Northwest (U.S.)

Cherry season shaping up well for volume and quality

Fri, 16 May 2025 20:37:25 GMT

Favorable weather this spring has set the Northwest up for what is hoped to be a great cherry season.

“We couldn’t have been luckier with the weather this growing season,” said Brianna Shales, marketing director for Stemilt Growers, a Wenatchee, Wash.-based grower-packer-shipper. “At this point, the orchards are looking great with no notable frost or rain. We had a good bloom period with warmer temps and great bee activity. Of course, Mother Nature can always change things.”

Joel Hewitt, vice president of sales for the Wenatchee-based CMI Orchards, said an early spring with warm, dry weather helped create excellent pollination and fruit set.

“This year’s cherry crop is off to a great start, thanks to a relatively mild spring across the Pacific Northwest,” Hewitt said. “We’ve avoided the extremes, no damaging cold snaps or heat spikes, which has made a world of difference for growers.”

A winter freeze impacted the overall 2024 crop size in Washington, but that’s not the case this year, which marketers hope will allow for an extended harvest into September.

Mac Riggan, vice president of sales and business development for Chelan, Wash.-based Chelan Fresh Marketing, said a good start bodes well for eating quality and shelf life in June, July and August. He said growers have pruned well in the offseason to help trees create good-sized fruit.

“What I see is a clean crop,” Riggan said. “There’s not a bunch of frost marks or hail or just insect damage. It just looks really good.”

“Overall, the quality and size of the crop looks almost perfect,” said B.J. Thurlby, president of Northwest Cherry Growers and Northwest Cherries.

Seasonal outlook

Early estimates project a larger cherry crop this season, about 24.5 million boxes, which Hewitt said is about 28% higher than last year. This is up from last year’s 19 million boxes, according to Thurlby.

Riggan said some young cherry plantings in the Pacific Northwest have started to produce, which adds to overall supply.

“We’re going to have about 10% more as a shipper ourselves, and we were expecting a good quality crop,” he said.

Thurlby said the region grows more than 60 varieties of cherries, everything from bing, skeena, sweetheart, rainier, coral champagne and Black Pearl.

“Unlike other commodities, we try to promote two types of cherries: dark sweets and yellow varieties,” Thurlby explained. “Each shipper has their own specialty, but with over 100 varieties out there, it’s very hard to promote each one individually throughout a three-month window — especially when you move from one to another so quickly.”

Riggan said the area might see fewer rainier cherries this year because some growers have removed orchards with rainier pollinators.

Retailers can expect cherries from the Pacific Northwest to start shipping around June 1 and late June for British Columbia cherries.

“Peak harvest windows will be the week of June 23, 2025, and the week of July 14, 2025,” Thurlby said. “However, there will be ample product for promotions from mid-June through at least mid-August.”

Shales said the Fourth of July holiday is another time retailers can take advantage and rally behind promotions.

“We don’t foresee any gaps or gluts currently, but July is shaping up to be a big promotion opportunity on cherries out of Washington for retailers to plan around,” Shales added.

CMI expanded its cherry packing capabilities with the addition of Pacific Coast Cherry Packers and Chelan Fruit. Hewitt said these additional packing facilities, as well as consistent sizing, quality and expected supply, can help retailers build a confident program during the key promotion window in July.

“Unlike the last couple of seasons, which saw temporary oversupply due to overlapping harvests and erratic weather, 2025 is benefiting from more favorable and predictable conditions,” she said.

Early estimates project this season’s cherry crop at about 24.5 million boxes, which is up about 28% over last year, Joel Hewitt, vice president of sales for CMI Orchards.

(Photo: Nailia Schwarz, Adobe Stock)

What consumers want

Cherry marketers say domestic demand looks solid this season as retailers have rolled out California cherries.

“Domestic demand for cherries in 2025 is showing strong momentum, driven by favorable market conditions, health-conscious consumer trends and strategic promotional efforts,” Hewitt said.

Shales said retailers see this season as an opportunity to capture missed dollars last year with the shorter cherry crop in 2024.

“Quality is the biggest reason why consumers come back for a second bag,” Shales said. “If the cherries can’t deliver on flavor, freshness and firmness, it’s likely that consumers will take a break from buying cherries for a while until they have a positive experience, according to a consumer cherry study conducted by Stemilt last year.”

Shales said there is a strong consumer preference for rainier cherries, though, and supply sometimes doesn’t line up with that demand.

“If there are more rainier cherries available, retailers should look to do more with them because there is consumer demand for more of them,” she said.

Tariffs’ effect

Marketers say exports are a critical part of the cherry season. Shales said that in years with a large domestic and global crop, international markets expand, and those expansions turn into future customers.

“Export markets have always been, and will remain, a fundamental portion of our cherry business,” she said. “We serve many long-term global markets where we have multi-decade and multi-product relationships, which all contribute to a successful cherry marketing program.”

Thurlby said it’s possible that the Northwest will not ship a box of fruit to China or Europe this season and will look to other markets for that volume.

“We will increase our focus from China to more promotions in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia,” he explained. “Likewise, we will continue to run market growth programs in India.”

Marketers say the current tariff market adds a layer of unpredictability to this season’s global market. Hewitt said CMI does not plan to seek out new export markets but will instead look to strengthen relationships with existing customers.

“These recent tariff implementations are impacting pricing and competitiveness for U.S. cherry exporters, prompting a more cautious and strategic approach to international growth this year,” Shales said.

And Shales and Hewitt both agreed that while growers closely monitor the current global market for cherries, growers remain optimistic.

“While we are concerned with the current status of tariffs and their effect on the global market for cherries [and all fruits], we remain confident and committed to all the markets we serve and hope to sell more cherries than ever in those markets,” Shales said.

Retailers see an opportunity this season to capture missed dollars from last year’s shorter cherry crop, says Brianna Shales, marketing director for Stemilt Growers.

(Photo courtesy of Stemilt Growers)

Program previews

Stemilt plans to run its Kyle’s Pick premium cherry program this year. The marketer refreshed the look on its pouch bags, clamshells and top-seals.

“Kyle’s Pick is an R&D-backed program that requires cherries to meet dialed-in flavor and firmness specifications to qualify,” Shales said. “This program runs anytime this top-tier quality fruit is available during the Washington season and is meant to capture the attention of retailers’ most premium shoppers.”

Stemilt will also roll out new packaging for its A Half Mile Closer to the Moon program. The new look features a prominent moon to highlight the growing region of the cherries, Shales said.

CMI also offers its Nature’s Candy program for premium red and rainier cherries, and its American Dream program features patriotic branding for promotional windows such as the Fourth of July. CMI will also offer its XXL Cherry program with jumbo-sized fruit.

“Specialty varieties like Skylar Rae and Strawberry Cherries offer additional standout opportunities with their unique flavor profiles and eye-catching appeal, though availability is limited, making them ideal for limited-time promotions and specialty displays,” Hewitt said.

Riggan said Chelan Fresh will offer its Orondo Ruby cherries again this year in a 1-pound clamshell. He said the Orondo Ruby cherries grow large, so Chelan Fresh packs 15 ounces in the 1-pound clamshell to ensure fruit does not get bruised, offering consumers an optimum eating experience.

