Stemilt is digging for pear program gold

Stemilt is digging for gold — if gold were a new pear packingline. Stemilt’s automated pear line is aimed to be fully operational by 2024 after breaking first grounds at Stemilt Growers in Wenatchee, WA.

“We are very excited to be breaking ground on our new Rushing Rivers pear facility with expectations to be operational in February 2024,” said Vice President of Production Todd George. “The pear packing line will be connected to our Fresh Center distribution facility where we have all the infrastructure to ripen pears and get them cold quickly in our forced air tunneling rooms.”  

Earlier this week Stemilt was in the process of breaking ground and moving water/sewer/storm lines from out under the building. Later in the week, the site will undergo inspection and approval to begin the next step, excavating the footings of the building.  

“We hope to have the foundation and walls of the building complete by the end of August so we can start installing the line,” said George. “The new facility will vastly improve productivity with state-of-the-art capabilities in handling, sorting and packaging.”