US packer-exporter Stemilt Growers has expanded its cherry operations with the construction of a new red cherry line at its largest packing facility, Olds Station, in preparation for the 2011 cherry season.
The company, which is based in the US state of Washington, said the multi-phase capital project, which is valued at US$3m, would 'significantly increase' throughput and sorting capacity on the main cherry packing line.
The new line is due to come into operation in June 2011, at the start of the Washington cherry season.
'We are significantly changing the way we size and sort cherries on this new line,' said Roger Pepperl, Stemilt’s marketing director. 'The use of modern technologies and processes joins our continued focus on maintaining the cold chain in order to deliver consistent, high-quality cherries to the marketplace.'
Stemilt said it planned to make significant investments to the line this year and next in order to prepare for larger volumes of cherries in the future.
According to early estimates, the Washington state cherry crop could be over 18m cartons this year, provided conditions remain conducive.
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