Harper's Country Hams, Inc. history

In 1957, NCM built the first major grain processing plant in Puerto Rico through its subsidiary Caribe Company.

1965: Expansion into Europe begins through joint venture with Bioter-Biona, S.A. of Spain.

By 1971 Nebraska Consolidated Mills had outgrown its early base in Nebraska as well as its name.

It chose a new name to reflect its new concerns: ConAgra, meaning "in partnership with the land." ConAgra, Inc. was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1973.

Harper, often called Mike, was widely credited with bringing ConAgra back from the brink of bankruptcy when he joined the company as chief operating officer and executive vice president in 1974.

Heavy losses in commodity speculations brought ConAgra to the brink of bankruptcy in 1975.

1978: United Agri Products, agricultural chemicals distributor, is acquired.

ConAgra moved into the prepared seafood market in 1981 with the purchase of Singleton Seafood, the largest shrimp processor in the country, and Sea-Alaska Products.

1982: Country Poultry, Inc. is formed and soon becomes the top poultry producer in the country.

In 1988 Harper boasted that ConAgra was probably the only food products company to "participate across the entire food chain." In the grocery store, however, the majority of its packaged food products were found in the frozen foods section, where it held the top market share in the country.

ConAgra was found guilty of cheating Alabama chicken growers in 1989, tampering with trucks and scales to make the birds seem lighter.

Remaining in Omaha, ConAgra opened an $80 million development along the city’s riverfront in 1990.

1992: Phil Fletcher becomes president and CEO.

By 1993, the Healthy Choice line numbered 300-plus products.

Earnings for 1994 reached $437 million on sales of $23.5 billion.

In 1995 the company agreed to pay $13.6 million to settle a class-action suit brought by fish distributors and processors who claimed that ConAgra's Country Skillet Catfish Co. and six other catfish wholesalers conspired to fix prices for nearly a decade.

He restructured the company’s debt and split its food and tobacco businesses before retiring again, in 1996, to spend more time with his wife, who had been diagnosed with cancer.

Also acquired in 1998, for $400 million, was the margarine and egg substitute business of Nabisco, Inc.