Stemilt Grower’s California Op features Coral, 5 Islands Brand, and extensive cherry program

As the cherry season begins in California, Stemilt Growers (headquartered in Wenatchee, WA) is poised to bring consumers their “World Famous” California cherries. Leveraging it’s commitment to new plantings, high-end varieties, and uniform growing practices, Stemilt is excited to offer an extensive cherry program running May 1 through Labor Day –– a timeline unrivaled by US shippers. Brianna Shales, Marketing Director, also highlighted the statewide success of Stemilt’s Coral cherries, “Today Coral is the #1 varietal in California, swapping 1st and 2nd place with Bing –– known for its consistent fruit set, Coral is a large cherry with a high eating quality.”

New this season, Stemilt has brought online a new automated packline for its California Rainiers. The state-of-the art tech allows packers to detect bruising and softness that would have been otherwise impossible to detect with the naked eye. The new line, implemented in 2022, will allow Stemilt to move away from labor-intensive manual processes associated with Rainiers, to deliver a more consistent product for retailers and consumers.

Similarly, Shales urged retailers to check out Stemilt’s “5 River Islands®” branded cherries, grown in California’s Delta Region. The Delta is home to 1,100 square miles, 60 islands and 700 waterways, making for one of the most unique farmlands in the country, and ideal for California cherries. She explained, that cool breezes coming off the water consistently drop temperatures overnight roughly 10 degrees, setting up for ideal growing conditions and sugar development. Shales said, “5 River Islands® cherries were designed specifically to complement its growing region and program timeline to finish off the California season when we transition up north into Washington.”