Oneonta to handle sales and marketing for Diamond
Oneonta to handle sales and marketing for Diamond
WENATCHEE, WA -- In a recently forged agreement between two major Northwest fruit grower-shippers, Wenatchee, WA-based Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers has taken on exclusive sales and marketing for Diamond Fruit Growers in Odell, OR.
Oneonta Marketing Director Scott Marboe told The Produce News that a new label, "Diamond Starr Growers," is being introduced this season on cartons, totes and bags, and will be used in addition to the "Oneonta Starr Ranch" and "Diamond" labels.
He added that the Diamond sales staff, now working under the Oneonta umbrella, will handle calls at the Odell office, and fruit grown by the Diamond cooperative members will continue to be packed at the Oregon facility.
Oneonta, owned by Dalton Thomas, handles marketing and sales for Starr Ranch Growers and its orchards throughout Washington state. In addition to nine packing facilities, the operation has sales offices in California, Oregon and China.
Mr. Thomas said that the merger brings together two "strong companies with longstanding histories of growing and marketing outstanding tree fruits here in the Northwest. The increased demand from our customers for a stronger pear category, increased cherry availability and the expertise of our sales and marketing staffs will be most beneficial to both our companies as well as our customers."
Diamond President and Chief Executive Officer Al Gosiak said that the Oregon cooperative recognized that partnering with Oneonta would bring its growers greater value "for the long term."
Mr. Gosiak went on to say that Oneonta has a very strong program and is "very prevalent in the market both here in the United States as well as abroad. We are very excited about this partnership and the future."
The new strength in numbers will bring about increased volumes this season, with pears expected to come in at 2.6 million boxes.
"We'll have good Bartletts with a lot of 90s and 80s," he said. Varietals such as Concordes and both red and green D'Anjous will also be up."
"The demand is definitely there," Mr. Marboe said, adding that pears will start shipping in mid-August.
In addition, Oneonta will be working a new organic category in both apples and pears as a result of the agreement.
Oneonta Marketing Director Scott Marboe told The Produce News that a new label, "Diamond Starr Growers," is being introduced this season on cartons, totes and bags, and will be used in addition to the "Oneonta Starr Ranch" and "Diamond" labels.
He added that the Diamond sales staff, now working under the Oneonta umbrella, will handle calls at the Odell office, and fruit grown by the Diamond cooperative members will continue to be packed at the Oregon facility.
Oneonta, owned by Dalton Thomas, handles marketing and sales for Starr Ranch Growers and its orchards throughout Washington state. In addition to nine packing facilities, the operation has sales offices in California, Oregon and China.
Mr. Thomas said that the merger brings together two "strong companies with longstanding histories of growing and marketing outstanding tree fruits here in the Northwest. The increased demand from our customers for a stronger pear category, increased cherry availability and the expertise of our sales and marketing staffs will be most beneficial to both our companies as well as our customers."
Diamond President and Chief Executive Officer Al Gosiak said that the Oregon cooperative recognized that partnering with Oneonta would bring its growers greater value "for the long term."
Mr. Gosiak went on to say that Oneonta has a very strong program and is "very prevalent in the market both here in the United States as well as abroad. We are very excited about this partnership and the future."
The new strength in numbers will bring about increased volumes this season, with pears expected to come in at 2.6 million boxes.
"We'll have good Bartletts with a lot of 90s and 80s," he said. Varietals such as Concordes and both red and green D'Anjous will also be up."
"The demand is definitely there," Mr. Marboe said, adding that pears will start shipping in mid-August.
In addition, Oneonta will be working a new organic category in both apples and pears as a result of the agreement.
