CMI Orchards partners with Independent Warehouse for pears 

CMI Orchards, Wenatchee, Wash., is expanding domestic and international pear distribution through a partnership with Independent Warehouse Inc., Dryden, Wash.

Pears grown and packed by Independent Warehouse will be marketed by CMI Orchards, adding more than 600,000 cartons to its selling power, according to a news release. Varieties from Independent Warehouse are bartlett, bosc, and red and green d’anjou pears.

“We identified a growing need to increase our supply of pears to satisfy our customers’ needs and Independent was unmistakably a perfect fit for our long-term strategic growth plan,” Bob Mast, president of CMI Orchards, said in the release.

Sarah Barkley, CMI Orchards sales manager, said Independent Warehouse has an unrivaled commitment to delivering an exception eating experience to consumers. All Independent Warehouse pears are grown within three miles of its facility.

“Our core competencies include growing, packing, storing, and shipping,” Independent Warehouse’s Andrew Peterson said in the release. “CMI brings the same drive, passion, and work ethic to the table every day as we do and most importantly, they make all decisions in the best interest of the growers as well as their retail partners.”

CMI Orchards led the move to offer 2-pound pouch bags for pears, according to the release, and 70% of the company’s pears are sold in the pouch bags.

CMI Orchards imports pears grown by Kleppe in Argentina and markets them under the Sweet Gourmet Pears label. PAI grows organic pears for the company’s Southern Hemisphere Daisy Girl Organics label. Those partnerships, along with the addition of Independent Warehouse fruit, allows CMI Orchards to meet growing year-round retail demand.