For over 30 years, Harris Ranch Beef Company has continually strived to produce the highest quality beef in the World. The Harris Family began farming in California’s agriculture rich San Joaquin Valley in 1937 and over the years has built a large and unique vertically integrated beef production system. Still family owned and operated, the Harris Family has always taken great pride in raising its beef to be as pure and great tasting as nature intended. This tradition of quality is evident in all of our beef products—you can truly taste the difference.

Harris Ranch Approved Response to the Hallmark/Westland Ground Beef Recall

Selma, CA—February 19, 2008
Harris Ranch fully supports the USDA’s recall of 143 million pounds of beef produced by Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company located in Chino, California. This unfortunate recall was announced by the USDA Sunday because the Food Safety and Inspection Service found that the company violated both the Humane Slaughter Act as well as a USDA policy banning the harvesting of downed cattle. Both California and federal laws prohibit the processing of “downer” cattle.

Harris Ranch processes only young, grain-fed cattle and follows all humane processing practices as outlined in the Humane Slaughter Act. Absolutely no cow or bull meat, nor boneless manufacturing beef from foreign countries, is used to make our ground beef products. We have detailed and strict animal handling policies in place and routinely conduct employee and driver training to make sure these policies are followed. We are proud of our track record of providing safe, wholesome and humanely-produced beef products for consumers.

Harris Ranch supports this recent recall as well as a full and complete investigation by the USDA of this matter. Be advised that according to the USDA there is only a remote possibility that the beef being questioned could cause adverse health effects.

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Harris Ranch Beef Chairman David E. Wood wins 2008 Richard L. Knowlton Innovation Award

Chicago, IL—October 1, 2007
David E. Wood, chairman of Harris Ranch Beef Co., has been selected by Meatingplace magazine to receive the 2008 Richard L. Knowlton Innovation Award, which honors excellence in the U.S. meat industry in the areas of innovation, business success, leadership and industry contribution.

In particular, Wood was selected to recognize Harris Ranch’s pioneering work in value-added branded beef, vertical integration and all-natural processing. “Many of the practices and philosophies that meat packers and processors have adopted in recent years are ones that Harris Ranch has been doing for decades,” said Mark Lefens, president and editor-in-chief. “Long before it was in vogue to brand your product, actively market “natural” production practices, or adopt farm-to-plate production standards, Harris Ranch was at the forefront.”

Wood’s personal contribution to Harris Ranch and the industry is a model of dedication. Having begun his career with Harris Ranch in 1970, Wood rose through a variety of management and operations positions before assuming his current role as chairman of Harris Ranch Farms’ Beef Division. He has served the industry through several organizations, including stints as president and chairman of the Western States Meat Packers Association; chairman of the Cattleman’s Beef Promotion and Research Board; and executive committee assignments with the United States Meat Export Federation, among others.

In receiving the award, named after Richard L. Knowlton, the storied former chairman of Hormel Foods, Wood joins an impressive roster of past honorees that includes Phil Clemens, CEO and chairman, Hatfield Quality Meats; James Stonehocker, COO, Odom’s Tennessee Pride; Bill Rupp, president, Cargill Meat Solutions, Beef Division; Joel W. Johnson, CEO and chairman, Hormel Foods Corp.; Henry Davis, president, Greater Omaha Packing Co.; Temple Grandin, associate professor, livestock behavior, Colorado State University; Bernie Hansen, former president, Flint Hill Foods; and Justin Segel, former CEO, Emmpak Foods.

Wood was selected from a field of several prominent executives, all of them nominated by their peers, customers or associates. Final candidates were screened by a panel that included editors, prior Knowlton winners and other industry leaders.

Wood will receive the award Oct. 25 in Chicago at a breakfast in his honor at the Chicago Union League Club.

Meatingplace is published monthly by Marketing & Technology Group, a Chicago-based integrated media company serving the meat and poultry processing and foodservice industries. In addition to Meatingplace, the company’s properties include Poultry, CarneTec (serving Latin American meat processors) and Plate magazines; and industry Web sites meatingplace.com and carnetec.com.

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"High-End Hamburger is Better than the Best"

Fresno, CA—September 12, 2007

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Premium Natural Beef Burgers Featured in the May Issue of "Meat & Deli Retailer" Magazine

Fresno, CA—September 12, 2007

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Harris Ranch Beef Company - Mastering Food Service

Fresno, CA—September 12, 2007

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Jack A. Harris Memorial Scholarship Fund And Students’ Hard Work Make College Attainable

Fresno, CA—July 24, 2006
The financial hurdle of college often keeps potential students from attending. Over the last month, the Jack A. Harris Memorial Scholarship Fund helped numerous students overcome that financial hurdle. Approximately $8,000 were given to recipients who had to complete an extensive application.

In conjunction with the West Hills College Foundation, Harris Ranch owners John and Carole Harris hosted a dinner and auction at their home last fall to raise money for the fund. Unique, donated items and generous attendees made for an outstanding and successful event. Applications were reviewed over the last several months and scholarships were issued in late June.

The fund started in 1981 and memorializes the late Jack A. Harris, founder of Harris Ranch. It was created to assist Harris Ranch employees and their children with the cost of college. Since the inception of the fund, over 400 students and their families have been helped.

