How We Protect Cherries From Birds
At Stemilt, we rely on a few nature-friendly methods to encourage birds to move along and find a new favorite treat, outside the orchard!
Skylar Rae® cherries are a rare find that’s recognized for their striking golden-red blush and unmistakable caramel glow. They deliver a crisp bite and an intensely sweet flavor profile, often reaching 23–27 Brix at harvest for a rich, indulgent taste experience that stands out from traditional cherries.
If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll love its signature sweetness, low acidity and refreshing crisp bite!
Skylar Rae® cherries are golden-red blush cherries and can have a mottled appearance. They often have bronze skin, which makes them look like they are browning but is a sign of extra sweetness!
These special cherries have a short season and are very perishable. Keep them unwashed in your fridge and they’ll last a few days after purchase.
Pop them into your mouth and enjoy the candy-like flavor and crunch. You can use them in salads or other dishes, but keep their delicacy in mind.
Tip Top is the cultivar name for Skylar Rae® brand cherries and was discovered by chance on the Toftness family’s high elevation farm near Wenatchee, WA. Usually these chance sightings don’t produce a cherry you can grow at scale, but this one was different. Its parentage is still unknown but Skylar Rae® is genetically different than Rainier and other sweet cherry varieties.
The cherry’s high firmness and sugars are a rare match for fruit, and led the family to propagate, patent and trademark a brand for the fruit. The chosen name for the special cherry honors Skylar Rae Toftness, the late daughter of Troy and Kim.
They are available in limited supplies for a brief period of time each summer. Stemilt grows these in Washington State with the season starting in mid-June and continuing into mid-July. Harvest and availability come at varying times over the month.