WENATCHEE, WA - CMI Orchards is manifesting some massive expansion as it recently announced an impressive growth trajectory. The Washington-based premium apple, pear, and cherry supplier has effectively accelerated expansion according to recent reports. Strategic partnerships with Yakima Fruit, as well as with Pine Canyon Growers, in addition to significant internal growth, has added over 4 million boxes to CMI’s lineup.

“This is all a part of a long-range plan for strategic growth to better serve our customers,” said President, Bob Mast. “The design began to unfold back in 2018 when CMI Orchards added Pine Canyon Growers as a grower, packer, and shipper. This addition greatly strengthened our manifest and our progress has enabled us to team up with another great partner in Yakima Fruit.”

As a result of recent growth, CMI reports the following increases in its core, organic, and branded offerings: Granny Smith (+89 percent), Gala (+44 percent), Pink Lady (+92 percent), Fuji (+62 percent), Honeycrisp (+62 percent), and organic Honeycrisp (+47 percent). According to a press release, the company’s total organic crop has surpassed 3.5 million boxes, which is made up of increases in core organic varieties such as Gala, Fuji, and Honeycrisp, in addition to branded organics which create opportunities for retail pricing tiers that help boost sales. In 2020, CMI will bring a Washington-grown EverCrisp to market, and will launch its first harvest of organic EverCrisp nationwide.

“Yakima Fruit, formerly connected to Yakima Fresh, has a highly desirable manifest that greatly bolsters our offerings, including exceptional early Honeycrisp and high-colored genetic strains of Honeycrisp, Gala, and Fuji,” said Mast. “The partnership also adds considerable Cosmic Crisp volume.” According to Mast, the partnership was executed on March 20, 2020.

Mast reports that in addition to high production orchards, the Yakima Fruit partnership brings an opportunity to strategize on future plantings with available unplanted acreage to best meet the needs of CMI’s retailer and consumer preferences for both apples and cherries.

“CMI is thrilled with the opportunity this blank slate provides and is looking into planting early cherry varieties, licensed branded apples and cherries, as well as high flavor, high quality core apple varietals,” he continued. “Between our exceptional domestic apples, premium managed varieties, year-round supply, and commitment to innovation, we are perfectly positioned to serve the growing needs of the market. We are very proud to welcome the Yakima Fruit team to the CMI Orchards Family and look forward to a long-lasting partnership.”

Further fresh partnerships and accelerated expansion are on the horizon, so stick with us at ANUK.

CMI Orchards