WENATCHEE, WA - Have you ever had a cherry so good that you howl at the moon after you’ve eaten it? If not, both you and your shoppers need to get in on the Stemilt Moon cherry hype. The fourth-generation grower’s A Half Mile Closer to the Moon® cherries are hand-picked, premium, high-quality cherries grown at elevations of 2,640 feet and higher.

“Moon cherry harvest is starting the first week of August at Amigos Orchards in Wenatchee, Washington, and we are excited about our plans for the cherry season finale,” said Brianna Shales, Communications Manager. “Amigos has the perfect climate for growing late-season cherries. The locale is ideal because the days aren’t as hot as other locales and it cools off at night, helping fourth generation grower, Kyle Mathison, grow firm, large, and super-sweet cherries.”

Mathison likes to align his cherry harvest with the days leading up to the full moon—August 15, for those who don't have a moon chart memorized. According to a press release, Mathison has found the extra gravitational pull from a full moon enhances nutrient delivery from the root of the trees to the fruit hanging from its branches. This extra gravitational pull results in harvesting fruit with high sugars, acids, and aromatics, which all leads up a premium eating experience.

“Moon cherries are a great differentiator at retail and a proven way to end the cherry season on a high note,” Shales stated. “The packaging and mystical story of these cherries highlight the quality inside and the unmatched passion of Kyle, the ‘Cherry King’ who has farmed for four decades.”

Varieties that can be found under A Half Mile Closer to the Moon brand include Skeena, Sweetheart, Staccato®, and Sentennial™, all late-ripening varieties. Each variety is firm, comes in large sizes (10 row and larger), and has a nice balance of sugars and acids. Options to load Moon cherries will begin the first week of August and will continue throughout the month.

“The varieties found under the Moon cherries label are what allow us to end the season with a grand finale,” said Shales. “They also leave retailers with a delighted consumer and a lasting memory of our World Famous cherries.”

Stemilt packs Moon cherries in random-weight pouch bags and 1 lb and 2 lb clamshells. The grower also offers multiple digital resources to help promote these delicious fruits in store, including a digital toolkit that features social media assets, POS and poster materials, video, photography, and more. Retailers will also have resources for Stemilt’s national holiday dedicated to Moon cherries, National Chant at the Moon Day on August 15.

“National Chant at the Moon Day is where we celebrate our premium Moon cherries and how the moon cycle can benefit cherries during harvest,” remarked Shales. “We encourage retailers to use this tool on a consumer level to elevate Moon cherry sales as well as share the story of our mystical Moon cherries.”

On top of its extensive promotional resources, Stemilt is also partnering with influencers across the country to target new market groups. More than 15 influencers will be sharing the Moon cherry brand across various social media platforms. Stemilt will also be supporting in-store sales with geo-targeted social ads that target social media users in major Moon cherry markets.

“We are constantly looking for ways to support the brand to ensure retailers find success at the end of the cherry season,” said Shales. “Using influencers who reach shoppers and geo-targeted social ads are effective yet simple ways to support retailer’s efforts in store.”

For the latest in what’s happening in produce, keep reading AndNowUKnow.

Stemilt Growers