Old Trapper Smoked Products has produced its signature line of authentic handmade beef jerky from its headquarters in Forest Grove, Oregon since 1969. That 50 years of experience, complemented by continued investments in state-of-the-art processes, result in top-quality products that are distributed nationwide.

Melinda and Dennis Evenson established Old Trapper in Tillamook, Oregon in 1969, naming their company for the trappers who once visited the coastal community. Today, it is led by their children. Son Ole Evenson is president.

1969 Old Trapper Smoked Products Inc. has been creating and delivering quality smoked meat snacks and beef jerky since 1969.

The Old Trapper legend began with our original Old Fashioned Beef Jerky. We season lean cuts of real steak, add brown sugar for just the right hint of sweetness, and smoke them to perfection using real wood in our smokehouses. The result is tender, never tough jerky that will be the best you've ever tasted.

Jerky is lean trimmed meat cut into strips and dehydrated to prevent spoilage. Normally, this drying includes the addition of salt to prevent bacteria growth. The word "jerky" derives from the Quechua word ch'arki which means "dried, salted meat".

These reasons, in recent years, have been particularly focused on the health benefits of a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. Eating foods with few artificial ingredients and the convenience of on-the-go products like beef jerky have also been significant factors. Beef jerky is light and has a long shelf life.

Even so, beef jerky is expensive. Beef jerky is so expensive because it uses a lot of quality meat to make just a little bit of jerky, the process takes resources and employees' time, and beef jerky producers often buy from the beef industry and the price of beef can be expensive.

The word "jerky" derives from the Quechua word ch'arki which means "dried, salted meat". All that is needed to produce basic "jerky" is a low-temperature drying method, and salt to inhibit bacterial growth.

Trapper is a boy's name of German origin. Taken from the Old German word trappe, which is said to have become a nickname for a “troublemaker” or “rogue,” Trapper is a real charm for any mind of pure mischief.

Even so, beef jerky is expensive. Beef jerky is so expensive because it uses a lot of quality meat to make just a little bit of jerky, the process takes resources and employees' time, and beef jerky producers often buy from the beef industry and the price of beef can be expensive.

Jerky was a form of heat preservation that was originally created to prevent freshly hunted meat from spoiling over long periods of time. The name jerky actually comes from a South American native tribe name for the process to dates back to the Inca empire.

Generally, the traditional beef jerky sourced from a halal animal is halal as there is only salt (the halal ingredient) in it. But the commercial beef jerky varieties may contain a range of additional ingredients and certain food additives and preservatives.