Sage Fruit Company Partners with Congdon Orchards
YAKIMA, WA - A new partnership has entered the Washington stonefruit ring in the form of Sage Fruit Company and Congdon Orchards. Effective August 1 of this year, the grower/packer/shipper will welcome Congdon Orchards to its team in a merger move that enhances the marketing, sale, and distribution of its apples, pears, and cherries.
“We are excited by the addition of Congdon Orchards to the Sage Fruit Family,” stated Steve Clement, CEO of the Sage Fruit Company. “This partnership—with such an outstanding growing and packing operation—to Sage Fruit is an important step in our overall growth strategy. It enhances our ability to supply our customers with the best tasting, highest quality tree fruit Washington State has to offer, year-round.”
Through this new partnership, Sage Fruit will add a considerable volume of Washington state apples, pears, and cherries to this year’s crop, as well as next year’s cherry crop, a press release explained.
Sage Fruit Company already has three packing facilities from Central Washington: Legacy Fruit Packers, Valicoff Fruit, and Olympic Fruit, respectively. Congdon Orchards will be joining as another vertically-integrated farming operation complete with its own packing and cold storage facilities.
“We are excited to join Sage Fruit as an equal partner and build upon our relationship in order to market and sell high-quality, great tasting fruit to customers worldwide,” stated Dick Woodin, President/CEO of Congdon Orchards. “We look forward to working closely with the Sage Fruit Team.”
How will this new partnership boost the already hot cherry and apple market in Washington state? AndNowUKnow will keep you up to date.
