Stemilt introduces Skylar Rae cherry

Stemilt Growers is introducing a new bi-colored cherry, called Skylar Rae, to produce departments in June. Skylar Rae cherries are both the sweetest and firmest cherry that Stemilt grows, with sugar, or Brix, levels ranging from 23-25 on average, Stemilt said.

With unique DNA and unknown parentage, this new plant cultivar, called Tip Top in the orchard, was discovered growing by chance in a Wenatchee, Washington orchard back in 2004, according to Stemilt. 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, Stemilt said. It joins dark-sweet and Rainier cherries as the cherry category’s third SKU.

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.

Stemilt packs Skylar Rae cherries in random-weight pouch bags and a new, dome-style 1lb. clamshell.

For more information about Skylar Rae cherries, visit the Skylar Rae cherries website.