Who We Are
The Stemilt Experience
Cultivating People and Delighting Consumers Through Excellence
Who We Are
Family-owned and operated, Stemilt grows, packs, and ships apples, pears, and cherries from some of Washington state’s finest orchards. We’ve made it possible to extend the season of one of nature’s most delicious gems, cherries, by growing in high-elevation orchards in Washington, and start the season with fruit coming from our California cherry orchards. For over 5 generations, our family has cultivated orchards in the heart of Washington, combining tradition with innovation. We are dedicated to sustainable growing practices and supporting the communities where we live and work, following our mission to cultivate people and delight consumers with our World Famous Fruit.
Tom Mathison
The Stemilt we know today exists thanks to its founder, Tom Mathison. Tom overcame countless challenges, growing up during tough times, serving in World War II, and battling the unpredictable forces of nature on the farm. No day was ever the same, and each year brought new obstacles. As his mother often said, “The only way we’re going to make this place pay is with a positive attitude.”
Through it all, Tom instilled in Stemilt a spirit of innovation, a passion for delighting people with exceptional fruit, and a commitment to supporting the next generation of growers.
Tom also chose the name Stemilt, meaning “coming from the mountains”, to honor the company’s Wenatchee Valley roots and the rich land where its orchards thrive.
What Binds Us Together
Our Stemilters are the reason we exist today, without them, World Famous Fruit could not be possible! We carry family values with us when we come to work and foster an environment where sharing ideas and perspectives are encouraged to help our team grow every day.
These are the values we conduct our work by:
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Integrity – Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
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Trust – Believing in and relying on one another.
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Humility – Putting the team above personal ego.
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Stewardship – Caring for our people, our planet, and our profits.
- Innovation – Striving to improve, adapt, and grow in everything we do.
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Meet The Mathisons
The Mathison family planted their first apple, pear, and cherry orchards on Stemilt Hill in Wenatchee, Washington in 1914.
Today, we’re led by 5th-generation farmer and President, West Mathison, who took the reins from his grandfather at just 28 years old. West continues the family legacy with a focus on innovation, community, and the World Famous Fruit brand. His brother, Tate Mathison, brings orchard experience to his role as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, ensuring Stemilt fruit reaches families around the world while staying rooted in the farm.
Meanwhile, 4th-generation grower Kyle Mathison, known for his ponytail, overalls, and passion, pioneers unique farming methods to grow some of the best-tasting fruit and extend cherry season.
Together, the Mathisons grow more than fruit. They cultivate people and delight consumers while continuing a legacy of excellence.
World Famous
Stemilters
World Famous Fruit couldn’t be possible without our dedicated Stemilters. We employ 1,600 people year-round and grow our workforce to 4,000 during cherry season.
World Famous
Fruit
Stemilt grows multiple different apple, pear, and cherry products! We've even got some of our own brands including Rave® and Aura® apples, 5 River Islands®, Kyle's Pick® and A Half Mile Closer to the Moon® cherries, and Happi Pear®.
World Famous
Freshness
We're a vertically integrated company which means we see our fruit through every step of the way, from the orchard, to the packing line, to the truck it ships on. By handling it all ourselves, we can maximize freshness!
World Famous
Community Care
Stemilt is committed to supporting the people within the Wenatchee Valley community to make a larger impact in the areas of education, wellness, and nutrition, whether its contributing to scholarships and local partnerships or providing a space for workforce development programs.
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The Family Homesteads On Stemilt Hill
In 1893, the Mathison family homesteaded 160 acres on Stemilt Hill near Wenatchee, Washington. Their deed remained secure as long as they farmed the land, laying the foundation for generations to come. First-generation farmer, Thomas Cyle Mathison, played a key role in the community as a founding partner of the Stemilt Creek Irrigation Company, bringing vital water to the land and paving the way for the family’s very first orchards.
The First Orchards Are Planted
With its rolling hills and fertile soils, Stemilt Hill reminded Thomas of his homeland, Scotland. The locale’s mild desert climate, snowy winters, and plentiful water supply would be the ideal place to grow fruit, so Thomas planted the family’s first 10 acres of apples, pears and cherries in 1914.
Stemilt's Founder Is Born
Thomas’ son, Chris Mathison, took over the family farm and gradually expanded the business with new plantings. He was also raising a family with his wife, A.J. In June 1926, A.J. gave birth to twins, Helen and Thomas Kyle, known as TK or Tom. Tom grew up going to school, playing football and working in the family orchard.
Young Tom Leads The Farm
After serving in World War II, Tom returned home to resume work on the family farm. Shortly after, his father Chris died tragically in a farming accident, and Tom was left to lead the farm. Over the next decade, the family struggled to keep the farm going. Tom married Lorraine Goldy in 1950 and the couple quickly started a family, with Bob born in 1951, Kyle in 1952, and Lavonne in 1953.
