Tree fruit sales vet Ellie Tucker joins CMI

Tree fruit sales veteran Ellie Tucker has joined CMI Orchards as sales account manager.

Tucker joins the Wenatchee, Washington, grower and packer possessing 20 years of fruit sales experience.

Raised on a Wenatchee pear farm, Tucker followed in the footsteps of her late mother, who sold fruit for numerous Washington apple growers. It was her mother’s encouragement that inspired Tucker to fall in love with the fruit industry, according to a news release.

“Poised for tremendous growth this season and in the coming years ahead, the team at CMI continues to expand with the recent addition of Ellie Tucker,” CMI officials said in the release.

Tucker began her position on Aug. 7. Since 2004, Tucker worked in sales positions for Oneonta Starr Ranch, Chelan Fresh Marketing and Dovex, according to her LinkedIn page.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Ellie Tucker on board,” Steve Castleman, vice president of sales, said in the release. “Not only does she bring with her immense knowledge and experience, but she also has a proven track record of building strong relationships and bringing innovative ideas to the table. From the beginning, it was evident that Ellie would be a huge asset to our team.”

Tucker’s passion for sales and her genuine enthusiasm for embracing new opportunities made the choice to add her to the team easy, Bob Mast, president, said in the release. “Ellie’s roots run deep in the Wenatchee Valley, and her decades of experience in the industry — along with her passion and genuine enthusiasm for embracing new opportunities — make her the perfect fit for CMI.”

“I’m so excited to be a part of the CMI team,” Tucker said in the release. “It’s really like being part of a family here. CMI’s outlook on the future with sustainable orchards and technologically advanced operations, new variety development, and strong retail partnerships are all incredibly motivating. I find myself very lucky to join a company with so many wonderful opportunities for growth and innovation on the horizon.”

CMI’s possessing a diverse portfolio of conventional and organic mainline and proprietary varieties also appeals to her.

One of Washington’s largest growers, shippers and packers, CMI supplies conventional and organic apples, pears and cherries to domestic customers and to more than 60 countries.