WENATCHEE, WA – With summer peeking its head just over the horizon, consumers are getting ready to fill their hands with the plump and juicy flesh of California cherries. Stemilt Growers is prepping for peak season with ideal growing conditions and unique buyside materials.

As Brianna Shales tells me, the company expects volumes of sweet cherries to increase daily throughout the next few weeks. Growers reported that the mid-70s weather recently experienced has been ideal for cherries. 

“We’re in peak season right now at Stemilt, with promotable volumes now through the next four weeks,” Brianna tells me. “From there, California cherries will taper off before wrapping in mid-June.”

Demand for the sweetness of California cherries is strong this year, offering retailers prime opportunity to capitalize on both impulse and repeat purchases. Brianna advises the time to pull for promotions is now as the stage is set in California to potential harvest a record size crop, with strong quality for both dark-sweet and Rainier cherries.

“The limited season for cherries always brings consumer excitement, and a good crop size from California with high qualities will really drive up that demand,” Brianna continues.

Stemilt plans to further boost its retail partners by offering a wide array of promotional materials to push cherries. The company will offer secondary display bins to merchandise the fruit during peak promotion times, in addition to signage, social toolkits with fruit photos, and more. 

“Cherries are an impulse purchase, so they have to be treated special in the produce department,” Brianna finishes. “If retailers keep quality high and dedicated a good amount of space in a high traffic area, they should see good results!” 

Contact Stemilt today for more information on its California cherry program.

Stemilt Growers