After 40 years in the produce industry and 20 years at Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers, Roger Pepperl is retiring at the end of the year.
Pepper was thanked for his contributions to Stemilt by company president West Mathison in a news release.
“Roger never ceases to amaze me with his innovative mind, and ability to create brands and programs that benefit the grower, the retailer, and the consumer,” Mathison said in the release.
“My family and I cannot thank him enough for the work he’s done to transform our company into a recognized brand. His retirement is well-deserved, and I can’t wait to hear about his journey in this next chapter.”
Pepperl joined Stemilt after a 21-year tenure in produce at Meijer in Michigan, where he bought cherries from Stemilt, and worked alongside founder Tom Mathison, to become the first retailer to merchandise cherries in catch-weight bags, according to the release. The innovation transformed how the cherry industry sells fruit today, Mathison said in the release.
“Roger was like my grandfather, Tom, in so many ways,” West Mathison said in the release. “He wasn’t afraid to try something new at retail, as long as it meant selling more and never sacrificing quality! His gift to see things that others cannot see has been inspiring.”
Pepperl joined Stemilt in 2000, moving across the country with his wife, Joni, and son, Alex, to build Stemilt’s marketing department from one designer to the 7-member team it is today, according to the release.
Pepperl traveled the world on Stemilt’s behalf and volunteered his time and passion on committees and boards for the United Fresh Produce Association, Produce Marketing Association, and the Produce for Better Health Foundation. Pepperl was awarded The Packer’s Marketer of the Year in 2015, was the first-ever recipient of the United Fresh FreshMKT Achievement Award in 2017, and was named one of 35 produce Vanguard’s in 2020 by Produce Business.
“Roger has a brilliance about him. He is practical, functional, and fun. He is going to be greatly missed around here,” Mathison said.
Pepperl will officially retire from Stemilt Dec. 31.
