Rainier Fruit Debuts NW Fruit Industry's First Automated Shipping Facility

SELAH, WA – Rainier Fruit Company’s sister warehouse, Matson Fruit Company, completed construction of a new storage and shipping facility just in time for the start of this year’s 2014 crop. The facility was designed utilizing the latest Automated Storage Retrieval System (ASRS) technology.  Automated pallet cranes place fruit pallets away into one of the 4,060 positions of the cold storage rack configuration where it will then be available to retrieve automatically by a Warehouse Management System (WMS), or when specifically directed by a user.

“This system enables Matson Fruit to be more productive and responsive to customer specifications,” stated Suzanne Wolter, Director of Marketing, “and the significant energy savings reduces our impact on the environment.” At 73 feet, the building is now the tallest in Selah, WA, yet the overall footprint is smaller, resulting in a more efficient cooling process.  Additionally, the automated cranes require fewer forklift doors, thus reducing energy loss and limiting lighting usage, and the lighting selected utilizes 99.9% LEDs.

The new system is automatically responsive to customer specifications by incorporating purchase order history, labeling needs, grade and size requirements and available inventory.  This one-view process allows an operator to quickly double-check the WMS selections before sending the palletized fruit automatically over to QC for a final look prior to shipment.  Upon truck arrival, the ASRS pulls the awaiting fruit and stages it for loading.

The entire team is extremely excited about the opening of this new facility. The WMS helps ensure no detail is overlooked and will provide consistent service day and night.  The ASRS reduces energy consumption, which is good for the environment and in line with the sustainability objectives put forth by both companies.

About Rainier Fruit Company 

Rainier Fruit Company is one of the largest growers of fresh apples, pears, cherries and blueberries in the United States. The company dates back to 1888 when the founders moved to Washington from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and started growing apples on a small parcel in Selah. Today, under the careful stewardship of highly trained horticulturists, the company continues to artfully select premier orchard sites and choose the most environmentally sustainable practices in the industry to maintain the highest-quality standards. Rainier Fruit Company’s orchards benefit from Central Washington’s rich, volcanic soil, snow-fed irrigation supply and long growing season to produce juicy, flavorful fruit demanded by consumers around the world. For more information, visit www.rainierfruit.com.

The Matson family first planted orchards on Selah Heights in 1908 and was officially incorporated in 1931.  They have been partnered with Rainier’s sales and marketing programs since 1974.

Source: Rainier Fruit Company