Northern was founded by Roy Tedford in 1928. Over the next 45 years Roy, his son Rex and grandson Duane packed and shipped apples and cherries from its brick warehouse on Columbia Street in Wenatchee. After Duane died in a plane crash, sales manager Jim Pauly bought Northern with two partners, Al Chandler and Jim Fulleton. In 1975 Northern purchased and moved to the Mann and Farrington warehouse in East Wenatchee.

After marketing apples for Alan and Larry Witte for 20+ years, in 2009 Northern purchased the Witte Orchards warehouse and renamed it Ice Lakes.

Today Northern’s leadership team and shareholders are all key long term employees, including Doug Pauly, Greg Clevenger, Jorge Sanchez and Dave Allen.