Stemilt Growers is taking a new step in its cherry innovation strategy by signing a commercial agreement with Licenses for Fruits and Plants (LFP) and Brandt’s Fruit Trees for the cultivation of KIR varieties. These are a premium selection of late and ultra-late cherries, both dark-sweet and blush, developed in Germany and designed to expand the production calendar with high-quality fruit.
The agreement brings together three family-owned organizations, active for multiple generations and united by a focus on innovation in tree fruit. The shared goal is to deliver a product that stands out for quality and supply continuity.
Thanks to this agreement, Stemilt and its licensed growers will be able to extend the cherry season through September, while also enhancing the consumer experience with its World Famous cherries in July and August.
Stemilt President West Mathison explained that the company has been visiting LFP’s test blocks in Germany for nearly ten years. For this reason, moving the project into the commercial phase represents both the culmination of long-term work and the beginning of a new development stage for the company’s cherry program.
KIR is the brand name identifying a series of sweet cherries developed by Hilmar Gräb in Kettig, Germany. The Gräb family’s work is focused on selecting traits highly valued by the market, such as size, firmness, and flavor, with a specific emphasis on late and ultra-late ripening windows.
This positioning makes KIR particularly attractive for companies aiming to extend the availability of high-quality cherries toward the end of the season.
Brandt’s Fruit Trees, a family business active in both farming and nursery production, serves as the KIR cherry program manager in the United States. The Brandt family collaborates with international breeding programs and growers to bring original, high-quality fruit varieties to market.
Kevin Brandt, Vice President and COO of Brandt’s Fruit Trees, highlighted the company’s strong focus on long-term relationships with breeders and growers, noting that the best products are often the foundation of the strongest partnerships. According to Brandt, the new program will make it possible to bring exceptional cherries to market well beyond the peak of summer.
The collaboration will also allow Stemilt to further expand its high-altitude cherry program A Half Mile Closer to the Moon, through the introduction of late-ripening and late-harvest KIR varieties.
Stemilt grower and owner Kyle Mathison explained that these fruits can significantly benefit from the company’s production areas, characterized by warm days and cool nights, a combination that enhances sugar accumulation, flavor development, and fruit firmness during late summer.
Hilmar Gräb, breeder of the KIR cherries, also expressed enthusiasm for the launch of the commercial phase, noting that he has identified in Kyle Mathison an outstanding grower in Washington State. According to Gräb, these varieties are ideally suited to Stemilt Hill’s high-altitude orchards, where they can produce distinctive, high-quality cherries with ripening extending into September.
The first plantings of KIR varieties began at Stemilt and among its licensed growers in 2024. In the coming years, these selections are expected to become a key component of the company’s cherry program.
They are expected to help balance and extend product availability in the final phase of the season, offering the market a more consistent and reliable supply toward the close of the campaign.
For Stemilt, the agreement with LFP and Brandt’s Fruit Trees marks a strategic step in the race for varietal innovation. As West Mathison emphasized, cherries remain a true passion for the company, and this project represents a key milestone in the effort to extend the season through September. Looking ahead, the introduction of KIR could strengthen the premium late-summer segment and redefine commercial opportunities for late-season cherries in the United States.
They are expected to help balance and extend product availability in the final phase of the season, offering the market a more consistent and reliable supply toward the close of the campaign.
For Stemilt, the agreement with LFP and Brandt’s Fruit Trees marks a strategic step in the race for varietal innovation. As West Mathison emphasized, cherries remain a true passion for the company, and this project represents a key milestone in the effort to extend the season through September. Looking ahead, the introduction of KIR could strengthen the premium late-summer segment and redefine commercial opportunities for late-season cherries in the United States.
Source: freshfruitportal.com
Image source: Graeb
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