Washington Fruit Growers, one of the leading players in the fruit industry of Washington State, has officially completed the installation of its new cherry packing line. A cutting-edge facility, designed to increase operational capacity and ensure high standards of efficiency and quality in product handling.
Construction work began in August 2024, following a design phase that started in May of the same year. The project was led by Unitec Group, an Italian company specialized in fruit selection technologies and packaging. The new line is located next to the original facility, optimizing the existing infrastructure to streamline space usage and make the production flow smoother.
Thanks to this new installation, Washington Fruit Growers expects a significant increase in operational capacity. “The new line allows us to optimize core processes and respond more promptly to customer needs,” said Tommy Hanses, CEO of the company. The system not only enhances service quality, but also helps to strengthen the organic cherry segment and expand personalized packaging options for the end consumer.
This expansion is part of a broader strategy aimed at making cherry production more synergistic with that of apples and pears, sectors in which the company already boasts important volumes and a strong reputation.
With over a century of operations behind it, Washington Fruit Growers continues to invest in innovation and sustainability, remaining true to its founding values: quality, efficiency, and relationship-centered operations. The commitment to a more efficient supply chain concerns not only the product, but also the communities and markets in which it operates.
The new packing line therefore represents not only a technological step forward, but also a statement of intent: to grow alongside global demand without ever compromising on excellence.
Text and image source: freshplaza.com
05 May 2025
A new Chinese study reveals how anthocyanins determine sweet cherry color, opening new prospects to improve quality, nutrition, competitiveness in global and local markets, with potential applications in Europe, Italy, and future breeding innovations worldwide.
17 Sep 2024
According to an announcement by the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, this annual effort aims to provide the industry with guidance for pest management decisions, considering maximum residue levels (MRLs) in some foreign markets.
30 Jul 2025
The sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) is rapidly spreading in Argentina’s Los Alerces National Park. Its combined sexual and asexual reproduction extends fruiting season and attracts wildlife, increasing its invasive potential and threatening sensitive native species.
30 Jul 2025
The Ukrainian late cherry positions itself as a competitive product in foreign markets. Harvested in a strategic period, it avoids competition from early varieties and targets Middle Eastern and European markets with quality and optimal volumes for export.