“It’s like eating a rainier and a bing cherry at the same time,” Riggan said. “It’s got high acid and high sugar. It’s just a really unique eating experience.”

Chelan Fresh also will offer 9.5-row jumbo cherries in a top-seal. Riggan said these top-seal clamshells are enticing for high-end customers as well as many one-person households. While it’s an extra SKU, it doesn’t cannibalize a retailer’s bagged cherry business, he added.

“They’re not buying 2 pounds of cherries,” he said. “They just want something really good and a smaller quantity.”

Marketing ideas

It’s important for retailers to capitalize on the seasonality of cherries and put a spotlight on cherry season when they’re available, marketers say. Shoppers are busy, and any buzz a retailer generates can help kick off the season right.

Retailers can remind consumers that cherries are in season and available for a limited window. The idea, Riggan said, is to entice consumers to continue to buy cherries a few times throughout the season.

“We really want to get people to buy cherries three or four times a year,” he said. “That’s really critical for success for both retailers and growers.”

Shales said online shoppers shouldn’t be overlooked, either, and retailers should ensure online messaging lets those customers know when cherries are back in season.

Big displays in stores also help drive awareness and sales, she added.

“Since cherries are one of the last seasonal items in produce, it’s important to let consumers know they’re there,” Shales explained. “Build displays front and center in the produce department, preferably in a refrigerated space to ensure cherries stay fresh on the shelf, to drive awareness that these seasonal morsels are back and ready to enjoy.”

Hewitt said retailers should also consider adding smaller secondary displays to help drive impulse purchasing.

“Place smaller cherry displays near high-traffic areas such as checkout lanes or adjacent to complementary categories like ice cream or bakery,” she said. “These secondary placements can trigger spontaneous purchases, especially when cherries are positioned as a seasonal indulgence or healthy treat.”

Hewitt encourages retailers to monitor regional weather updates for late-season shifts and stay in contact with suppliers to align timing, volume and in-store strategy.

Riggan said he doesn’t think retailers need to give cherries away with promotions. He said the industry will see a large volume of cherries from the last week of June into the Fourth of July holiday.

“If retailers will work with the industry and with shippers to lower their retails a bit, and lean in a bit, they can really drive a lot of sales and then finish up strong on the backside, maybe having brought some customers in to the cherry category during that lower price point, and then capturing some higher end sales at the end from people that maybe had a really good experience,” Riggan said.

Thurlby said retailers can also capitalize on health messaging with cherry displays.

“A recent study we did showed that retailers who used health messaging regularly while promoting cherries outperformed similarly priced retailers who didn’t use health messaging by 84%,” he said.

Goodbye, La Niña? Eric Snodgrass Dissects What the Shift Means for Weather This Spring and Summer

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:23:44 GMT

La Niña is weakening, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) expects neutral conditions to develop in the next month . But even with La Niña fading, meteorologists are still concerned about drought this spring and summer.

NOAA this week said forecasters expect ENSO-neutral conditions to develop in the next month and persist through the Northern Hemisphere’s summer. According to NOAA, La Niña’s signature is cooler-than-average surface water in the east-central tropical Pacific, stronger-than-average trade winds, and drier conditions over the central Pacific.

ENSO-neutral means conditions could be close to average, but Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien’s principal atmospheric scientist, says that doesn’t mean the weather will be normal this spring and summer.

“I do expect changes,” Snodgrass says. “Think about it like this: The previous winter was an El Niño winter, and it was very mild and very wet. So, we got into spring ’24 with tons of moisture. I mean, Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota flooded out. Then we had this incredibly dry fall as the La Niña began, and it reached a peak twice. It actually hit a peak in December, and then a secondary peak about a month later at the end of January. It’s been fading ever since. The big question is, as we go into neutral conditions for this upcoming growing season, is it going to be one that paints a picture of precipitation extremes? Did it leave us with any sort of kind of problems from winter that are carrying over?”

Snodgrass says the severe weather outbreaks on Friday, that brought high winds, dust storms and wildfire warnings across the Plains, is a reminder how dry it is in the Southwest.

“We’ve got major pockets of the country that are still dealing with some pretty big drought conditions. It is fading, and that is a signal we have to pay attention to,” Snodgrass says.

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey is also concerned about what impact the shifting pattern will have on farmers this spring. But it’s not just the dryness. It’s also the fact areas are getting inundated with rains that could pose problems.

“With this stormy weather pattern in place, that is going to create some difficulty for spring field work in some areas. It looks like the primary storm track may be through parts of the middle of the country extending into the lower Midwest and eventually the interior northeast. That is one area where we already have fairly wet conditions,” Rippey says.

How sea surface temperatures in the Niño-3.4 region of the tropical Pacific changed over the course of all La Niña events since 1950 (gray lines) and 2024-25 (black line). This shows the traditional calculation for Niño-3.4, the monthly temperature compared to the most recent 30-year average (1991–2020 for the 2024 line). By this measure, the La Niña threshold was crossed in December 2024, but La Niña remains weak.

(NOAA)

La Niñas and El Niños Are Strongest in the Winter
Snodgrass points out La Niñas and El Niños are always strongest in Northern Hemisphere’s winter, which means they fade in spring and summer.

While La Niña-like conditions were a trademark in late fall, we didn’t reach the official definition of La Niña until January.

“The atmosphere way back in November was already treating our winter timeframe like a La Niña,” Snodgrass says. So, we were getting the influences of it as it comes in and goes out. And now the question is, what’s it going to do?”

February 2025 sea surface temperature compared to the 1985-1993 average. The surface of the east-central tropical Pacific is slightly below average temperature, but much of the global ocean remains warmer than average.

(NOAA )

“This is a great map to look at,” Snodgrass says, referencing the map above. “If you focus right in the middle, you see the large area of the cooler colors. Our line is now shifting to the central and West Pacific and behind it over by South America. All of the warmer water is beginning to emerge. And that’s what’s killing it because there’s a trade wind across that area from the east to the west. We’re going to watch this fade carefully during the spring. But the question is: Do we get winter’s leftovers?”

What Fueled the Dryness This Winter?
During the winter, Snodgrass points out there was no subtropical jet. That’s what fueled drought in the Southwest and Northwest.

“I’m actually kind of worried about the beginning of April having another shot at cold air after what we’ve been experiencing in March, which has been so very, very mild. Then you say, well, we’ve had so much dry air in place. Are we still worried about more dry air coming back? To be honest, these big storm systems coming through the central U.S., if we could get four, maybe five more of those by early April, we’re going to hate it. It’s nasty weather. It’s not fun, and it’s dangerous, but it returns moisture. That could be part of the mix of things, including the fading of La Niña that could help bring us away from these major early season drought risk scenarios.”

55% of corn production, 46% of soybean production, 33% of the cotton growing area and 27% of the winter wheat production are currently experiencing drought.

(U.S. Drought Monitor )

Growing Drought Concerns
What if it doesn’t? What if we don’t see more of this severe weather hit the Southwest and Plains, and moisture remains absent as we get into the height of spring? Well, the area will enter into the height of the growing season dry and reduce their chances of seeing moisture this summer.

