HOOD RIVER, OR - Growing cherries is an art form. Just as a masterful painting takes passion, skill, and time to come into focus, so too does the act of growing the perfect cherry. Maintaining a strong legacy in the cherry space, Hood River Cherry Company takes a detailed, focused approach to bringing its evolving portfolio to consumers.

“Over the next one to five years, we will continue to grow the volume of our proprietary cherry, Timberline, in addition to other conventional varieties,” notes Jared Gidley, Chief Executive Officer. “We live and farm in the perfect cherry-growing microclimate that is the Hood River Valley. In order for us to increase our volume and maintain the highest quality, we must plant orchards in high-elevation sites. This process takes time, as property turnover in Hood River Valley is infrequent. Hood River Cherry Company has land that allows us to increase our acreage while also maintaining the perfect high-elevation locations.”

While driving portfolio growth, Hood River Cherry Company upholds its historic legacy by committing to growing tree-ripened, high-elevation cherries. Three central leaders are spearheading this company growth.

As CEO, Jared brings 15 years of experience working in fruit packing houses, in addition to working as an agricultural consultant and operating an orchard operation alongside his wife.

Chief Operations Officer Kristoff Fowler adds another decade of experience to Hood River’s executive team, bringing in-depth knowledge in the fruit packing space. Having taken over the COO role two years ago, Kristoff is in charge of the management of Hood River’s packing operations, as well as other special projects throughout the year.

Tony Guisto serves as Head of Sales at Hood River Cherry Company. He joined the team full-time this season after occupying a sales support role for several years. Tony brings a wealth of experience gained from his role as a Sales Agronomist for an agricultural sales company for the last 10 years.

Each of these leaders brings a depth of experience that will support Hood River in its mission to produce only the highest quality, high-elevation cherries.

Rooted in over three decades of family tradition, Hood River Cherry Company continues to honor the values and vision that shaped its beginnings. What started as a family orchard built on integrity, care for the land, and a relentless pursuit of quality now enters a new chapter—one guided by the next generation. With Jared, son-in-law to the founders, alongside Kristoff and Tony, their sons, the company remains firmly grounded in its heritage while embracing innovation and growth. 

Together, they carry forward a shared promise: to preserve the legacy of those who came before while ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy cherries grown with the same devotion and craftsmanship that define Hood River Cherry Company.

“It's easy to cut corners, but by cutting those corners, you lose out on what makes our cherries so special. They need to ripen on the tree, which is a process that cannot be rushed,” Jared explains. “Hood River’s executive team has experience doing it the hard way and will not be deviating from the tried and true way of growing the world’s best cherries.”

Further elevating the sector, Hood River will also be offering 1 and 2 KG export packs as well as gift packs for consumers looking for a fresh addition to the cherry category.

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