SEATTLE, WA - RipeLocker has celebrated significant advancements in its partnerships with Gebbers Farms and Chelan Fresh, successfully improving the long-term storage and delivery of high-quality cherries for the 2024 season.

“Dropping acid levels, pitting, and brown stems make it difficult to hold cherries long-term. After six years of trials, we finally figured out the right techniques,” explained George Lobisser, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of RipeLocker. “I give credit to our collaboration between Johnny Gebbers of Gebbers Farms and our Director of Fruit Sciences, Brendon Anthony, PhD. They worked closely together to revise harvesting practices and RipeLocker storage protocols to successfully hold a cherry.”

After six years of rigorous trials, RipeLocker overcame the challenges of cherry preservation, optimizing both harvest timing and storage techniques. Cherries harvested in mid-July were successfully delivered to a major national retailer in mid-August, passing quality control without exceptions. Additionally, several RipeLockers were utilized to store cherries until mid-September, perfectly timed for the Chinese Moon Festival.

“These cherries would have easily passed QC by our receivers,” remarked Tom Riggan, Chief Executive Officer of Chelan Fresh. “The Chinese market would have especially valued the green stems.” According to a press release, RipeLocker’s innovations promise to transform the future of cherry distribution and preservation in the industry.

Looking ahead, RipeLocker expressed enthusiasm for the next season, as the national retailer plans to build on this year’s successes with multiple cherry varieties. RipeLocker’s technology has proven effective for other perishables, such as blueberries, roses, and fresh hops, and now stands as a game-changer for cherry storage.

“Another opportunity we see is the ability for growers to harvest before climatic events like excessive heat, and store before demand,” Lobisser noted. This breakthrough not only extends the cherry season but also enhances market opportunities for growers, packers, shippers, and retailers alike.

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