The tradition of innovation continues at Stemilt Growers as the family-owned company introduces a new bi-colored cherry, called Skylar Rae®, to produce departments this month. Skylar Rae® cherries are both the sweetest and firmest cherry that Stemilt grows, with sugar, or Brix levels ranging from 23-25 on average, and off-the-chart firmness.
With unique DNA and unknown parentage, this new plant cultivar, called Tip Top in the orchard, was discovered growing by chance in a Wenatchee, WA orchard back in 2004. The Tip Top cherry goes to market under the brand name Skylar Rae® and is the first cherry in years to be given its own product price look-up (PLU) number by the International Federation for Produce Standards. It joins dark-sweet and Rainier cherries as the cherry category’s third SKU.
“Skylar Rae® cherries are not only a distinct cherry variety, but they also have a distinct and very impressive flavor. They’ll crunch when you bite into one and then you experience a rush of sugars and juice. It’s an entirely new dessert eating experience for cherries,” said Stemilt marketing director Roger Pepperl.
Stemilt is the exclusive marketer of Skylar Rae® cherries in North America and has been planting the variety extensively in its cherry orchards across central Washington where they are typically harvested in June and early July. The company expects its Skylar Rae® volumes to rival its current Rainier tonnage by 2020.
“This year’s crop of Skylar Rae® cherries is fantastic and going to leave consumers who are lucky enough to try them excited for larger volumes coming in the future. At Stemilt, we are excited about adding Skylar Rae® as another premium offering to our industry leading cherry program,” said Pepperl.
Stemilt packs Skylar Rae® cherries in random-weight pouch bags and a new, dome-style 1lb. clamshell. Both pack types help distinguish the new cherry variety as special at the point-of-purchase and entice consumers with the tagline “the sweetest cherry you’ll ever eat.” The company also has stand-up displays for Skylar Rae that are ideal to put in checkout lanes.
“Merchandising is key when it comes to a new product like Skylar Rae cherries. Cherries are an impulse purchase and packaging, displays, and signage must be used to call attention to them and drive sales with your shoppers. Sharing Skylar Rae® on digital and social channels is another great way to tell consumers about this new cherry,” said Pepperl.
Beyond the incredible sweet flavor of Skylar Rae® cherries is the memory of Kim and Troy Toftness’ daughter, Skylar Rae Toftness. Shortly after her passing in 2004, the family was working at their Tip Top Orchards in Wenatchee, WA one rainy day when they saw a rainbow fill the sky. For them, this rainbow was a symbol that Skylar Rae was still, and always would be, with them. Not long after, Troy Toftness discovered a tree in his orchard producing a unique looking – and tasting – cherry. He considered cutting it down as chance discoveries like these rarely produce commercially viable fruit, but refrained. Not only was this cherry commercially viable, but it had the unique feature of being both super-sweet and firm. A decade later, Skylar Rae® cherries are entering the market.
“Skylar Rae® is a special cherry with a special story, and Stemilt is thrilled to be the one that gets to share it with consumers,” said Pepperl.
For more information:
Brianna Shales
Stemilt Growers
+1 509 662 9667