Basic American Foods is an American food corporation . It was started in 1933 by Jaquelin Hume and his brother Bill Hume as a dehydration processing plant in Vacaville, California. In the 1950s, they established a potato processing plant in Blackfoot, Idaho, whereby potato powder could be turned into mashed potatoes by adding boiling water. This technique was used by brands such as Potato Pearls, Golden Grill, Classic Casserole and Savory Series. In 1986, they invented the same technique for beans, for brands such as Santiago Refried Beans and later Santiago Black Beans and Santiago Quick-Start Chili. The company holds forty patents for food production.
The company is led by Jack and Bill Hume’s sons, George and Jerry. It is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California.
Basic American Foods Serves Under 501C3 : Community-Driven Giving
At Basic American Foods we take pride in our long-standing reputation of giving back to the communities where we live and work. Basic American Foods has a long history of philanthropic support to community organizations, employee volunteerism and responsible corporate citizenship. Our primary areas of focus are hunger relief, education and public safety. Community-driven giving provides support to vital community organizations and events that significantly contribute to the quality of life in those regions, regardless of their direct relationship to Basic American Foods; for example, local schools, theaters and rodeos. We are proud to be an active part of our communities through contributions and volunteer efforts.
Hunger Relief
Our company is a strong supporter and partner of many local food banks. We donate our products to help feed families in need and, every year our employees donate money to help the Feeding America and United Way hunger-relief initiatives. The company matches donations that are made annually by our employees to both organizations. These funds have made it possible for food banks to purchase much-needed items like stand-up freezers which allow them to supply and maintain perishable goods.
Education
Basic American Foods has a deep commitment to education. The company partners with local schools to help provide much-needed equipment and educational resources for children. For example, we helped provide a school with computers and technical equipment, and donated funds that helped Longview Elementary School in Moses Lake, Washington purchase playground equipment after waiting more than 20 years due to budget constraints.
Public Safety
Through our corporate giving programs, Basic American Foods provides grants to local agencies including fire departments and law enforcement offices. The grants enable these organizations to purchase equipment or supplies that they would otherwise not be able to purchase. Recent grants have been used for new air compressors that clean and filter air while filling tanks, personal protective equipment, commercial washing machines and electronics for training rooms.
