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About
Us

SinceWay Back

The Tillamook Way is a way of life—the way our farmer-owners have done things since 1909.


We cared for our farmer-owners, who cared for the land, which sustained healthier cows, which provided better milk. And better milk made better dairy products. It's a simple recipe that we've followed for over a century and it has never failed.

Our History

Tillamook History

Our story
in short

Since 1909, we’ve been dedicated to making the best cheese with the best ingredients. From our beginning, we’ve treated the land, our people and animals with care & respect.

Swipe

  1. Farmer
    Co-Op

    As a cooperative we’re known as the Tillamook County Creamery Association. We’re made up of about 80 farmer-owners. Many of these families have been farming in Tillamook County for multiple generations and have been committed to producing delicious, high-quality dairy products for over a century. We believe dairy farming isn’t just a job, it is a way of life.

  2. Morning
    Star

    In the early days of the co-op, our farmers had butter and milk to sell—but hauling it over rough mountain roads took so long, it would spoil. The fastest route to Portland was by water, so they built Oregon’s first official ship—the Morning Star—to carry their dairy goods to market. This kind of entrepreneurial grit and ingenuity still characterizes our farmers and all of us at Tillamook today.

  3. Real Dairy

    When you take a bite of the foods we make, it should represent everything we stand for. That’s why we only use the highest-quality ingredients, naturally age our cheddar and even add more cream than the industry standard in our ice cream. We never use high-fructose corn syrup or add anything artificial like growth hormones, preservatives, colors or flavors. Since our founding over a century ago, the expectation remains the same: delicious products made the right way.

  4. Growing
    Responsibly

    Today you can find Tillamook products in more places than ever, being enjoyed by more people than ever. While our story began in a small community, we’re growing with purpose, on purpose. From the tools and technology we use to the strategic partnerships and materials we choose, we’re committed to growing while making sure our values are embedded in our culture, processes and everything we do. 

HARD WORK AND CARE SINCE DAY ONE

"Tillamook represents generations handed down, and we want it to be around forever. That’s why we’ll continue to put in the hard work, be good stewards and sustain our resources."

Shannon Lourenzo

Farmer-Owner and Member of TCCA Board of Directors

Stewardship

Shaping the future. Preserving our past.

You expect our products to be delicious. You also expect them to be made the right way. Our six Stewardship Commitments not only ground us, they guide us as we grow. That’s why we’re putting even more care and hard work into upholding our values as we move forward. Now and for generations to come.

Our Stewardship

More than 20 years ago we built a second cheese production facility in Boardman, Oregon, and found one of many new milk supply partners who share our values, like Threemile Canyon Farms.

View Story →

Growing With Purpose

Best-in-class partners.

Tillamook County Creamery Association (that’s us!) is a farmer-owned co-op. Always has been. Always will be. This means that about 80 farming families in Tillamook County, on the coast of Oregon, own the company and benefit directly from its growth and success. Our headquarters, ownership and heritage, are and always will be, rooted in Tillamook, Oregon. Yet, as we continue to grow, our farmer-owners choose to work with best-in-class business partners, including other milk suppliers, production facilities and distribution centers. If they don’t meet our standards, they don’t work with us.

The Tillamook Valley

Honoring those who came before us.

Our headquarters in Tillamook, Oregon, is built on the land of the indigenous Tillamook and other native peoples. We recognize the many tribes who call the north Oregon coastal region their ancestral territory, and it is important to highlight the continued sovereignty of these Oregon tribes who have a connection to this place we call home. With deep respect, we acknowledge those who were here first, and whose continued presence is important to our future.

Learn More About The Grande Ronde Community

Elevating our vision

Tillamook
Leadership Team

  • Patrick Criteser

    President & CEO

  • Peggy Han

    EVP, CFO

  • Mike Bever

    EVP, Operations

  • David Booth

    EVP, Sales

  • Sheila Murty

    EVP, People and Culture

  • Joe Prewett

    EVP, Brand

  • Paul Snyder

    EVP, Stewardship

Everyone’s welcome on team Tillamook

It takes dedicated and passionate employees to keep our cooperative strong. We’re committed to helping our team members thrive by fostering a culture that is enriching and fulfilling. Are you looking for an organization that is grounded in its shared values and welcomes all people? Do you thrive in a collaborative and innovative workplace? From Business to Agriculture there’s a place for everyone at Tillamook.

Come join the Tillamook family.
Careers

Get to Know Us

We Go Beyond What’s Expected