Our fourth and fifth generation apple and pear growers have been committed to bringing you fresh, nutritious, quality fruit since our first apple tree was planted in 1903. Food safety and sustainability are our top priorities when growing both conventional and organic varieties. We know that the fertile valleys of Central Washington will take care of us as long as we take care of them.
We spoke with 4th generation grower & Chelan Fresh™ Organic Sales Manager, Kevin Stennes earlier this year about what it’s like to be in the organic fruit industry right now, and what we can look forward to in the future. Here’s what he had to say.
What do you offer that the organic industry would be interested in and why?
“Steady volume and supply of the “mainstream” varieties (Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Granny, Pink Lady, Bartlett, Bosc, d’Anjou, Red d’Anjou) as well as new varietals like Cosmic Crisp® and our exclusive SugarBee® and Rockit™ apples.”
What steps have you made to grow in the organic fresh produce category?
“Beyond expanding our own Organic assortment and acreage, we continue to attract additional 3rd and 4th generation growers to Chelan Fresh who are experienced and passionate about producing quality organic fruit that consumers can enjoy. We also have worked to form relationships with Organic producers in New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere that provide imported fruit as needed to maintain supply during the summer months.”
What are the challenges you face as we head to summer of 2022?
“This Summer we will be working to maintain a consistent supply of Organic Apples to our retail partners in a market that is going to get tight on some key varieties. We planned ahead to ensure we brought in enough Imports to bridge the gap to the new crop. Inflation is another factor that we are constantly managing through reducing our costs throughout the Supply Chain wherever possible, but there are fixed costs that we cannot control, like labor and fertilizer. This requires us to be very efficient and creative in how we responsibly manage the rising costs while keeping consumers engaged in the Apple, Pear and Cherry categories.”
Conversely, what opportunities are there in the year ahead?
“We are expanding our Organic storage and production capacity in order to ensure year-round supply of core apple varieties. The enthusiasm at retail for our proprietary Organic SugarBee® and Organic Rockit™ apples has been encouraging for our growers and sales team members. These varieties each fill a unique niche of the manifest and support top line performance while offering shoppers something new and fresh in the Apple Category. The flavor and texture of a SugarBee® stands out from the crowd and our naturally miniature Rockit™ apples have helped reinvigorate the fresh Apple category.”
What is the latest buzz at the company? What are you excited about?
“Chelan Fresh went through a bit of a restructure which granted us the opportunity to reinvent ourselves at a time when consumer needs have evolved and their expectations are higher than ever. This Fall we are launching two new brands, Joyfully Grown™ and Joyfully Grown Organics™. These brands honor the legacy of our 4th-5th generation farm families and bridge the gap between consumers and the people who work behind the scenes to grow, pack and ship some of the freshest and most flavorful Apples, Pears and Cherries grown in Washington state. We will be highlighting the joy we find through the process of raising fresh fruit and helping consumers to experience that same joy when they eat it.”
Any new products or services that we can highlight? If so, please detail.
“We are excited about our Organic SugarBee® and Rockit™ apples + an emerging line of red-fleshed apples called Lucy™.”
What is the company philosophy?
“We do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. We treat people right, honor the commitments we make and strive to provide the best service possible. Consumers today are savvier and more selective now than ever and we work hard to exceed their expectations with our product quality, engaging marketing campaigns and memorable brands. The new Joyfully Grown™ brand will open a doorway for them to better understand how our people and planet work together to bring an abundant supply of hand-picked fruit to the retail shelf.”
