Bob Bare

Elvin K. Bare

Jake Bare

The company came into existence somewhat by accident.  In 1948 Robert Bare, then eighteen years of age, was working as a truck driver for a potato dealer who went out of business.  Unemployed, he suggested to his father, Elvin K. Bare, and his sixteen year old brother, John Jacob, that they purchase a truck.  In 1948 most farmers in this area grew a few acres of potatoes, and Bob was convinced that if they owned a truck, they could sell these locally grown potatoes.

Elvin, Bob and Jake made the decision to go into the potato business and borrowed some money to purchase a used 1946 Studebaker truck.  E. K. Bare & Sons was established; Marian Bare, wife of Elvin and mother of Bob and Jake would assume the job of bookkeeper.

For ten years the company operated from September 1 through April 1.  The men graded and packaged potatoes and shipped them to major markets from Baltimore to Florida.  During the summers the men would spend time working on their farms.

During the mid-50's, processed potatoes cut into fresh market usage.  Potato chips, frozen French Fries and potato flakes became the growth markets for potatoes.  As a result, E. K. Bare & Sons came to a crossroads.  They could either quit the potato business or move into one of the growing markets.  In 1957 they made the decision to join the growing potato chip industry.  A few years later, on January 1, 1963, Elvin and Marian Bare retired from the company and their two sons, Bob and Jake, continued to expand the company.

From the beginning in 1948 the three men worked out of their home offices.  In 1968 Bob and Jake felt a need for a central office and purchased a small farm on Maple Avenue in Bird-in-Hand on which they placed a small trailer.   Additional space was needed and in 1973, a 960 square foot office was built to replace the trailer.  During the fall of 1983, an addition was built onto the office, doubling its original size.