“That’s a box we check every spring,” Snodgrass says. “If the drought monitor saw a reduction in drought over winter, then that gives us a different look for spring. But what we see here is two-thirds of the country in some stage of drought, including the abnormally dry category. But it’s the epicenters of drought that are so concerning. Look at the Western Corn Belt. Look at the Southwest. We just wonder if that funnels into the Mississippi Valley as we go forward.”

At the same time some areas are seeing drought, Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas and the boot heel of Missouri are all experiencing heavy rains and flooding.

“By May 11, I want to know what the drought monitor map looks like. If it looks no different, then I’m going to be sounding alarms going into summer with concerns this will start to creep and move because as soon as we get into the summer weather, all we get is convective storms pop off. And what do they do? They just locally deliver rain - not big broad swaths of it,” Snodgrass says.

Tale of Two Weather Scenarios
He says the forecast leading up to May 11 is a tale of two weather patterns, with the Mississippi River being the dividing line for moisture.

“If you are along it and east of it, I think we’re going to have tight windows to plant. You could include a little bit more of Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota in that as well,” Snodgrass says. “I think we’re going to see repeated storm systems. The best moisture is east. It keeps avoiding that southern plains area.”

What to Watch: Where the Storm Chasers End Up
Snodgrass says if storm chasers are busying chasing severe weather across the Ohio Valley, the mid-south and the southeast, but not in Kansas and the Plains, that’s a key indicator there’s a problem with the moisture getting back into the plains.

“If it’s not there by the time we start June, it’s very difficult to rely on the atmosphere to return it once you get into the summer months if you live in the central plains, which is where they could build from,” he adds.

To watch the complete discussion with Snodgrass, visit Farm Journal TV and take advantage of the free trial.

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Stemilt breaks ground on new pear packing facility

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 19:55:09 GMT

A new pear line facility equipped with automated packing systems, defect sorting and robotic palletizing will complement Stemilt’s approach to growing pears.

The Washington-based tree fruit grower, packer and shipper is investing in new technology to accentuate quality and flavor for brands like Rushing Rivers pears and the newly launched Happi Pear.

“The Happi Pear is the first branded pear in a long time,” Stemilt Marketing Director Brianna Shales said at the International Fresh Produce Association’s 2022 Global Produce & Floral Show. “It has a distinct texture, and you can eat it green and yellow. Happi will help revive the pear category.”

According to Shales, this is the second commercial year growing the Happi Pear, and this upcoming season will be a short one. Stemilt will be ready to scale up production in the 2023 season.

Related news: Stemilt Growers sees strong marketing prospects for pears

Synced with anticipated crop, the pear line facility is poised to be fully operational by the 2023-24 pear season to increase productivity of Stemilt’s pears coming from optimal growing locations in Wenatchee, Wash., and the company’s ripening center.

Second EverCrisp apple season off to a strong start, says grower

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 21:47:52 GMT

Northwest fruit grower Superfresh Growers is reporting a strong second year growing EverCrisp apples.

Started in the Midwest, EverCrisp was bred from Honeycrisp and Fiji to hold its freshness and sweetness and offer a crunchy, sweet and juice bite, according to a news release.

According to Nielson data, EverCrisp is outperforming the apple category, up 26% in dollars and 27% in volume. Heavily promoted across the U.S., one-third of January sales came from promotions, according to the release.

Related news: Cosmic Crisp sales trending strong

EverCrisp has a solid retail focus across the Coastal, Mountain West, and South Central regions, according to the release. Packaging options for the apple varietal include bulk, pouch and poly bags.

Strong cherry crop expected, industry association says

Mon, 22 May 2023 19:22:35 GMT

The early signs point to a healthy crop of cherries in the Northwest, says Tim Kovis, director of communications and events for the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, Yakima, Wash.

“We are hearing from our members that, for the most part, bloom and pollination went well. There is guarded optimism of a larger crop — close to normal — with great quality,” Kovis said. “We experienced a cold early spring, but when the weather warmed up, the trees responded well. We are hearing that there wasn’t much frost damage, and the forecast is projecting a mild late spring and early summer which will be ideal for fruit development.”

Related news: Northwest cherry growers expect a 50% increase in crop

Organic fruit accounts for about 6.8% of Northwest cherry acreage and about 3.1% of shipments, Kovis said, as some organic fruit goes to processing.

The crop timing is behind a typical year, Kovis said, as industry leaders are about 15 days behind normal.

“Cherry harvest will be starting June 15at the earliest and, more likely, June 20,” Kovis said.

Good volume is anticipated for the Fourth of July, he said.

Superfresh Growers promotes new president

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 17:26:49 GMT

Superfresh Growers has promoted Conner O’Malley to president, succeeding Tim Lane, who plans to retire later this year after leading the Yakima, Wash.-based company for 25 years.

In his new role, O’Malley will lead sales, operations, marketing, production management and grower relations, according to a news release.

“I have the privilege of standing on the shoulders of some industry veterans that came before me,” O’Malley said in the release. “It is an honor to support and work alongside such a hard-working team of men and women. I look forward to the great things we will accomplish in the years ahead, aiming towards the common goal that we share with our grower and retail partners: to increase consumption and feed more people fresh fruit.”

“Conner is a gifted leader and has an unparalleled work ethic. At Superfresh Growers, he has been instrumental in cultivating a team-centric mindset. He is empathetic, a clear communicator, and embraces our culture,” Superfresh Growers CEO Robert Kershaw said in the release.

Related news: Superfresh Growers to expand cherry production by 30%

“The culture at Superfresh Growers is that of servant leadership. This is when the organizational chart is turned upside down, and the president works to serve everyone else,” Kershaw said. “This culture permeates how we treat teammates, growers, and customers. It takes humility to embrace this culture and genuinely enjoy helping and seeing others succeed. If you truly enjoy seeing your growers, customers, and teammates around you successful, then magical things can happen. Conner thrives in this culture, and I enjoy seeing how others have embraced his leadership.”

O’Malley is an expert in produce, with experiences in farming practices, fruit specifications, manifests, technology and variety development, according to the release, and he specializes in strategic planning for Superfresh Growers and its long-term sustainability.

“He has a unique knack for seeing the bigger picture and planning for the future with people, customers, and growers in mind. As the Kershaw family’s sixth generation and other emerging leaders of this company move into management, he is the bridge to the future,” Kershaw said in the release.

During his time on the sales team, O’Malley built transparent and trust-filled relationships with customers across the Superfresh business, including retail, food service, wholesale, e-commerce, and export, according to the release.

Lane, O’Malley’s predecessor, played a role in mentoring the new president.

“I certainly would not be where I am in my career today without him, and I don’t think I will ever have the knowledge he possesses. His competitive drive will continue to fuel me and many others,” O’Malley said in the release.

Pear Bureau NW promotes Neil Ferguson

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:10 GMT

The Pear Bureau Northwest , Milwaukie, Ore., has promoted Neil Ferguson to creative marketing manager.

He joined the pear bureau in 2017 as communications specialist and had taken on extra responsibilities, including social media, digital advertising, media communications and website development, according to a news release. Before that, he was a marketer, social media manager and journalist.

