SugarBee harvest comes early this year
SugarBee harvest has arrived earlier than expected this year. An early cold snap pushed the much-anticipated fall harvest up by about a week and a half, which means that SugarBee apples are arriving in stores near you sooner than ever.
To celebrate the harvest, SugarBee growers created an event to mark the occasion and provide an opportunity for people to learn more about the way that SugarBee apples are grown, cared for, harvested, packed and shipped. The SugarBee Perfect Pick event meant some very special folks from around the U.S. got to travel to central Washington to experience firsthand the delight of apple harvest.
Perfect fall weather and row upon row of apple trees laden with crisp, juicy SugarBee apples greeted guests as they arrived in the orchards. Everyone got to pick a few apples to snack on as fifth-generation grower and orchard owner Hawkins Gebbers led the group on a tour, joined by Chuck Nystrom (SugarBee breeder), Reggie Collins (SugarBee propagator) and Cass Gebbers (fourth-generation grower). Lunch was enjoyed afterwards at nearby Gamble Sands golf course, followed by afternoon facility tour at a packing and storage location, then an incredible harvest dinner and wine tasting at Sorrento’s in Chelan, located on the famous Tsillan Cellars vineyard grounds.
Guests included some up-and-coming names in the apple world, including honeybee rescue couple Mr. and Mrs. Bee Rescue (Jeff and Julie Russell); Gina Calhoun, Scripps Spelling Bee National Teacher of the Year 2023; Lasheeda Perry, celebrated pastry chef and owner of Queen of Flavor; and Tracy Shaw from The Healthy Family Project, as well as influencers Annessa Chumbley, Shakira Patterson, Kait Thornton and Ashley Rowe.
