WENATCHEE, WA - The deeper the snow, the better the cherries.

It’s a recipe passed down by fourth generation grower Kyle Mathison’s great grandfather, and one that Mathison himself was perplexed by before he understood the science behind the method.

“The deeper the snow… you have about three feet of snow that covers this beautiful land between November and the first of April,” he explains in a detailed company video. “During that time the temperatures are way below freezing all winter, but the soil temperatures remain at 42 degrees.”

Why is this crucial to cherry quality? Because of the time and the chemistry that happens throughout the winter, as he explains in detail in the 2:25-length video below.

Mathison’s knowledge in cherry growing is in his blood, inspiring Stemilt’s Kyle’s Pick™ program, well-known for offering premium cherries. Now he gives some insight into the methods his family has passed down since his great grandfather broke into the soil of Stemilt Hill in Washington in 1893.

“It’s hard to believe this beautiful climate, with this beautiful compost, works together to give us this rich soup that gives us these aromatic flavors that you can’t find anywhere else on earth,” Mathison says of the deeper the snow methodology that has fueled the program for four generations.

The fruits of that snow will be known soon enough! Harvest on Stemilt Hill kicks off in early July with Kyle's high-elevation cherries following in August.

Stemilt Growers