Spokane Software
The Software Behind America's Citrus
The Business
Spokane Software Systems has spent more than four decades building the ERP that citrus packing houses run on. Roughly 70 percent of America's fresh citrus, including the mandarins in every grocery store, and the large majority of its lemons move through the company's software. Customer relationships average a quarter century, because when the software stops, the packing house stops, and it does not stop.
Tim Smith is a self-taught programmer who bootstrapped his way from an Omaha appliance store through farm-implement dealers into agricultural software, with his longtime right hand Chris Poston running day-to-day operations. After 40 years he was selling for the oldest reason there is: it was time.
Transaction Timeline
How the Deal Happened
The profile drew nine buyers within ten weeks of joining Rejigg in late 2023, but this deal rewarded persistence over speed. Two separate processes collapsed over two years, and Solen Software Group re-engaged after each one, ultimately signing a final LOI in November 2025 and closing all-cash in December 2025.
Deal Highlights
Mission-Critical
Roughly 70 percent of U.S. fresh citrus runs through the software.
25-Year Customers
Average client relationship spans a quarter century.
Bootstrapped Origin
Built by a self-taught coder who started at an Omaha appliance store.
Persistence Won
The buyer re-engaged after two collapsed processes and closed all-cash.
The Buyer
Solen Software Group acquires and holds vertical software businesses, and Spokane Software fit its playbook exactly: mission-critical product, entrenched customers, decades of trust. Solen won the deal the unglamorous way, by staying at the table after everyone else left, and closing with a clean all-cash structure.
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