Honeybear Brands in expansion mode

Brewster, Wash.-based Honeybear Brands is building a new packing facility, said Don Roper, vice president of sales and marketing for Honeybear Brands, as well as Elgin, Minn.-based Wescott Orchard & Agri Products Inc.

“Over the past eight months here in Brewster, Wash., construction crews have been pushing hard to meet deadlines to complete the construction of our new packing facility,” he said.

That has been a challenge during the pandemic, since the start of construction coincided with the early outbreak of COVID-19, Roper said.

Nevertheless, the $20 million project has entered its final phase, with the installation of a new hybrid packing line — “really the big prize of our investment,” Roper said.

“Our line allows for increased packing velocity, flexibility with many pack styles and reduction of labor while maintaining key quality control checkpoints and delivering a best in class finished box of fruit worthy of the Honeybear Brand,” Roper said.

Meanwhile, Wescott Orchard & Agri Products completed multi-million-dollar packing/processing-facility upgrades in Elgin, Roper said.

“We have installed more controlled atmosphere rooms to keep pace with expected production from our newest plantings of First Kiss, Pazazz and Honeycrisp orchards,” Roper said.

In addition, the new packing line will accommodate nearly twice the volume with less labor, as the company continues to grow and support retailers with near year-round locally grown product solutions, Roper said.

“On the new varietal front, we are very excited for the commercial volume introduction of First Kiss next year and we will also introduce a new exciting variety to be grown in Washington state from our Apple Varietal Development LLC team this coming fall,” he said.