The Pear Bureau Northwest in recent months has shifted to digital promotions with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has put in-store activities on hold. Ferguson has played a large role in developing creative ways to reach consumers via omnichannel efforts.

“With shoppers’ growing dependence on mobile, digital platforms, his expertise creating compelling content and placing it effectively in front of shoppers helps us keep pears top of mind,” Kathy Stephenson, marketing communications director, said in the release. “Neil brings a true passion for our grower community, leading to an honest desire to finds new ways to share the pear story every day.”

Ferguson is based in Portland, Ore.

Related stories:

Northwest pear growers ready for new crop

COVID-19 news: Worker safety, immunity, thanking essential workers

Pear bureau emphasizes ripening, storage tips amid COVID-19

Northwest council adds staff

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:48:24 GMT

The Yakima, Wash.-based Northwest Horticultural Council has hired Riley Bushue as its new director of government relations and export programs, said Mark Powers, president.

“As is normal in a small organization, he’ll have a variety of responsibilities,” Powers said.

Bushue, an Oregon native, has been working for U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, who represents eastern Oregon. Walden in the only Republican in Oregon’s Congressional delegation.

Bushue will start his new job in October, Powers said.

“Obviously, he’s got the government-relations side of things, which is important in our line of work, but he also has the other things are what most employers look for — fits with the team, wants to be a resident in our community, has the communications and writing skills,” Powers said.

“He’s got the skills, personality and drive to be successful, and we’ll teach him our industry.”

Related Content:

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Washington apple volume could be similar to last year’s crop

First NW cherry crop estimate is 20.5 million boxes

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:38:07 GMT

Northwest Cherry Growers , Yakima, Wash., estimates production for this season will be 20.5 million 15-pounds boxes.

The “round 1” estimate typically has the most variance from the eventual size of the crop, according to a news release from the group, and future forecasts will be released as the season progresses.

The cherry group said a generally warm January and February gave the crop one of the earliest starts on record, but relatively cool weather since then has “tempered progression.”

“As always, it will take a few weeks to determine how much of this year’s crop will remain on the tree,” according to the release. “These ‘drops’ are natural and taken into account in our subsequent estimates.”

The round 1 estimate uses feedback from growers, historical models, weather forecasts, orchard visits and other information, according to the release.

The group expects a strong start to the season in late May, and at this point, one of the widest spreads with the late-season Chelan, Wash., district.

“In a year where many retailers are experiencing reduced store trips and customers looking for a taste of summer, a strong June start and a longer crop is about as best as can be hoped for at this stage,” according to the release. “Historically, this type of separation in degree days across the districts points to a full season where the industry will have 95-plus days of sales to move the crop.”

Rainier cherry production is expected to be more than two million 15-pound boxes, extending the variety’s season “easily” past National Rainier Cherry Day, July 11.

The group cited “extraordinary” data coming from retailers as the pandemic changes consumers’ behavior, and it is focused on a marketing plan to announce the crop and stimulate demand.

“In the case of a highly seasonal refrigerated product that registers 72% impulse sales, we must be willing and able to meet consumers with our message wherever and however they may be shopping,” according to the release.

Related stories:

Northwest cherry export forecast optimistic

Bill would give more aid to cherry growers

Northwest pear growers ready for new crop

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:16 GMT

The 2020-21 fresh pear crop in Washington and Oregon is projected at 16.6 million 44-pound box equivalents, according the Pear Bureau Northwest’s first official estimate of the season.

The estimate includes production from Washington’s Wenatchee and Yakima districts, and Oregon’s Mid-Columbia and Medford districts, according to a news release from the pear bureau.

The forecast of 366,000 tons of fresh pears is slightly above last season’s production.

“Growers throughout Washington and Oregon are reporting beautiful fruit and good sizing,” Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest, said in the release. “We are expecting a very promotable crop and with imports down by one third and a smaller California crop, the supply chain is open as Northwest pears enter the market.

Moffitt said shippers are reporting strong demand from retailers.

Harvest for early varieties, including starkrimson and bartletts, has started in all regions of the two states, according to the pear bureau release. Green and red anjous and boscs start in the last half of August.

Specialty varieties, such as comice, seckel, forelle and concorde, are harvest near the end of the month and early September, according to the release.Four leading varieties make up 96% of the Northwest crop, according to the pear bureau’s estimate:

Green anjous: 8.6 million boxes, 51%;
Green bartletts: 4.2 million boxes, 25%;
Boscs: 2.3 million boxes, 14%; and
Red anjous, 5.5%.

Organic pear production for 2020-21 for Oregon and Washngton is forecast at 1.96 million standard 44-pound boxes, according to the release.
Moffitt said more packinghouses are offering conditioned pears this season to have consistently ripe fruit at retail.

“In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and changing shopping habits of consumers, we have shifted more resources to innovative digital programs reaching online shoppers, targeted advertising, influencer campaigns and digital sampling,” Moffitt said in the release. “Pears are a high impulse item for most consumers. With consumers shopping in stores less often and spending less time in the store overall, it is important to grab their attention on the digital platforms.”
The organization plans to continue those methods and others to grab consumers’ attention.

Marketing Manager Bob Catinella said the pear bureau is ready for retailers to switch to new-crop pears.

“We have a strong promotion plan in place this season, including an early push for bartlett and starkrimson, omnichannel collaborations with California Walnuts and Cabot Cheese, and more,” he said in the release. “As shoppers continue to prepare nutritious meals at home, we are in a solid position to have an excellent season at retail.”

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CMI sees growth with recent partnerships

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:43:22 GMT

CMI Orchards, Wenatchee, Wash., has boosted its marketing capacity in recent years, adding more than four million boxes of fruit.

In 2018, CMI added production from Pine Canyon Growers, and this March formed a partnership with Yakima Fruit and Cold Storage Co. President Bob Mast said in a news release that the additions are part of a long-range plan to better serve customers. The additions boosted the company’s apple , cherry and pear offerings.

CMI has seen recent growth in specific categories:

Granny smith: 89% increase;
Gala, 44% increase;
Pink Lady: 92% increase;
Fuji and Honeycrisp: 62% increase;
Organic Honeycrisp: 47% increase; and
Total organic crop is 3.5 million boxes.

CMI Orchards will harvest its first Washington EverCrisp apple crop, and launch the first harvest of organic EverCrisp nationwide, according to the release.

“CMI is already known within the industry as a leader for new branded items and organics, and this partnership will enable us to continue to pioneer advancements in these areas while expanding our fruit supply, meeting the needs of all of our customers,” Mast said about the Yakima Fruit partnership in the release. “We are very proud to welcome the Yakima Fruit team to the CMI Orchards Family and look forward to a long-lasting partnership.”

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CMI adds apple capacity with Yakima Fruit agreement

Northwest pear shippers adjust to pandemic

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:55:37 GMT

The Northwest pear industry is adjusting to the coronavirus, said Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Milwaukie, Ore.-based Pear Bureau Northwest

The bureau altered course, beginning in mid-March, when the pandemic first swept across the U.S., he said.

“When restaurants closed and consumers began preparing a majority of their meals at home, we promoted our large recipe database on our website with social media advertising,” he said.

