The history of the 5 CROSS B name had its start while the Crosby family still lived in Alaska. A coworker that had lived in Montana observed that our name suggested a brand that could include a cross - U, with the letter B as part of the right-hand arm of the cross. This however gave an unbalanced look to a potential brand or logo. We thought that since there were five immediate family members, the number 5, added, as part of the left-hand arm of the cross, would balance the look of the design. So was conceived the original idea of a basic logo.
     It was only a couple of years later that the family moved to the State of Washington in the summer of 1976, to begin our life as Apple Orchardists on a full time basis. During the next several years we used the logo only occasionally to explain the name we had chosen for our Orchard, originally calling it the 5 Cross B Apple Ranch. We later dropped the word Apple from the name, as we began to us it for more than just the Apple portion of our operation. We had acquired horses and were using the Ranch name as part of the registered name for the offspring.
     About 1989, we decided a sign out front would be nice, and again refined the logo idea to include the brand, enclosed within the outline of an apple – our principal income source. We executed this sign and it was placed at the entrance to our driveway at each home.

     In the early 1990’s Dave developed the first of several innovative ideas for custom, labor saving devices for our orchard operation, the Branch Bender. We figured it was now time, to refine and establish the 5 Cross B logo, as well as the one for the Branch Bender. We enlisted the aid of our artist daughter to do the work for us. After this we used the 5 Cross B logo on all stationary, checks, business cards, and the like, to fully identify our various operations.

     Since that time we have created other endeavors, and used other names to identify these minor ventures, yet they have all operated under the umbrella of the 5 Cross B parent company. Even though we are currently seeing the loss of our Ranch (late year 2000), we will continue to use the 5 CROSS B identity in the coming years as a touchstone to who we were and still are...