Stemilt Growers recently extended its packing line by 10,000 square feet to improve the quality of bagged apples with the addition of a second defect sorter and multiple automated bagging machines. The new line helps to reduce hand-to-fruit contact and meet consumer demand for bagged organic apples.

Owned and operated by the Mathison family, Stemilt has a mission to delight consumers with its “World Famous Fruits,” which include special varieties like Rave apples, Happi pears, and A Half Mile Closer to the Moon cherries.

Brianna Shales, Marketing Director, Stemilt

“Stemilt is a leader in sweet cherries and organic tree fruits and a key supplier of apples and pears,” said Brianna Shales, marketing director for the Wenatchee, Washington-based company. “The company stewards an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible business through its Responsible Choice program, which has been in place since 1989.”

“Stemilt’s Artisan Organics program has evolved over the years, and today, is the brand that apples, pears, cherries, and stone fruits fall under,” Shales said. “Artisan Organics is centered all around flavor to help Stemilt delight consumers with fresh, quality organic fruit. About 25 percent of Stemilt’s apples are certified organic.”

The company has been strategically growing its share of organic apples, focusing on key varieties that consumers love.

“We’re able to do this because of the favorable weather conditions in Washington state for organic growing,” Shales said.

“With organics being on the rise, Stemilt’s Artisan Organics EZ Band makes it easy to merchandise apples as organic and ensure rings at the register,” Shales said. “The EZ Band is a sustainable package that can be recycled in home containers and is a 4-count pack of organic or club apple varieties. It features a paper tray and band that is machine tightened to hold it all together.”

Pre-COVID, apple sales were about 80 percent bulk and 20 percent bagged. Those numbers shifted during and after the pandemic and are now 60 percent bulk and 40 percent bagged.

“The EZ Band offers a solution for selling larger-sized, bulk organic apples that is easy to merchandise for retailers,” Shales said. “It was designed to be easy on the shopper, retailer, and the planet.”

The EZ Band by Stemilt is available for core varieties including Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, and Granny Smith.

“[The EZ Band] was designed to be easy on the shopper, retailer, and the planet.” - Brianna Shales

The package can also be incorporated into organic displays to help draw consumer attention and encourage purchases.

“There’s ample opportunity within the organic apple crop this year for promotion,” Shales said. “Core varieties like Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith are all up in volume. This mix will be great for multi-variety ads to uplift the category as a whole.”

As far as varieties go, Stemilt has seen Cosmic Crisp rising in popularity alongside the long-time consumer favorite, Honeycrisp, as it aligns with flavor demand of consumers.

“Defining an organic apple assortment that includes seasonality can help keep the category fresh and draw consumer attention,” Shales said. “The easier it is for consumers to choose organic, the more volume and dollars will follow with it.”

Stemilt’s core philosophy is that when “World Famous Fruit” delights, both the retailer and consumer win.

“Stemilt is committed to freshness in every step of production and always strives to meet the flavor demands of consumers,” Shales said.