The Cherry Crop Disaster Happens
The family’s real challenge struck during the 1958 crop year. Tom had returned a mere $88 on his 100-ton cherry crop. This crop disaster was a turning point. If it weren’t for his wife’s business of selling eggs, cream, and painting houses, the family would have been forced to sell the orchards. Lorraine laid it out for him clearly stating: “Tommy, you figure out what is wrong and fix it, or go get a job to support this family.” So, Tom chose to fix the problem.
Tom Changes His Ways
In 1959, Tom followed his cherries to the East Coast and saw how poorly they perished after the long journey. The railcars packed with ice could not sustain the length of the journey, leaving most of the cherries ruined. So, Tom traveled to California to study how Italian families harvested cherries and returned home with knowledge and drive to transform his farming practices.
Stemilt Growers is Founded
Tom began packing his own cherries in a small-scale facility that he constructed with his new-found knowledge of picking and packing cherries. After his first year as a grower-packer, Tom followed his cherries to the same market on the East Coast where they sold for $40 for a 20 lb. box. A huge turnaround! The following year, several neighbors asked Tom to pack their cherries, and in 1964, Tom founded a fruit-packing business called Stemilt Growers.
Tom Builds The Olds Station Facility
Success in the 1960s led to continued expansion, and in 1975, Tom built an apple, pear and cherry packing and storage facility at Olds Station in Wenatchee, Washington. Tom’s sons, Bob and Kyle, became involved in the farming side of the business, while Tom managed packing operations and traveled the world to promote the Stemilt brand.
Tom Is The First To Sticker Apples
Tom believed people should know who grew their fruit and named Stemilt on that notion. With this belief, Tom became the first to place stickers on his apples with the Stemilt logo. Years later, price look-up (PLU) stickers would become the norm used today.
Tom Brings Innovation To Sustainability, Organics, And Cherry Packaging
Always ahead of his time, Tom launched Stemilt’s Responsible Choice® program in 1989, pioneering sustainability in the orchard. He introduced integrated pest management to reduce pesticides, converted orchards to organic, and added the ladybug to Stemilt’s logo as a symbol of environmental commitment. Tom also transformed cherry sales by being the first to package them in bags, an idea borrowed from the candy industry.
West Mathison Becomes President
In 2005, West Mathison, the grandson of Tom Mathison, stepped into the role of president at the young age of just 28. His early leadership at Stemilt reflected his deep family roots in the business, and energy to continue the legacy that Tom had built.
Stemilt Introduces Its First Branded Apple
New apple varieties were arriving to the U.S., and Stemilt's President, West Mathison, brought a new apple with heirloom parentage into our apple mix. Piñata® was Stemilt’s first trademarked apple and was introduced to grocery stores in 2008.
The Stemilt Clinic Opens For Employees
In 2013, Stemilt opened doors to an on-site health clinic for Stemilt team members. This addition led to the opening of the on-site Stemilt Family Clinic and pharmacy in 2015, which is available to all Stemilt team members, their spouses, and dependents for free.
Stemilt Launches Rave® Apples
Stemilt's Rave® apple launched to the world in 2017 as the first apple harvested in Washington every year. Rave® is the fun brand name of MN55 cultivar apples, which were the natural result of crossing the beloved Honeycrisp and MonArk, a variety from Arkansas.
The Fresh Cube Is Built
Stemilt built a new distribution facility to store its fruit throughout the year at just the right temperatures, called the Fresh Cube. The new facility houses all activities post-packing for apples, pears, and cherries, including an automated storage retrieval system that simplifies the shipping process. It also houses Stemilt’s pear ripening center.
Stemilt Becomes EFI Certified
Stemilt is the first tree fruit grower, packer, and shipper to reach full certification of all its company owned orchards and packing facilities. The Equitable Food Initiative certification trains and develops cross-functional leadership teams that foster continuous improvement to increase transparency and assurance around farm working conditions, food safety, and industry challenges. Stemilt has nine active leadership teams that combine to dedicate 8,000 hours annually towards EFI initiatives for 3,000 employees.
What Makes Us World Famous
The Hands Behind The Fruit
Our Stemilters are at the heart of every apple, pear, and cherry we grow. From the orchard, to the packing line, to shipping, their passion, skill, and attention make our fruit special. It’s their dedication to carefully handling each piece of fruit that turns it into something worth remembering.
Delight In Every Bite
From crisp, juicy apples to sweet, succulent cherries, Stemilt fruit is known for flavor that goes beyond the taste buds. It’s more than fruit, it’s an experience created by the perfect growing conditions, and a whole lot of passion. When you bite into a piece of our fruit, we hope it creates a memory bursting with flavor.
For People, The Planet, And Produce
We’ve been pioneering sustainable practices for decades, because great fruit goes hand in hand with stewardship. From Responsible Choice® farming to EFI certification, we ensure our people, planet, and produce are cared for every step of the way, so every box is as trustworthy as it is tasty.
Always Thinking Ahead
At Stemilt, innovation is part of our everyday work. From developing new apple and pear varieties to exploring smarter packing and growing practices, we’re always looking for ways to make fruit better for shoppers and easier for retailers. We’re all about thoughtful improvements that make each bite and every process a little better.
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