Ebb and Flow: Woodburn fruit processing plant closing


A weekly list of business openings and closings, as well as new hires, fires and promotions.

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Openings and Closings

Woodburn’s fruit processing plant Tree Top is closing in January. The plant was reportedly operating inefficiently, and the work load will be consolidated with other locations owned by the company. The closure will affect 60 employees.

McMinnville-based Farmers Creamery Cooperative is joining the largest organic dairy co-op in the U.S. Organic Valley announced the purchase this week. The McMinnville creamery will reopen by early spring after renovations are complete.

Pok Pok’s beloved fish sauce wings will soon get their own restaurant in Portland. Known as Pok Pok Wing, the devoted wing establishment first opened on the East Coast in 2011, closing shortly thereafter due to high demand. Wing connoisseurs may remember Pok Pok Wing’s food cart at the Portland Airport, which closed in 2015 after a year. The latest Pok Pok Wing will open across from the Aladdin Theater in Portland sometime this fall.

Groundwork Coffee Co. — an L.A. based coffee shop — will open its second Portland location this week on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. Groundwork recently acquired a Portland coffee standard, Kobos Coffee.

Revolving Door

Oregon Health and Science University President Joe Robertson has been appointed acting dean of the medical school. The former dean, Mark Richardson, died earlier this month after being critically injured working on his home. There is no timeline to find a permanent replacement dean.

Portland’s Free Geek has a new executive director. Dan Bartholomew started the position last week for the electronics thrift shop. In his new role, Bartholomew says he wants to bring “computing and online connectivity to a broader population.”

Portland firm Goldberg Jones has added a new divorce attorney to its team. Donato Masaoy will primarily serve husbands and fathers, as is the firm’s specialty.