Rockview Farms
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dairy |
| Founded | 1927 in Downey, California, United States |
| Founder | Bob Hops |
| Headquarters | Downey , United States |
Key people | Joseph J. McCandless (early leader), Peter DeGroot (owner after 1965), Ted DeGroot (COO) |
| Products | Milk, organic milk, butter, buttermilk, cottage cheese, cream, half & half, sour cream, juice, yogurt |
Number of employees | 250 (1959) |
| Website | www |
Rockview Farms, established in 1927 in Downey, California by Bob Hops, was officially formed as a dairy business in 1930 under the leadership of Joseph J. McCandless. The company gained early acclaim when it received a gold medal for raw milk at the 1938 Los Angeles County Fair. Retail operations were managed by the McCandless brothers, with support from Joseph’s Irish-born wife.
A devastating fire in 1957 inflicted $50,000 worth of damage, destroying a barn and hay stock at their Stewart and Gray Road facility. By 1959, Rockview Farms had grown to employ 250 workers and operated four drive-in dairy outlets, two of which were located in Downey, offering a complete selection of dairy goods. The company also conducted more than 15,000 educational tours annually for local children. Between 1930 and 1959, their cattle were awarded 175 gold medals at various state and county fairs.
Following the McCandless brothers' bankruptcy in 1965, Peter DeGroot, originally one of their milk suppliers, purchased Rockview Farms. Under DeGroot’s ownership, the enterprise expanded to six drive-in stores, managed 70 home delivery routes, and operated eight wholesale delivery routes.
Processing Plant
Rockview Farms’ processing facility is situated in Downey, California, complemented by a cold storage site in nearby South Gate, California. Each year, the company recruits six to ten workers from local Enterprise Zone communities, benefiting from tax incentives totaling approximately $100,000 annually. Quality assurance is strengthened through the use of the Q5i Near Infrared In-Line Analyzer during milk standardization processes. The plant utilizes HTST pasteurization technology to preserve nutritional value and flavor while processing between 800,000 and one million gallons of milk per week.
A notable operational hurdle involves considerable losses due to theft of plastic milk crates. Rockview purchases nearly 450,000 crates annually at a cost exceeding $1.7 million but contends with stolen crates being illegally sold to recycling centers. To combat this issue, the company supported California Assembly Bill 1583.
Products
Rockview Farms supplies an extensive assortment of dairy products catering to both food service providers and retail customers. Their product lineup includes whole milk, organic milk, butter, buttermilk, cottage cheese, cream, half & half, sour cream, juice, and yogurt. In January 2014, they transitioned their organic milk branding from Good Heart to Rockview Farms Organic Milk to capitalize on enhanced brand recognition, according to COO Ted Degroot.
Farms
The company operates its own dairy herds located in Chino, northern California, and Nevada. Milk is processed and delivered within a 48-hour window following milking. A 2008 USDA investigation concerning organic livestock practices was closed without penalties after Rockview Farms complied fully with inspection requirements.
Distribution
By 2001, weekly fluid milk distribution exceeded 500,000 gallons. The logistics network includes a fleet of 75 refrigerated trailers servicing major retailers and distributors across areas such as Riverside and San Diego. Additionally, 40 refrigerated straight trucks handle wholesale deliveries throughout the Los Angeles metropolitan region. Daily routes typically involve around 20 stops.
In 2003, Rockview Farms supported operations for 25 drive-through dairies alongside 20 home delivery routes. Jim Pastor oversaw a contract delivering to 4,800 households with a team of 14 milkmen; in June 2010 alone, they gained 300 new customers primarily through word-of-mouth referrals. COO Ted DeGroot publicly addressed a sharp increase in whole milk prices in 2004—from $1.93 up to $2.90 per gallon—highlighting concerns about its impact on consumers.
Subsequently, Utah-based Winder Farms acquired Jim Pastor’s home delivery routes from Rockview Farms for an undisclosed amount.
On January 20, 2014, Rockview Farms celebrated National Milk Day by distributing chocolate milk cartons at Jeffrey Trail Middle School in Irvine, California—promoting both their brand and the nutritional benefits of their products.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Dairy product manufacturers in California
- Downey, California
- Companies founded in California in 1927
- American businesses established in 1927
- Enterprises located in Los Angeles County, California
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- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
- American companies established in 1927