"From the restaurant to our beef plant to our farming and horse operations, Harris Ranch has a reputation of unmatched hospitality, fine products, and superior beef. Our reputation wouldn't be possible without the dedication of our employees. Assisting with the cost of college for their children or relatives is just one way we can say thank you. Education is the key to our nation’s continued successes,” said John Harris, son of Jack Harris.

Harris Ranch employees can annually apply for the scholarships to higher education facilities. The recipients are then chosen by a committee of key company executives. Scholarships are issued directly to the recipients so they can use the money where it is needed most in their college experience. Recipients have gone on to study at a variety of educational institutions throughout the world.

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Selma, CA—May 30, 2006
Convenience has long been the flagship for prepared refrigerated and frozen meals, but can high quality, home-cooked flavor, and affordability be included? Yes! Harris Ranch is proud to announce that its precooked line of beef entrées is now offered in a more convenient and affordable size, but with the same award-winning quality and flavors.

The taste and quality of Harris Ranch Precooked Products have always set them apart from the competition. But the products now feature a whole new look—and a new 17-ounce size—which will no doubt make them irresistible to the consumer who demands convenience and superior quality.

“The quality of our entrees far surpasses what consumers may be accustomed to with precooked products. Harris Ranch Beef Company has been surpassing expectations since we started producing beef over 30 years ago,” said John Harris, owner of Harris Ranch.

From comfort food to classic cuts of beef to ethnic-inspired dishes, each entrée is slow-cooked to retain its natural juice and tenderness. Your center of the plate is taken care of in just minutes!

Harris Ranch Fully Cooked Entrees line up includes the following:
BBQ Short Ribs
Carne Southwest
Homestyle Pot Roast
Pot Roast
Stew
Stroganoff
Swiss Steak
Tri-Tip

Look for more flavor profiles throughout the year!

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Selma, CA—March 1, 2006
David E. Wood, Chairman of Harris Ranch Beef Company, has been named the recipient of the National Meat Association’s E. Floyd Forbes Award. The award will be presented on Saturday, Mar. 4, at the 60th annual National Meat Association (NMA) Convention in San Francisco.

This prestigious award is presented annually, recognizing an individual with outstanding service to the association and the meat industry. The award is named after the first president of NMA’s predecessor organization, Western States Meat Packers Association. Mr. Forbes’ dedication to the organization and to the industry helped the NMA establish a legacy of service.

“We are honored to present the E. Floyd Forbes award to Dave Wood, who has been a stalwart supporter, not only of our association, but of the entire meat industry. There can be little doubt that few are as deserving of this award as Dave,” said NMA Executive Director Rosemary Mucklow.

Mr. Wood graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Animal Science. Following graduation, Wood began his career with Harris Ranch in 1970 and is currently the Chairman of the Beef Division.

Mr. Wood serves the cattle and beef industries through involvement in numerous industry organizations. He has served as President and Chairman of the Board of Western States Meat Packers Association and Chairman of the organization’s Beef Committee.

He also served as Chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board and was Chairman of the California Beef Council for two terms. He has served on the Executive Committees of the California Cattlemen’s Association and United States Meat Export Federation. He has chaired the Feeder Council of the California Cattlemen’s Association and is currently the vice chairman. Mr. Wood also serves on the board of directors of Cattle-Fax.

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Selma, CA—May 23, 2005
Harris Ranch Beef Company and Harris Feeding Company recently joined a short list of beef processing and cattle feeding operations in the United States to obtain Quality System Assessment (QSA) program approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Harris Ranch Beef Company and Harris Feeding Company, along with two California ranches (Kayo Ranches of Visalia and the Righetti ranch of Santa Maria) were audited by USDA officials the week of May 16th, with official QSA approved status conferred to both Harris Ranch facilities on May 17th. Once a final trade agreement has been reached with the Japanese government, QSA program approval will be required of all companies that intend to export beef and beef products to Japan. Under the existing agreement with Japan, only beef generated from cattle 20 months of age or younger will be eligible for export to Japan, with age verification determined either through production records or the use of carcass physiology (skeletal and lean maturity). USDA will certify compliance of age verification through the QSA program.

To date, Harris Ranch Beef Company is the only beef processor in the U.S. to receive QSA program approval for both source and age verified beef production. This was accomplished through the Harris Ranch Partnership for Quality (PQ) program. Initiated in 1998, the PQ program is the premier beef producer/feeder/processing alliance in the U.S., representing 100 of the most progressive ranching families in the western U.S. with total cow inventories exceeding 50,000 head. Through the PQ program, Harris Ranch is supplied with feeder cattle that meet stringent genetic requirements and are raised under exceptional management practices, including extensive record keeping.

According to Bob Martin, feedlot superintendent at Harris Feeding Company, “through the PQ program, we have the ability to secure a consistent supply of high quality feeder cattle that perform exceptionally well, and fit our needs of producing high quality beef”.

Doug Fariss, director of international sales for Harris Ranch Beef Company, notes that “QSA approval puts Harris Ranch Beef Company in a unique position of being able to export high quality beef and beef products to Japan once a final agreement has been reached. We hope to be the first U.S. branded beef company to ship beef to Japan, and anxiously await an announcement regarding a finalized trade agreement.”

Additionally, Harris Ranch Beef Company received Beef Export Verification (BEV) approval from USDA to ship beef and beef products to Mexico, Canada, Taiwan and Egypt. Both the QSA and BEV programs are USDA certification systems that require oversight and review on the part of the U.S. government.

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