Gene M. Jessee, Inc. was founded in 1954 in Chico, California. Mr. Jessee had developed a nut cleaner for the almond industry that utilized a column of controlled air. These machines were called Airlegs and helped revolutionize the almond hulling industry. Units were sold to huller operators directly and through huller plant manufactures who acted as dealers.
During the 1970s, the manufacturing scope of the company was expanded to include equipment for walnut cleaning and additional almond hulling, and equipment installation.
During the 1980s, the company focused on expanding its equipment into additional tree nut industries establishing product lines for:
- Cashews
- Hazelnuts
- Macadamia Nuts
- Pecans
- Pistachios
During the 1990s, cracking and shelling equipment was developed. This equipment has been so successful that complete processing lines are now being utilized internationally. Product lines have been developed to service the coffee industry as well.
In 2007, the company reorganized and established itself as Jessee Equipment Manufacturing. We have continued to refine and improve our existing equipment, streamlined our production flow, and have expanded our product line to include complete turnkey systems in the following processing fields: Hulling, Drying, In-Shell Cleaning and Sizing, Shelling, Laser Sorting, Inspection, and Packaging. To better serve our customers and to keep pace with the growth of our industry, the company was relocated in 2008 to our new 45,000-plus-square-foot facility. Since 2012, we have been expanding our sales and services offices to satellite locations to better serve our domestic and international customers.
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