WENATCHEE, WASH. — Tree fruit packer, grower and distributor Stemilt Growers completed 2023 with a 43% YoY increase in apple crop yield.
"Being a family-owned business, we continue to prioritize our core values of integrity, trust, humility, stewardship, and innovation, which are woven into everything we do," said West Mathison, CEO of Stemilt Growers. "As the business has continued to expand, those values, and our dedication to providing freshness to every consumer, continue to guide our decisions and ensure that with each new step we take, the company remains true to my grandfather's original vision of providing high-quality, trustworthy produce to consumers nationwide."
The company also celebrated the following five achievements in 2023:
- Progressive Grocer's Impact Award for Workforce Development & Employee Support for the "Project Search" Program
- Produce Business' Best in Marketing Excellence Award for the "Rave Apple Race" Campaign
- Washington Association of School Administrators' Community Leadership Award for the Eastmont High School Partnership with "Project Search"
- Good Fruit Grower Silver Pear Award to Stemilt Senior Vice President of Business Development Strategy, Mike Taylor
- Stemilt's Marketing Partners, Douglas Fruit, Named Good Fruit Grower's 2023 Growers of the Year
Stemilt is optimistic toward its expected volume, quality and sales performance in 2024.
"As growing conditions were tremendous this year, we anticipate impressive volume and quality in 2024 crop yields," said Brianna Shales, marketing director for Stemilt Growers. "That said, we are seeing apples like Cosmic Crisp, a varietal that broke into the top 10 by sales in 2023, and Honeycrisp, a top-seller across the category, positioned to have big years in terms of volume. In addition to that, Stemilt consumers can look forward to kid-favorite Lil Snappers apple bags continuing to be sold in stores as well as a new sustainable 4-pack for organic apples, which will be available under the Artisan Organics label."
