Nature's Candy and XXL Cherries are the successful programmes of the US group CMI Orchards

06 Jun 2024
866

Cherries are at the center of CMI Orchards' activities, being one of the main products grown, packed, and shipped. With one of the largest selections of cherries on the market, including Red and Rainier varieties, both conventional and organic, and branded options like Skylar Rae and Strawberry Cherries, the company caters to the diverse preferences of buyers.

“Our cherry program, Nature's Candy, and our jumbo cherry program, XXL Cherries, ensure something for every buyer,” said Joel Hewitt, vice president of sales at the Wenatchee, WA-based company.

"While many products are available for 52 weeks, cherries stand out as a seasonal delicacy that constantly fuels demand, ensuring high profits for retailers. We have warehouses and growers specifically dedicated to cherries to ensure that every summer is stocked with this sought-after fruit."

The cherry segment changes from year to year, going through a short but critical period, influenced by various factors. Despite unpredictable elements like the weather, CMI Orchards' activity in the cherry sector has steadily grown, thanks to the relentless pursuit of high-quality fruit.

“Our goal remains to provide cherries with exceptional flavor and size, ensuring customer satisfaction and repeat business,” Hewitt said. “With the recent partnership with Starr Ranch, we gained 33% more tons compared to last year and now hold a significant share of the market for Northwest cherries.”

Rochelle Bohm, vice president of marketing, emphasized that despite the challenges posed last year by the overlap of California and Northwest cherry seasons, the company recorded some of the best consumer cherries they could have wished for.

“Every season is dynamic and complex for different reasons, and it is difficult to make a comparison between seasons due to all the variables,” she said. "Volatility is one of the only certainties of the cherry season, but it is part of the excitement. Last year, our crop was 48% higher than the previous year, which had decreased by 35% from the year before."

During the 2022 sales season, we experienced an extreme compression due to harvest timing. Our full season was shorter, and the harvest time was compressed into fewer weeks."

CMI Orchards' customers are retail partners who support the company during the cherry season, keeping cherries on shelves, promoting and caring for them, as well as consumers who love to eat delicious Northwest cherries.

“Strong partnerships are based on mutual trust, transparency, communication, and shared success,” Hewitt said. “By aligning the interests of growers, retailers, and consumers, CMI adapts and overcomes every obstacle, ensuring our customers only the highest quality fruit on the shelves.”

CMI Orchards continues to consider growth opportunities, and the recent expansion of the entire portfolio - apples, pears, and cherries - has enabled the company to serve customers more comprehensively than before.

“Our cherry volume has doubled this year compared to last year, and if Mother Nature continues to cooperate, we will have the supply needed to satisfy customer demand throughout the summer,” Hewitt said. “Along with our best-in-class promotional tools, retailers leveraging our highly customizable campaigns know we have all the tools needed to drive more items both short and long term.”

Read the full article: The Produce News
Image: CMI Orchard


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Chilean cherry prices down 50 per cent: oversupply in the Chinese market

Markets

07 Feb 2025

‘This is an expected phenomenon, due to oversupply,’ says Jorge González, agricultural economist at INIA. ’The increase in cultivated areas has generated a supply pressure that exceeds the capacity of demand, which leads to a fall in prices.

Climate changes increase the risk of spring frosts in sweet cherry

Tech management

21 Jul 2023

Frost represents an abiotic climatic factor that can harm both plants and animals. This study investigated the timing of the cherry tree's onset of flowering, completion of flowering, and length of flowering in the Czech Republic under various climatic circumstances.

In evidenza

Poland Hit by Frost: Cherry Production Down 30% in 2025/26

Markets

09 Jul 2025

Poland’s cherry output is forecast at just 115,000 tons in 2025/26, marking a 30% drop due to severe spring frosts. Early varieties were worst hit, with some orchards losing up to 90%. Imports rise sharply while domestic inventories vanish, tightening the EU market.

Digital twins for cherry trees: German research featured in Kansas (USA)

Tech management

09 Jul 2025

During the Precision Agriculture Conference in Manhattan, Kansas, German researchers unveiled For5G: a project using digital twins to monitor cherry tree growth. This technology enables accurate yield forecasting, smarter crop management and adaptation to climate-related challeng

Tag Popolari