WENATCHEE, WA  and SHANGHAI, CHINA – Stemilt Growers of Wenatchee, WA have joined Lantao of Shanghai, China to be the first to market 2014 crop year Bing Cherries from Washington State into mainland China.

Mike Taylor, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Stemilt, is confident that this year’s Washington State Cherry crop can meet the demand.  “Growing conditions have lined up perfectly for us,” said Taylor.  “Because the conditions are so favorable, we are shipping heavier in June than normally, and we will fill the demand that we were unable to fill from California.  The quality and size from Washington will meet the premium fruit requirements that the Chinese market demands.”

“Although Stemilt had the best California cherries in the Chinese market, the overall quality and volume from California this year has been inconsistent,” said John Wang, CEO of Lantao.  “The poorer quality cherries brought the whole market down and now the market is really ready to step in and buy some better quality fruit.  Being first to market will allow us fill that demand quickly.” 

Dave Martin, Export Sales Director and Bill Young, Export Account Manager for Stemilt Growers sees China as its most important cherry export market, according to a press release.  “We appreciate working with Lantao because they seem to grasp our ‘philosophy’ when it comes to openness, trust, honesty, commitment and the belief in the quality of our fruit,” said Martin.

Lantao is one of the largest importers of imported fruit into China with distribution centers in 7 Chinese cities.  

Stemilt