Stemilt Introduces the Skylar Rae® Brand Cherry
WENATCHEE, WA - Stemilt Growers is introducing its long-awaited Skylar Rae® brand of cherries in select markets this week.
Grown and marketed exclusively by Stemilt Growers, the Tip Top cherry cultivar is a bi-colored cherry with a firm texture and flavor profile that the company says makes it “The sweetest cherry you’ll ever eat™.”
West Mathison, President of Stemilt, acknowledged the one-of-a-kind, dessert eating experience of this cherry, noting its naturally sweet flavor.
“[Skylar Rae® cherries] are both extremely firm and sweet, with naturally high sugar levels that make it the sweetest cherry on the market,” he said. “Though volumes are limited in 2015, we are very excited to start introducing Skylar Rae® cherries to consumers, and look forward to increased volumes as trees come into production in the years to come.”
Measuring in at 23-25 brix, Skylar Rae® cherries contain the highest sugar content of any sweet cherry on the market, according to the company.
Discovered by chance in a Wenatchee, WA orchard in 2005 by the Toftness family, the new cherry was named after the heartbreaking loss of their infant daughter, Skylar Rae Toftness. Because of the timing of the discovery and events that surrounded it, the family knew this cherry was a rare gift from nature meant to honor their daughter.
Stemilt will market Skylar Rae® cherries in two packages during its short, four-week season from mid-June to mid-July: a convenient 1.25-pound pouch bag, and a smaller 1-pound clamshell. This will be the third sweet cherry SKU to have its own PLU number (3448), joining dark-sweet and Rainier.
Stop by Stemilt’s booth #1456 at United Fresh 2015 or check out the show’s Featured Product Showcase to get your first look at this latest cherry variety.
