Our New Truck May Have a Nefarious Past!

November 06, 2023 by Russell Loughmiller

Deliveries are going well and the new truck is running like a champ. I need to get a step built for the back of the truck to make it easier to get in and out. This truck is a lot higher off of the ground and every time I climb in I wonder why I don't have that step done yet. The only problem is that I think someone may have used the same truck for a major crime in Washington State. We can't seem to cross the border without getting pulled over. So far no tickets just warnings on small things like signage and license plates, for the record, even though I didn't have plates I did have a valid trip permit.

“Being Flexible in Flow”

October 30, 2023 by Russell Loughmiller

My usual policy when someone asks for something different at the cannery is to say “No.” The reason is that “different” messes with our cannery’s flow and flow is how we get all of your fruit canned.

Steaming Hot Boiler Repair

October 12, 2023 by Russell Loughmiller

One morning I was watching the boiler pressure while the cannery was running and it wasn't able to get above 60 pounds of pressure. The normal range is 85 - 100 pounds so this was not good.

A Small Fix Can Make A Big Difference

September 01, 2023 by Russell Loughmiller

I have made a small repair to our water and steam valves that we use for cleanup.

Replacing the Water Packer 6/21/23

August 02, 2023 by Russell Loughmiller

The big project this spring has been rebuilding the "water packer", this is the machine that takes the cans with fruit and sugar already in them and fills them the rest of the way with hot water.

Delivery Adventures - 2022 Part 4

January 24, 2023 by Russell Loughmiller

A customer visited with Grant and had a question about what happened to the delivery truck that broke down in Bend. Unfortunately, Grant told him the truth "He gave the truck away to a tow truck company in Bend for salvage." Well the story is out there now and no point in denying it. Here is what happened from my side of the story:

Delivery Adventures - 2022 Part 3

December 20, 2022 by Russell Loughmiller

I know what you are thinking “here goes another one of Russell’s tales of woe- why doesn’t this guy get a nice corporate job and stop all of this complaining.” Well then aren’t you surprised to learn that this is a story about the kindness of strangers.

Delivery Adventures - 2022 Part 2

November 11, 2022 by Russell Loughmiller

Well, the delivery truck fell out of the frying pan and into the proverbial fire. I know what you are thinking, “does this mean that my deliveries will be late?” The answer is “maybe” and “it depends”.

Delivery Adventures - 2022 Part 1

November 03, 2022 by Russell Loughmiller

I was coming back from delivering Southern Idaho and visiting my father when about 20 miles from La Grande I noticed that the truck was slowing down. I optimistically decided that this level road was pitched up in a way that was slowing the truck down and kept driving. Finally when I checked in the mirror and saw gray smoke blowing out behind me I decided it was probably time to stop.

Cannery Updates - Exhaust Box Saga

September 01, 2022 by Russell Loughmiller

I am starting to work on getting the cannery ready for the coming season. I have two larger improvements that I would like to make. The first improvement needed is to simplify the exhaust box.

Muirhead Cannery History

January 24, 2022 by Russell Loughmiller

A friend in town gave me a copy of Rufus Muirhead's obituary from the February 22, 1942 The Dalles Optimist Newspaper. The information in this obituary piqued my interest and so I called up Randy Barrett (he was referenced in the obituary as the "one grandchild") to ask some further questions.

To-may-to, To-mah-to

August 22, 2021 by Russell Loughmiller

One of my favorite things about being a small, independent business is that I get to try new things, experiment, and learn a lot in the process. This year, I’m rolling up my sleeves and trying my hand at preserving tomatoes!

Arsonist Squirrel Tries to Burn Down Muirhead Canning!

August 10, 2021 by Russell Loughmiller

On Wednesday August 4th around 3:20pm a squirrel tried to burn down the cannery.

Local Fruit, Local Folks

May 20, 2021 by Russell Loughmiller

The fruit trees around here are in full bloom, and it’s a sign that we’ll soon be sending the first run of perfectly ripe fruit down the conveyer belt. As we look forward to the first crop of the season, I’d love to share a little more about some of the fruit we preserve—and the great folks who grow it.

Adventures in Applesauce

March 26, 2021 by Russell Loughmiller

We’ve been making applesauce for about five years now, and it’s been a fun adventure. Find out how it started, how it’s going, and how you can get what we humbly consider to be the best-tasting applesauce around.

Tim Miller: The Passing of a Passionate People Person

March 23, 2021 by Russell Loughmiller

We are sad to report that past employee Tim Miller passed away in July. Tim’s warmth and enthusiasm was a delight to everyone he knew and the many customers he met on his delivery runs. We will all miss his smiling face, and are so grateful for the energy and kindness he brought us.

We Blew Our Top Making Apple Sauce!

March 05, 2021 by Russell Loughmiller

We started making Applesauce this week which will be the first time the cannery has run in 2021. It is always eventful when starting up for the season. For me, getting the boiler running is the biggest event because when it goes wrong it is the most exciting…

Sometimes Your GPS is Right! | Muirhead Delivery Stories From The Road

February 23, 2021 by Russell Loughmiller

The main road I wanted was only 1/4 mile past this crossing, so all I had to do was to drive through and I’d be there. My GPS unit did not send me this way, but it did show this trail across the pasture as an actual road.

Mountain Rose Applesauce

February 02, 2021 by Russell Loughmiller

It is fun to share what is interesting that comes down the line here at the cannery.

Old-Fashioned Canning Methods Continue

June 23, 2020 by Russell Loughmiller

In 2006, during my first season at the cannery, one of my main memories was of the can counter that sits on the front of the can seamer which puts the lids on the cans.