“All of our recipes are shoppable, as well, meaning that consumers can order all of the ingredients to be delivered or picked up with a couple of clicks on our website.”

The bureau reset other strategies, too, Moffitt said.

“As consumer shopping shifted to online, we accelerated the execution of many of our strategies, including more banner ads creating impulse for pears online since consumers were not spending as much time in the stores,” he said.

“We reinforced our other messaging to consumers with social media advertising, focusing on the health benefits of pears as an excellent source of fiber and containing the antioxidant vitamin C.”

As consumers were looking to reduce their store visits and shop for longer-lasting produce, the Pear Bureau furnished instructions on ripening and extending shelf life, Moffitt said.

“We tested virtual sampling with a couple of retailers and plan to execute more virtual sampling in the coming season as we are not expecting in-store sampling events to take place at least in the early part of our season,” he said.

The Pear Bureau also expanded an ongoing program to send meal kit ideas and recipes to wholesalers who were suppling restaurants that may have shifted to selling meal kits while their restaurants were closed to the public, Moffitt said.

“We are also very active with the wholesalers involved with the USDA’s Farmers to Families (Food Box) program, as pears make a great addition to food boxes,” he said.

More bagged fruit?

As the upcoming season approaches, the industry likely will be selling more bagged fruit, thanks to COVID-19, said Dan Davis, director of business development with Wenatchee, Wash.-based Starr Ranch Growers .

“COVID has certainly moved the needle towards more packaged product and away from bulk,” he said.

“Our bag movement is up over 40% year-over-year for the same time frame and continues to trend further in that direction. A combination of food-safety concerns and limited time in retail stores have people reaching for quicker grab-and-go options, and we’ve got a host of options we can provide retail to fit that need.”

Raleigh, N.C.-based grower-shipper L&M Cos ., which operates a branch in Union Gap, Wash., has made its own accommodations to the COVID-19 crisis, said John Long, Union Gap-based director of sales and operations.

“The customers are taking a lot more products in bags, especially in the food box programs, and we’ve sold a lot more pears in 2- or 3-pound bags than we’ve ever sold in the past,” he said.

“The business on bigger fruit — 100s, 110s and larger, don’t go into bags very well, and there’s been a little bigger impact on business than some would have liked.”

L&M, like other operations, also has seen to worker safety, Long said.

“Everyone is very concerned with employee safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic and are struggling to keep employees safe in the workplace; this is not an easy task, but our packinghouses are working in conjunction with county health departments to ensure best practices are followed.”

The pandemic appeared mid-March, when last year’s pears were still being promoted, said Brianna Shales, senior marketing manager with Wenatchee, Wash.-based grower-shipper Stemilt Growers LLC .

“Supply lines balanced out relatively quickly for pears and we aren’t anticipating any issues with the new crop this fall,” she said.

Packaging will be “a great vehicle for retailers” during the pandemic, Shales said.

“Fortunately, we’ve been on the forefront of that and have a well-developed brand called Lil Snappers,” she said. “These 3-pound pouch bags transformed bag sales for the pear category, and continue to help retailers boost the average pear purchase size at retail.”

Yakima, Wash.-based grower-shipper Sage Fruit Co . also has seen an uptick in demand for packaged product, said Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing.

“COVID is not known to be transferred through food. However we have seen an increase in demand for packaged product over bulk since March,” he said.

“Packaged items provide less exposure to other shoppers when on the retail shelf. They are also easy for grab and go and make for a simple online purchase for those that are participating in grocery pick-up or delivery.”

Confident about sales

Concern about how pear sales will go is common across the region, but there doesn’t seem to be any basis for such worry, said Jeff Heater, board member with Odell, Ore.-based Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers and crop consultant with Western Ag Improvement LLC in Hood River, Ore.

“We went into cherry season with a big question mark and found one of the better cherry markets we’d had in decades,” he said.

“We shouldn’t have trouble getting enough pickers; it’s is a light crop,” he said in late July.

“Overall, people are optimistic because pear prices have been pretty low, so a light crop should help prices rebound.”

The pandemic has boosted sales of fresh produce in general, and pears should benefit, as well, said Blake Belknap, vice president of sales with Selah, Wash.-based Rainier Fruit Co .

“The pear category is no exception to that momentum — consumers are shopping less frequently and purchasing more volume in-store due to being home preparing more meals and health-consciously snacking,” he said.

The pandemic will change promotional plans, though, said Mac Riggan, director of marketing with Chelan, Wash.-based grower-shipper Chelan Fresh .

“As an industry, I don’t think we’ll be doing anywhere near as many demos; we’ll be doing a lot of social media.”

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Northwest pear grower-shippers prepare to market lighter crop in 2020

Washington Fruit & Produce, Yakima Fresh merge

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 19:53:19 GMT

Washington Fruit & Produce Co. and Yakima Fresh have merged to sell apples , cherries and pears .

The new partnership, Washington Fruit Sales, merges Yakima Fresh with the Washington Fruit & Produce sales team, according to a news release.

Washington Fruit Sales will be the exclusive marketer for Roche Fruit, Washington Fruit and Mount Adams Fruit. Roche Fruit will continue to own and operate its farming and packing operations.

Tommy Hanses, CEO of Washington Fruit & Produce, said he and his partners, Don and Doug Gibson of Mount Adams Fruit Co., are excited to work with the Roche Fruit and Yakima Fresh teams.

“We share many of the same values and philosophies, including commitment to quality and excellence in all that they do,” Hanses said in the release. “The fit between these organizations enhances our ability to serve the needs of our customers.”

Washington Fruit & Produce was founded in 1916, and Roche Fruit was founded two years later.

“We have known the Washington Fruit team and organization for years and believe the opportunity to partner with another long-term, quality focused, family owned organization is really unique and will resonate with our customers,” Michael Roche, president, said in the release.

Steve Smith, general manager of Yakima Fresh, said the merger provides the company with an “exceptional opportunity.”

“The breadth and depth of our combined programs is very exciting,” Smith said in the release.

Yakima Fresh was founded in 2005, by three Yakima apple companies — Hansen Fruit & Cold Storage Inc., Roche Fruit Co. LLC, and Yakima Fruit & Cold Storage Co. Inc. — and Stadelman Fruit LLC, Zillah, Wash.

Starr Ranch Growers, Wenatchee, Wash., announced this spring it will be marketing Stadelman Fruit’s crops.

CMI Orchards, Wenatchee, also formed a partnership this spring with Yakima Fruit and Cold Storage Co.

Stemilt Growers, Wenatchee, became the marketer of cherries and apples from Hansen Fruit in 2018.

Related stories:

CMI adds apple capacity with Yakima Fruit agreement

Washington Fruit rebuilds from fire

Starr Ranch to market Stadelman’s apples, pears, cherries

Stemilt treats organic apples with Apeel to extend freshness

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:35:44 GMT

Stemilt Growers , Wenatchee, Wash., is using Apeel Science’s shelf-life extension technology on Artisan Organics-branded apples this season.

Stemilt researched Apeel’s plant-based coating, which helps produce retain moisture.

