Salem’s economy takes a jolt as 1,000 jobs disappear with NORPAC collapse

A NORPAC-branded truck transports frozen vegetables in Oregon. (Courtesy/Oregon Department of Agriculture)

The impending closure of a century-old food processing company will have wide impacts on Salem’s economy as nearly 1,000 workers seek new jobs over the holidays and Willamette Valley farmers scramble for a new buyer for next season’s produce.

NORPAC, once Oregon’s largest food processing company, told 924 workers Wednesday they would lose their jobs when the company’s processing plants in Salem and…