New cherry packing line completed by Washington Fruit Growers

22 May 2025
2653

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.

Advanced technology

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.

A vision for the future

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


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

MAP technology and refrigeration: how to preserve cherries after harvest

Post-harvest​

17 Jun 2025

Cherries stay fresher after harvest thanks to MAP technology and refrigeration. A study from Hunan University (China) highlights benefits for fruit quality, extended shelf life, reduced losses, and precise control of humidity, temperature, and microbial growth during storage.

Seaweed biostimulants for cherry trees: more fruit, better quality, less stress

Tech management

15 Dec 2025

Seaweed-based biostimulants help cherry trees produce more high-quality fruit, support growth and improve tolerance to environmental stress. The article outlines effective strategies to enhance cherry production during key stages of the growing cycle.

In evidenza

Reducing cracking and improving sweet cherry quality: the potential of 24-epibrassinolide

Tech management

28 Aug 2026

In Alicante, pre-harvest 24-BL treatments reduced sweet cherry cracking by up to 50% while improving fruit size, firmness, red color and anthocyanin content. Tests on ‘Sunburst’ and ‘Skeena’ suggest a promising strategy to protect orchards from extreme rainfall events.

Robots will help elderly Japanese farmers to grow cherries

Tech management

28 Aug 2026

In Nishikawa, Yamagata Prefecture, robots, drones and sensors promise to support winter sakura growers. Yet an aging workforce, depopulation and mistrust of technology reveal how uncertain the future of Japanese agriculture remains despite smart farming investments.

Tag Popolari