“Our in-house research and development team has studied Apeel on organic apples for two years now, and we see it as a huge benefit in helping us on our journey to deliver Artisan Organics apples with flavors and qualities that delight,” Brianna Shales, senior marketing manager, said in a news release.

The process leads to crisper and juicier organic apples that maintain color and overall appearance, according to the release.

“Stemilt believes that a fantastic eating experience with organic apples will lead to increased purchasing and greater demand for organics,” Shales said in the release. “Apeel is going to help us deliver that crisp, juicy and flavorful organic apple consistently, which ultimately benefits growers, retailers, and most importantly, the organic shopper.”

Apeel was founded in 2012 and has tested its products with dozens of organic produce items.

“We share their (Stemilt’s) passion for improving the consumer experience and see Apeel’s plant-based technology as an important tool in their toolbox,” Lauren Sweeney, director of marketing at Apeel, said in the release. “Together, we can build demand through quality and reduce food waste.”

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NW pear production set to drop, but still a ‘solid crop’

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:03:51 GMT

Northwest pear growers are estimating the 2019-20 fresh market crop will be 17.3 million 44-pound box equivalents, a drop of 9% from the previous harvest, and 6% the industry’s five-year average.

The drop didn’t affect organic production, which at 10% of the overall crop, is seeing a 20% gain on last season’s production.

The estimate, compiled at the Pear Bureau Northwest’s May 30 meeting in Portland, Ore., includes estimates from Washington’s Wenatchee and Yakima districts, and Oregon’s Mid-Columbia and Medford districts.

Despite the lower numbers in the crop’s initial estimate, Pear Bureau Northwest CEO Kevin Moffitt said it’s a solid crop.

“For retailers, there are numerous opportunities for growth in the pear category, and we are providing retailers with the customized data and insight needed to set up the most effective promotions to take advantage of the profit potential of Northwest pears,” Moffitt said in a news release.

Estimates for pear varieties, and their percentage of the overall crop, are:

Green anjous:8.8 million boxes (51%);
Bartletts: 4.4 million boxes (26%);
Boscs: 2.2 million boxes (13%); and
Red anjous: 1 million boxes (6%).

The green anjou and bartlett crops are down single digits, but the bosc estimate is a 30% drop from the most recent season and 23% lower than the five-year average. Red anjou estimates are a slight increase over last season, according to the release.

Organic production is expected to be 1.76 million boxes, 10% of the total crop. That’s a 20% increase in organic production from the 2018-19 season. Of that, about 652,000 boxes will be green anjous, about 645,400 boxes will be bartletts and about 272,400 are boscs, according to the release.

Harvests are expected to be about a week later than last season, which is close to the historical average. Starkrimsons start the first two weeks of August, followed in mid-August by bartletts. Anjou harvest starts the last week of August in all districts except in Mid-Columbia, which is early September. Bosc and comice harvest is from mid-August through mid-September, and concorde, forelle and seckel picking is in August and September in the four districts, according to the pear bureau release.

Promotions
Promotions in the U.S. and Canada will focus on nutrition, and the pear bureau is expanding digital engagement with retailers, including program development with social media and supermarket dietitians. A focus on telling the stories of growers and handlers will continue. Around the holidays, themes will focus on pear varieties and inspiration for dishes, cocktails and décor, according to the release.

December, National Pear Month, will feature promotions throughout the month, with a focus on Dec. 7, World Pear Day. Activities in top markets — Mexico, Central America, Brazil, India, and the Middle East — include in-store sampling, nutrition workshops, consumer advertising, movie promotional tie-ins and social media, according to the release.

Superfresh Growers sees ample pear supplies, promo opportunities

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:39:15 GMT

Domex Superfresh Growers , Yakima, Wash., is reporting good movement with the Northwest pear crop, with ample supplies to ship well into summer.

Supplies of green anjous will be shipping into the new crop season, and boscs into April, supporting spring promotions, according to a news release.

There are also opportunities for markets that perform well on lower-grade pears, according to the release.

“We are enjoying good supply on anjou pears right up to new crop pear season,” Catherine Gipe-Stewart, communications manager, said in the release. “There will not be a need to buy outside of the U.S., as domestic supply is healthy.”

Pear sizing is medium-to-large, she said, but there are still promotional opportunities for bulk and bagged fruit.

Superfresh Growers has plenty of organic pears, too.

“Organic pear demand continues to grow, as organic pear dollars are up 6.6% and organic pear volume is up 9.6% year-over-year,” according to Nielsen data for the 52-week period ending Jan. 25, Gipe-Stewart said in the release.

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Northwest cherry export forecast optimistic

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:09:37 GMT

Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, Northwest cherry growers are optimistic about export opportunities this season.

About 35% of the Northwest cherry crop has gone to export markets in recent years, according to a news release from commodity group Northwest Cherry Growers , Yakima, Wash.

“Our key markets of China, Taiwan, Korea and Vietnam are handling the pandemic very well and businesses have started to reopen,” Keith Hu, vice president of international business development, said in a news release. “Due to lost revenues, retailers are very keen on the arrival of Northwest cherries, and we intend to run aggressive promotion campaigns in those markets this summer.”

While a stronger U.S. dollar will slow sales to markets including Australia, Brazil and the Philippines, B.J. Thurlby, president of Northwest Cherry Growers, is confident overall exports will perform better than expected as the pandemic continues in the U.S.

“However, we are lucky that our core volume markets of China, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam seem to have handled the COVID-19 outbreak as well as can be hoped and are well on the way to recovery,” Thurlby said in the release.

Just how many boxes those countries take is the “million-dollar question,” he said. A realistic estimate is six million 20-pound boxes, Thurlby said in the release. That could end up being 30% of production, which is expected to be lower than in several years.

In 2017, Northwest cherry exporters shipped more than a combined 7 million boxes to Canada, China, Taiwan and the Republic of Korea, commonly known as South Korea.

Exporters of the crop ship 95% of the cherries by air, and although there are fewer flights available, low fuel costs will help them deliver fruit at competitive prices.

“Three out of four of our key markets are major airline transit hubs in Northeast Asia (Seoul, Taipei and Shanghai),” Hu said in the release. “Therefore, getting both direct commercial and cargo flights to China, Taiwan and Korea will not be an issue.”

By June, airports in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles will have regular flights to northeast Asian cities from these airlines, according to the release:

Korean Air
Asiana Air
EVA Air
China Airlines (Taiwan)
Delta
United
ANA
UPS
FedEx
China Eastern Cargo
Air China Cargo
Korean Air Cargo
Asiana Air Cargo
China Airlines Cargo
Polar Cargo

For more coverage on how the global pandemic is affecting trade, see The Packer’s COVID-19 webpage .

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Pear Bureau NW forecasts more pears this season

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:41:13 GMT

Pear growers in Washington and Oregon estimate they’ll produce 18.9 million standard box equivalents, which at 415,000 tons for the fresh market is an 18% increase from the small 2017 harvest, but equal to the five-year average.

Pear growers representing Washington’s Yakima and Wenatchee districts and Oregon’s Mid-Columbia and Medford districts met May 31 during the Pear Bureau Northwest’s annual meeting in Portland, Ore., compiling reports for the season’s first production estimate, according to a news release from the bureau.

