Harris Ranch facts for kids
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| Industry | Beef producer |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1937 |
| Founder | Jack Harris |
| Headquarters | Selma, California, United States |
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Area served
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United States |
| Products | Beef |
| Owner | John C. Harris |
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Number of employees
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400 |
| Parent | Harris Farms |
Harris Ranch is a very large farm and business in California. It is known for being the biggest producer of beef in the state. In 2010, it produced about 150 million pounds of beef every year!
You can find Harris Ranch along Interstate 5 near Coalinga, California. This area is in the San Joaquin Valley of central California. The entire ranch is part of a bigger company called Harris Farms.
Contents
About Harris Ranch
How Harris Ranch Started
Harris Ranch was founded by Jack Harris in 1937. At first, it was a farm that grew crops like cotton and grain. Later, in the 1970s, Jack's son, John C. Harris, took over the beef business. That's when they opened a small burger stand near Interstate 5.
Today, Harris Ranch is much more than just a cattle farm. It also has a popular inn and a restaurant. They grow many different fruits and vegetables too. Plus, they breed thoroughbred horses. The whole operation employs over 400 people! They grow about 35 types of fruits and vegetables, including garlic, broccoli, pomegranates, and tomatoes.
During times of conflict, volunteers from the San Joaquin Valley have used beef from Harris Ranch to serve steaks to soldiers who were serving far from home.
How Harris Ranch Works
Harris Ranch is huge, covering over 800 acres. It has more than 100,000 cattle, and hundreds are processed every day. This makes it the largest ranch on the West Coast of the United States. It's also one of the biggest in the whole country when you consider how many animals they have in one place.
Harris Ranch handles almost every step of the beef production itself. This is called "vertically integrated." They have their own trucks to pick up cattle from other farms they work with. Then, they raise the cattle, prepare them for market, and package the beef.
The ranch supplies the meat for the famous In-N-Out Burger chain. You can also find Harris Ranch beef and prepared meals in grocery stores and restaurants all over the country. Harris Ranch was one of the first companies to create its own brand for beef. This helped other companies like Niman Ranch to do the same.
The Restaurant and Inn
The Harris Ranch restaurant first opened in 1977. It was originally for local farmers, but it quickly became a popular stop. Many people traveling between San Francisco and Los Angeles on Interstate 5 stop there for a meal.
In 1987, a fancy 153-room inn was added. It was built in a beautiful Spanish-style design. The restaurant now focuses on a "farm to fork" idea. This means they use fresh ingredients, including their own beef, and other local products like wine. In 2008, the restaurant was one of the busiest in the United States!
Harris Ranch is also a modern place. It has a special fuel station for hydrogen vehicles. It was also one of the first places to have a battery swapping station for Tesla station cars.
Images for kids
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The Harris Ranch Inn.
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Many travelers on Interstate 5 recognize Harris Ranch by the large number of cattle.
