The Yakima Valley of Washington State is one of the largest regions for cherry production. This is precisely where Chukar Cherries' fresh cherries will be grown for the 2024 season. This year, the supplier will process over half a million pounds of Washington cherries for use in tree-to-table cherry gifts and treats.
“Summer has an energy that brings our team together—we work hard during cherry harvest, expanding our workforce, and running night shifts,” says General Manager Tim Oten.
When the first bins of fresh cherries arrive at Chukar headquarters in late June, it’s a sweet blur until early August. Employees guide the cherries through each stage of processing: washing, de-stemming, sorting, pitting, and slow dehydration in warm air tunnels, a press release explained. This process happens around the clock, with cherries rotating through the dryers at all hours of day and night.
To celebrate the fresh cherry season, Chukar is partnering with Northwest Cherries for a giveaway of all things cherry. Those interested can enter to win on Facebook and Instagram.
“2024 has been a great season. Size and sugars are outstanding,” says Karley Lange, Director of Domestic Promotions at Northwest Cherries.
The cherry line is set up weeks in advance with efficiency improvements each year. In 2024, Chukar Cherries installed a third dehydrator, a new cherry sizer, and a dedicated laboratory to test sugar content and humidity, doubling the company’s previous fresh cherry processing capacity. These improvements are needed to supply growing demand for Chukar’s iconic cherry products. The improvements are also needed to prepare for increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, like the 2023 heat dome that caused nearly the entire crop to be harvested in just a 30-day period.
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