The pear bureau has broken down the estimates by variety:

Green anjou, almost 50% of the crop, with 9.3 million cartons;
Bartletts, 24% of the crop at 4.6 million cartons;
Boscs, 16.7% of the crop at 3.2 million cartons; and
Red anjous, 5.6% of the crop at 1.1 million cartons.

If those estimates hold true, according to the release, green anjous will see a 10% bump in volume compared to last year’s low production. The Bartlett estimate, if it holds true, will be 24% more than last season, but just 5% higher than the five-year average. Bosc estimates put production at 42% more than last season, and 8% over the five-year average, according to the release.

Growers anticipate 1.64 million standard boxes of organic pears, about 9% of the overall Northwest pear production, according to the release. The green anjou, bosc and Bartlett organic production is expected to be 583,500 cartons, 321,050 cartons and 564,700, respectively.

“We will be grabbing the attention of consumers through a strong social media program and messaging through media and influencers while working to keep pears in front of today’s consumer,” Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of the Pear Bureau Northwest, said in a news release. “We will be connecting with them through online shopping sites, promoting meal kits with pears, targeted advertising and more.”

United Apple Sales hires Frank Davis, opens West Coast office

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:33:39 GMT

Lyndonville, N.Y.-based United Apples Sales opened a West Coast division based in Yakima, Wash., and hired Frank Davis as vice president of national business development.

The expansion will help cover the company’s growing national account customer base, the need for year-round supply assurance and expansion of other commodities such as pears , cherries and stone fruit , owner and CEO Ward Dobbins said in a news release.

“Frank has over 20 years of vast experience covering everything from large national retailers to grower to senior sales management with some of Washington’s largest packers. We are looking forward to his passion for this industry and working with Josh to expand our domestic and import opportunities,” Dobbins said in the release.

The company’s Washington presence began in 2016, with the hiring of Josh Tunstall as vice president of Northwest sales, he said.

Davis is in his second year of a three-year term as board member of Washington Apple Commission and is a past chairman of the group. Most recently, he was with Yakima-based Washington Fruit and Produce Co. as vice president of sales.

Before that, he worked for Domex Superfresh Growers, Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers and Borton & Sons Inc. He has also been a board member of the U.S. Apple Association.

As far as the apple crop, the blooms in late spring and drop in early summer indicate a strong start to the coming apple season on both coasts, despite a late winter in Washington and a wet spring in New York, according to the release.

The wet spring caused an initial delay in field operations and targeted dates for planting new trees, but everything else is right on schedule, western New York procurement manager Justin Whipple said in the release.

“We anticipate very good fruit size on virtually all varieties this fall from western New York,” Whipple said.

In the upper Northwest, Davis said the crop may be a little behind harvest start dates from 2018, but summer temperatures will provide more accurate assessments.

“We expect a rather large crop coming off the smaller volume from last season,” Davis said in the release.

Related news:

Berry People supplies year-round demand, including organic

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:14:13 GMT

Berry People , Hollister, Calif., is moving harvest to the Pacific Northwest as production in Mexico and California winds down for the season.

The company, a year-round supplier of organic and conventional berries and avocados , will ship branded blueberries from Washington in late June and from British Columbia around July 10, according to a news release.

The company will have North American blueberries until about mid-September, when the imported berry season begins.

“Our overall blueberry supply has grown by over six-fold year-to-date, largely based on the groundwork laid in 2017-18,” Jerald Downs, Berry People president, said in the release. “Berry People has a substantial untapped blueberry supply base from shareholders and alliance partners, but we are being careful to expand based This year, the company’s North American blueberry production is expected to be more than triple what was shipped last year, bolstered by a new late-season Oregon crop. Peruvian blueberries also will help the company supply customers from mid-September through October.

“The majority of this new production will be organic, with peak volumes in October,” Downs said in the release. “Additionally, we expect significant growth from our existing northern Chilean supplier base, after a successful season last year. This fruit is also primarily organic.”

Berry People shareholders have new organic blueberry production in Jalisco, Mexico, developed for a fall harvest.

“As we reach critical mass in the blueberry category, we are dedicating more resources to its management to improve our overall genetic position, pack-style and packaging offering, market prediction and pricing, as well as program placement,” Downs said in the release.

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NW pear group appoints officers

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:05:02 GMT

The Pear Bureau Northwest recently appointed new officers on its board of directors.

At a May 30 meeting in Portland, Ore., new Pear Bureau members were named:

Mike Taylor, Wenatchee, Wash., chairman
Scott Martinez, Medford, Ore., first vice chairman;
Jordan Matson, Yakima, Wash., second vice chairman; and
Don Gibson, third vice chairman.

Their one-year term expires June 30, according to a news release.

New officers for the Fresh Pear Committee were also chosen:

Ed Weathers, Hood River, Ore., chairman;
Mike Parris, Wenatchee, first vice chairman;
Gene Woodin, Yakima, second vice-chairman; and
Matt Borman, Medford, Ore., is secretary/treasurer.

“As PBNW continues to find new ways to innovate the pear category and build consumer demand for Northwest pears, it is important to have strong partnerships and collaborations,” Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest, said in a news release. “The leadership that the industry puts in place is an important factor to keeping momentum and consumption high and always pushing the industry forward.”

Pear Bureau Northwest offers how-to school foodservice videos

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:56:47 GMT

One of Pear Bureau Northwest ’s newest initiatives as it ramps up outreach for the pear season is a series of tutorial videos providing pear ripening, serving and nutritional tips to professionals in schools.

In four short videos, viewers learn about the fresh pear industry and growers, nutrition facts, tips for ordering and handling, and how to prepare fresh pears for a school menu, according to a news release.

The videos will be available on the USA Pears foodservice website and shared with school foodservice professionals in newsletters and at training programs.

“These tutorial videos are easy and efficient tools to provide school staff with the basic training that it takes to serve the highest quality pears every time,” Kathy Stephenson, the bureau’s marketing communications director, said in the release.

As videos continue to grow as the dominant form of media in the digital landscape, the bureau is investing resources into developing fresh content.

Related news:

Starr Ranch to market Stadelman's apples, pears, cherries

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:38:57 GMT

Starr Ranch Growers, Wenatchee, Wash., will be marketing and selling Stadelman Fruit’s produce.

The sales partnership starts May 1 and adds more than three million boxes of apples , cherries and pears to Star Ranch’s portfolio of 21 million boxes overall, according to a news release.

Stadelman Fruit, Zilla, Wash., becomes a sister company, maintaining ownership of the storage and packing facility, packing fruit to Starr Ranch’s specification.

“This partnership adds to our scale and gives us the flexibility to pack any variety on any given day,” Brett Reasor, Starr Ranch CEO, said in the release. “The market requires that ability and meeting the needs of our core customers drives all of our business decisions.”

Stadelman Fruit adds a Yakima-based cherry program to Starr Ranch’s seven facilities in Washington, and extends its cherry season. Stadelman has three packing lines for conventional produce and an organic packing line.

“By aligning with Starr Ranch Growers, we are well positioned to serve both our land and the needs of the market,” Jeff Baldwin, president of Stadelman Fruit, said in the release. “Throughout the history of our company we strived to be a top provider of the best quality product.”

