Snyder of Berlin . . . Always Close to the Farm
Just look out the windows at the offices of Snyder of Berlin. You'll see the Croners' family farm.
It's been a family business for more than 200 years, and a significant partner throughout the history that was celebrated in 1997, the 50th anniversary year for Snyder of Berlin.
Officially known as T. Rich, Inc. the potato farm is just one of almost 700 members of the Pro-Fac cooperative that owns Snyder's parent corporation, Birds Eye Foods. It's nice to have such great country neighbors!
Tom Croner operates the family farming business today, along with son T. Richard. He is also the only Somerset County potato grower serving on the Pro-Fac Board of Directors. He is currently secretary of that board. Throughout Somerset, Cambria, and Indiana Counties, 19 growers provide a vast majority of potatoes for Snyder chips.
The Croner family alliance dates back to the origins of Snyder in Berlin, PA. Tom's dad, Richard, helped raise some of the funds responsible for building the plant in 1947. The close ties have never loosened.
Through the years, Richard Croner -- now retired and 78-years-young -- was much more than a source for quality potatoes.
Tom remembers when Snyder -- under the leadership of C.H. Barb Sterner -- would bring chips to the 4-H Club in the 1950's, bringing the growers and Snyder management close.
"The parents were the growers," Tom Croner explains. "They gained an understanding of the two businesses and a desire of both to support each other. It was happening way back then, this relationship."
"Then again, my dad, the county extensions, and Gary Sterner's father ("Barb") were keys in making that happen."
It surprised no one that Richard Croner was once again close by when the Snyder family was ready to sell their business in the early 1970's.
He had become actively involved with Agway, a supply cooperative, and was a member of the Curtice Burns board of directors when Snyder of Berlin became a Curtice Burns business unit.
That was back in 1972.
Just over 20 years later, Tom Croner was a member of the Pro-Fac Board of Directors when the cooperative made its successful bid to acquire the Curtice Burns operations, which, of course, included Snyder of Berlin.
In 1994, Curtice Burns became a business unit of Pro-Fac. Three years later, Curtice Burns Foods changed it's name to Agrilink Foods, to more accurately reflect it's close links to agriculture. Today we are known as Birds Eye Foods. Croner and his fellow growers affectionately refer to the acquisition as the "change of control." Birds Eye Foods continues to provide management expertise to process and market the product.
And Pro-Fac guarantees a marketplace for its commodities, while sharing in the profits and losses of the Birds Eye Foods business units.
"The real strength in Pro-Fac comes from our ability to take our product one step further toward the consumer." Tom Croner explains that today's competitive food industry requires such assurances.
John Blough, Snyder of Berlin vice president of human resources and purchasing, acknowledges that the local growers have always been there for Snyder of Berlin.
"We keep a focus on community spirit and family," he says. "To my knowledge we are the only snack company that is part of a cooperative. And this is a strong agriculture area. The growers can pick up the phone and call us anytime."
The marketing agreement between Snyder and the growers has led to advantages that include contributing to a stable economy in Somerset county, a consistent supply of quality potatoes, a market for the growers, and involvement of the growers.
Most of the snack plant employees are from Berlin and Brothersvalley Township.
"We really support the town," Blough says.
"And there is a tremendous amount of community pride here!" neighbor Tom Croner adds.
