including strategic planning, business development, sustainability, research and innovation for the companies.[16][17]
A fourth generation of the Parreira family also works in the business. Paul Parreira Jr., described in trade-press coverage as part of the fourth generation, manages the company's hulling and shelling operations, a role that continues responsibilities previously held by his uncle David Parreira.[2]