WENATCHEE, WA - With the annual Organic Produce Summit quickly approaching, Stemilt will be bringing together two key concepts that consumers search for in its showcase: sustainability and organics. Spotlighting its range of Artisan Organics™ products, the grower will be displaying its cherries, stonefruit, and apples, and talking about the upcoming organic pear season with buyers as they hit the show floor.

“Consumers love seasonal items like cherries and stonefruit, and we are always glad that we can produce these fruits organically at Stemilt,” says Brianna Shales, Marketing Director. “Not all growing regions have the right conditions to do that, and we hope that our high-flavor fruit exceeds shopper expectations for organics.”

At this point in the year, Stemilt is offering Artisan Organics cherries and apricots, with peaches and nectarines coming in mid-late July. Stemilt also has varieties of organic apples available in the summer months, including the sought-after Honeycrisp. Starting in August, all varieties of organic apples and pears will be available as the grower will begin harvesting its new crops.

“We are all about flavor and tree-ripened experiences when it comes to stonefruit,” Brianna continues. “Our entire crop of apricots, peaches, and nectarines is grown organically and certified organic. That makes for a fun differentiation at retail. We have an exciting package called Top Pick™ for peaches and nectarines that takes that flavor experience up a notch by promising ‘the most incredible fruit ever’ to the consumer. Our commitment to taste is about ensuring that organic fruit delights shoppers because that drives repeat purchases and increases demand for organic products.”

As buyers stop by Stemilt’s booth, the company will be emphasizing its organic cherries, which come in various packaging but most commonly pouch-style bags for random-weight purchases. Stemilt will also be highlighting its popular fixed-weight Top Seal packaging that uses 20 percent less plastic than clamshell packaging and provides added differentiation for organic cherries.

“For organic summertime fruits like cherries and stonefruit, it’s all about driving additional dollars to the organic category by expanding the number of seasonal products on the shelf,” adds Brianna. “There aren’t many ‘true’ seasonal items in produce anymore, but cherries have that going for them. Retailers must respond by taking advantage of every week and include organics if it makes sense with their overall produce strategy. Organic cherries are incredibly hard to grow, but we lead the way, centering our program on freshness, flavor, and BIG fruit size.”

As if all of Brianna’s talk about Stemilt’s organic fruit wasn’t exciting enough, the grower will also be sponsoring a keynote address at OPS 2022.

“OPS has evolved into a must-go event, and we are very excited to be back this year,” explains Brianna. “We look forward to meeting with retailers and strategizing about how we can continue to capitalize on the excellent growth that organics—especially organic fruits—have had over the last few years.”

To get an in-depth look at Stemilt’s Artisan Organics lineup and see the team's smiling faces, stop by booth #403.

Stemilt