Basic American Foods

In 1933, brothers Jack and Bill Hume set up a modest dehydration processing plant in Vacaville, California, using a technology that was later applied to potatoes. This was the beginning of Basic American Foods.

In the mid 1950s, Basic American Foods established a potato processing plant in Blackfoot, Idaho, where the first instant potato product that could be rehydrated with boiling water was developed. This led to a series of innovative potato products for the foodservice industry that includes the brands Potato Pearls®, Golden Grill®, Classic Casserole® and Savory Series™. As the company grew, additional plants were built in Idaho and Washington.

In response to a customer need for laborsaving quick-prep beans, Basic American Foods introduced Santiago® Refried Beans in 1986. The technology that created this authentic-tasting bean product is now being applied to Santiago® Black Beans and Santiago® Quick-Start® Chili.

Today, Basic American Foods is led by Jack's sons, George and Jerry. With nearly 40 patents to its credit, Basic American Foods is an acknowledged leader in research and development, earning universal respect for innovation, quality and customer service. The company continues to grow, staying focused on its customers and looks to the future with confidence.

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.

As the leader in dry potato and bean products, Basic American Foods has a rich history of innovation and leadership. Beyond our commitment to high-quality, convenient food products, we offer meaningful career and employee development opportunities. It is our goal to ensure that our employees are successful and thrive in a dynamic team environment.

Join Our Team

Basic American Foods is focused on hiring the most qualified and talented employees to join our team. To begin the hiring process, you must first complete the online application. When the application has been reviewed, you will receive notification and may be selected for a phone screen.  Selection is determined based on your knowledge, skills and ability against the job requirements and other qualified candidates.  After the initial phone screen, top candidates will be selected for a formal interview. All successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check prior to being hired.

Total Rewards

Our benefits packages and programs offer employees valuable resources to help them be engaged and healthy in their lives and their work. Health care benefits include medical, prescription drug, vision and dental coverage for you and your eligible dependents. 

Basic American Foods cares about employee health and offers many programs and services that make it easier for our employees and their families to stay healthy. Our comprehensive Wellness Program includes incentives for participation in wellness initiatives, an on-site health and wellness clinic at our Blackfoot, Idaho plant, company paid participation in the Quit for Life® smoking cessation program and many more benefits.

We also offer an array of financial benefits and compensation programs that are aligned to reward employees for their contributions toward achieving our strategic goals. 

Additional Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• Vacation and Holidays
• Sick Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Adoption Assistance
• Education Assistance
• Scholarship Fund
• Matching Gifts for Education