Stemilt Growers LLC, headquartered in Wenatchee, WA, is lighting up the blogosphere with information that will help consumers sink their teeth into the finest fruit available from the Pacific Northwest.

“We started a real blog two months ago,” Director of Marketing Roger Pepperl told The Produce News on May 29.

The blog, appropriately named The Stem, features three components. Pepperl said Tate Mathison, Stemilt’s domestic sales team leader, provides a farmer’s perspective about tree fruit production; Brianna Shales, the company’s communication manager, provides a consumer perspective; and recipe author Lorie Hopcus shares her culinary insights.

Stemilt Growers LLC recently launched its new blog, The Stem. (Photo courtesy of Stemilt Growers LLC)“The blog is seasonal and situational,” Pepperl said, noting that content is specifically geared to promote the flavorful fruit available at any time of year.

“This blog is being done right, and it allows us to talk about those contemporary things.” Interested individuals can navigate to www.stemilt.com/blog/ and opt-in.

The blog is an important component of the company’s social media campaign. Consumers can sign up to receive information several times during the year according to the specific interests they key in. Special commodity-specific recipe books are also being developed for download at the site.

Pepperl said the 2013 stone fruit season is progressing well. “We’re organic on peaches and nectarines,” he said.

“We’re pretty excited about it. It looks like it’s going to be a nice crop. We’re the local supplier in the Northwest,” he added.

Production will begin toward the end of June, and volume is expected to be similar to the 2012 crop year.

Because Washington is a late-season producer, Pepperl said Stemilt will move fruit through the pipeline on the heels of the California deal. “When the fruit’s good in the store, it sets a good stage,” he said.

While peaches and nectarines are primarily sold in bulk, the company does “offer some quarter totes,” he added.

Apricots are a big item at Stemilt. This season, volume is expected to be down 21 percent owing to impacts from cold, windy weather and poor pollination.

Despite the situation, Pepperl said, “We’ll have a nice crop.” Of the 2,000 cartons expected to be marketed this season, he said 140,000 of these cartons will be organic apricots. “We’re playing with some of the new varieties,” Pepperl said.

Production is expected to ramp up around June 24, and Pepperl expects good sizing in 2013.

New high-graphics pouch bags, for both organic and conventional apricots, will be introduced this season.

A variety of stone fruit display bins and customized posters will be available to retailers this season.