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Mike Boyle promoted, Bryce White hired at Organically Grown

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:07:10 GMT

Organically Grown Co. , Portland, Ore., has promoted Mike Boyle to vice president of sales and sourcing and brought on Bryce White as vice president of business operations.

Boyle joined the company in 2013, and has served in multiple roles since then, including his most recent position of director of sales and business development. Before Organically Grown, Boyle was at Whole Foods Market, leading Pacific Northwest procurement as a regional produce coordinator, and he also was director of produce for Andronico’s Community Markets in San Francisco. There, he implemented systems for purchasing, receiving, quality control and merchandising, according to a news release.

White has had a career in beverage manufacturing and distribution, according to the news release. He’s described as a “thought leader in plant management, store delivery and supply chain tactics,” in the release. He most recently led the Corporate Supply Chain and Strategy work at Columbia Distributing. Before joining Colombia, he was at PepsiCo for 14 years.

“Mike and Bryce have been strategic leaders in their respective industries for decades” Organically Grown CEO Elizabeth Nardi said in the release. “These exceptional additions to the Organically Grown Co. leadership team further strengthen our steadfast commitment to continued pioneering leadership and innovation in the organic supply chain.”

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Starr Ranch Growers hires three in sales and marketing

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:31:20 GMT

Starr Ranch Growers , Wenatchee, Wash., has added three people to its sales and marketing staff.

Jason Fonfara is in the export/domestic sales and marketing department. He most recently was in sales and marketing at FirstFruits Marketing for two years, and before that was at Domex Superfresh Growers for 8 ½ years as an account manager for apples, pears and cherries. He also was at CDS Distributing from about four years, specializing in export and domestic sales.

Fonfara is based at Starr Ranch Growers’ Yakima, Wash., office, according to a news release.

Randy Eckert has also joined the company’s Yakima sales and marketing department. He has worked for Northwest fruit companies including Pacific Fruit Growers & Packers, Haas Fruit Co. and most recently Yakima Fresh where he was for 15 years, according to the release.

“These hires add great depth and knowledge to our domestic and export teams,” CEO Brett Reasor said in the release. “We look forward to their help and guidance with retailers as our company moves forward.”

Morgan Maitoza is in a newly created position at Starr Ranch Growers, social media and communications manager, working remotely from Monterey, Calif. She was a marketing intern at Naturipe Farms and most recently was a marketing manager at California Giant Berry Farms.

Krista Beckstead, whose title was marketing and brand specialist, is now brand manager at Starr Ranch Growers, according to the release.

“We are excited to reach this milestone with our marketing department,” Dan Davis, director of business development, said in the release. “The addition of Morgan strengthens our team’s capabilities so we can develop programs that will enhance our consumer outreach and brand recognition activities.”

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Pear Bureau NW launches shoppable recipe technology online

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:56:47 GMT

Recipes on Pear Bureau Northwest ’s website are now shoppable for consumers, one of several tactics to kick off the season in September.

The tool allows visitors to USAPears.org to purchase ingredients from the online retailer of their choice directly from the recipe page, according to a news release.

To implement this technology, Pear Bureau Northwest teamed with Whisk, a platform that connects recipes, products and shopping choices using artificial intelligence and deep learning.

Tracking more than 500 million monthly user interactions, Whisk’s clients and partners include Amazon, Walmart, Instacart, Food Network and Allrecipes.

“Consumers are increasingly looking for convenient ways to do their shopping online and from a mobile device. Adding Whisk’s technology to the USA Pears website allows us to provide consumers with the easiest possible way to purchase pears whenever they are browsing pear recipes,” Kathy Stephenson, Pear Bureau Northwest marketing director, said in the release.

The bureau has more than 400 pear recipes on its website, Stephenson said.

To promote this shoppable technology, the bureau plans to use social media and newsletters, according to the release.

Tactics include unpaid social media posting and targeted digital ads across multiple platforms, driving website traffic and encouraging the use of the purchasing and shopping list options.

Related news:

Northwest pear growers expect less fruit this season

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:56:38 GMT

CORRECTED: Pear volumes out of the Pacific Northwest in 2019 will be down, and the crop will late, but growers, shippers and marketers are upbeat about the upcoming season.

“We’re looking to capitalize on last year’s successes we had with several retailers and help push the category forward as a whole,” said Dan Davis, director of business development at Wenatchee, Wash.-based grower-shipper Oneonta Starr Ranch.

According to the Milwaukie, Ore.-based Pear Bureau Northwest, the industry compiled its first estimate for the coming year on May 30, forecasting 17.27 million carton equivalents. That would be down 9% from the 2018 harvest of 18.84 million and 9% below the industry’s five-year average.

Bartlett and anjou volumes likely will match last year’s take, but gold bosc numbers will shrink about 20%, according to the estimate.

Harvest may be about a week later than last year, with bartlett pears hitting the retail stores in the second half of August, the bureau reported.

As of July 12, the industry had sold 98% of last fall’s fresh pear crop.

“With about 450,000 boxes left to ship, there will most likely be anjou pears available into mid-August,” said Kevin Moffitt, president and CEO of Pear Bureau Northwest.

Shipments last season started out relatively slow, due to export pressures and additional apples and grapes in the domestic market during the first several months of the season, Moffitt said.

Suppliers described the summer growing conditions as optimum.

“This year we expect an increased volume with our packers on green pear varieties, while the crop will be slightly down on bosc,” Davis said.

Growers say bosc trees tend toward alternate bearing, so lower expectations this year aren’t a surprise.
The only issue — more of a minor quibble, Davis said — was timing.

“Right now, the crop is trending only slightly later than (normal), but growing weather this year has been great with our relatively mild summer thus far,” he said.

“We anticipate being able to have volume available from harvest through to June of next season on core items.”

The crop appeared to be five to seven days later than last year, said Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing with Yakima, Wash.-based Sage Fruit Co.

“The weather overall has been relatively mild this summer, which has slowed the growing process a bit,” he said.

The Hood River, Central Washington, and Cashmere/Northern growing regions came through the spring bloom with very little frost damage, said John Long, director of sales and operations at the Union Gap, Wash., branch of Raleigh, N.C.-based L&M Cos.

“Overall, the 2019 pear crop in the Northwest looks good,” he said. “We have had good weather throughout bloom and the growing season, so at this time all looks pretty favorable.”

Most growers will begin packing bartlett and red sensation/red bartletts about Aug. 20, and bartletts should continue through January or, perhaps, early February, Long said.

“We will continue to put a bigger percentage of bartlett pears into CA (controlled-atmosphere) storages in order to stretch the marketing season and avoid competition with the California bartlett pear crop,” Long said.

Bartletts should peak on larger sizes throughout the season, Long said.

Anjou, bosc and other varieties of winter pears will begin about the middle of September and continue through June or mid-July, “depending on how the pears hold up in storage,” he said.

The size of the winter pears will also be large, with most growers peaking on 70s to 100s, Long said.

“This sizing fits the retail business and is targeted by the growers in order to get the best return possible,” he said.

Note on correction: The original headline on the story reported the size of the crop incorrectly.