Peter J. Taggares

US$500 million
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Peter J. Taggares or "Pete" Taggares was one of the wealthiest and most influential farmers in Washington State. His father Peter Taggares (Tagaris) emigrated from Greece at the age of 18. He traveled across the United States eventually settling in Prosser, Washington, where he farmed and raised his family. [http://www.tagariswines.com/pdfs/Taggares_Family_History.pdf] In 1956, the younger Taggares set out on his own, establishing a small farm near Othello, Washington. From that modest beginning he built an agricultural empire in the Pacific Northwest second only to that of JR Simplot. At his death, his holdings included the largest irrigated farm in Oregon and one of the world's largest vineyards. His Chef Reddy Corp. became one of the nations largest producers of french fries. [http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19990223&slug=2945780]

Although Taggares maintained a fairly low profile outside of the agricultural community, he was frequently involved in politics and was often frustrated by government's inability to make a decision. He was an avid campaign contributor, to the extent that in 1997 he was fined $52,500 (the largest such fine in Washington State History) for illegally contributing money to political candidates, much of it in the names of his employees. [http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19990226&slug=2946358]

Another trait for which Taggares is famous is his obsession with order and neatness. On his farm every piece of equipment is painted white. This extends from his tractors, potato diggers, and potato trucks to his corporate jet, Mercedes, Cadillacs and yacht. In fact on his 3,500-acre farm in Othello, Washington even the telephone poles are white.

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