Stemilt Growers looks for strong Northwest cherry volume

With supply from both California and the Northwest, Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers will have cherries to sell from May to August.

“This year, California has a larger crop than last, and will go later into June with some overlap expected between California and the Northwest,” said Brianna Shales, director of marketing. 

“At this point in time, we haven’t seen how the later harvesting crops have set, but anticipate a good July and August for cherries.”

Stemilt starts harvest in California in early May and harvests daily until the last high-altitude cherries are picked and packed, Shales said. While some orchards had not yet bloomed by early May, overall sizing is expected to be good, she said.

“Rainier cherries also appear to have a nice crop, with large sizing and a Northwest season that will run from mid-June to late July,” she said.

For organic cherries, Shales said Stemilt expects more volume in 2021 compared with a year ago. 

“However, organic cherries are a challenge to grow so the percentage of overall crop is less, especially when compared to other fruits we grow like apples,” Shales said.

Stemilt will promote its brands and signature items throughout the season to help drive cherry sales, she said. 

Shales said Skylar Rae cherries will be back in June, followed by Stemilt’s premium Kyle’s Pick cherries in July to differentiate on the biggest and best fruit. Those will be followed by the high-altitude A Half Mile Closer to the Moon label, representing cherries that grown 2,640 feet above sea level and higher and are available in August.