Southern Oregon Select -SOS- (formerly Southern Oregon Sales fruit packing facility) represents a revitalization of the Rogue River Valley fruit industry.

Upon construction in 1929, the Southern Oregon Sales facility became the largest of its kind in the region.  At its zenith, it processed 35 million pounds of pears from 60 growers in a season, packing 700,000 boxes.  The facility still has a refrigerated storage capacity of 175,000 boxes of fruit, and could pack 10,000 boxes per day.

As a grower’s cooperative, Southern Oregon Sales was affected through the years by changes in membership.  In the 1980s the number of individual orchardists in the Rogue River Valley had diminished to about 100 as larger operations bought out smaller growers.  As well, large orchard plantings in other western States and their better geographical position in the changed distribution network (from trains to trucks) to the east coast had reduced market share for the Rogue River Valley.  In 1986, Southern Oregon Sales counted 14 members and packed 150,000 boxes.  But the facility, its personnel, and its local community focus continued to have enough appeal that, by 1996, it boasted 30 members and 400,000 boxes of fruit packed in a season.

With personnel changes and the continued conversion of Rogue River Valley orchard land to higher value urban and suburban uses, by 2005, Southern Oregon Sales was reduced to packing 45 to 50 thousand boxes per year.  Now SOS is under new ownership and proud to offer Wine Storage facilities in Medford, Oregon. Watch a recent news story.