The NatureBake Story
Jim Dahl began baking bread while attending Columbia Academy north of Vancouver, WA. During World War II, Jim 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, Jim purchased a small neighborhood bakery in Portland called Midway Bakery. Jim 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 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 his parents Jim and Wanene. Jim kept baking, continuing to develop new recipes until he passed away in 1998. Wanene still regularly visits the bakery to this day.
Shobi Dahl, Glenn's son, was born in 1983. Like his father, Shobi also began to work in the bakery at a very young age. Dave Dahl returned to the bakery in late 2004 after serving 15 years in prison, and began developing new recipes for the company which would eventually lead to the launch of the mega-popular Dave's Killer Bread.
Today, the bakery is still wholly family-owned and operated by Glenn, Dave, and Shobi. Several other family members have also joined the business: Glenn and Dave's sister Linda Tereau, Glenn and Dave's cousin Allan Wilson, and Dave's daughter Jessica Dahl.