NatureBake History

James Dahl began his baking career while attending Columbia Academy north of Vancouver, WA. During World War II, James served as a baker for the US Navy. After graduating from Walla Walla College with a degree in business, he as his wife Wanene decided to follow their dream and open a bakery of their own.
In 1955, James Dahl purchased a small neighborhood bakery in Portland called Midway Bakery. James soon found a following for his delicious breads made with whole grains and no animal fats (a rarity at that time). When the local health food stores heard of his wholesome breads, he was asked to begin delivering. One of the first “sprouted wheat” bakers, James was always considered an innovator in the baking world.

James in his
sailor's uniform

James and Wanene’s first child, Glenn, began to work in the bakery when he was 9 years old. As they became old enough to work, Glenn was joined in the bakery by his sister Linda and brothers Al and Dave.
In 1988, Glenn purchased the bakery from James and Wanene. With the help of his wife Judi, they maintained the wholesome baking traditions of the first generation of Dahls. James stayed on, continuing to develop new recipes until he passed away in 1997. Wanene continues to serve as NatureBake’s secretary.

James and Wanene Dahl

          Shobi was born to Glenn and Judi in 1983. Like his father, Shobi also began to work in the bakery at a very young age. After his graduation from Willamette University in 2005, Shobi started the third generation of bakers in the Dahl family.
          After a long absence, Dave returned to the bakery in 2005 and began developing new products for both NatureBake and eventually his own line of breads: Dave’s Killer Bread.
          A family passion for over 50 years, NatureBake is still run by three generations of Dahls with the same dedication to quality that James Dahl began in 1955.

Wanene, Glenn, Dave, and Shobi Dahl, 2005