WENATCHEE, Wash. – As we enter one of the biggest produce months of the year, don’t let your cherry category slip – go out with a bang with Stemilt’s Moon cherries. Stemilt’s A Half Mile Closer to the Moon® cherries are hand-picked, premium, high quality cherries grown at elevations 2,640 feet and higher. This summer, Stemilt is encouraging retailers to go big on Moon cherries sales with the help of Stemilt’s various consumer efforts, including their national holiday, National Chant at the Moon Day and direct-to-consumer activity to further help these amazing cherries sell at stores.
“Moon cherry harvest is starting the first week of August at Amigos Orchards in Wenatchee, Washington and we are excited about our plans for the cherry season finale,” says Brianna Shales, Stemilt communications manager. “Amigos has the perfect climate for growing late-season cherries. The locale is ideal because the days aren’t as hot as other locales and it cools off at night, helping fourth generation grower, Kyle Mathison, grow firm, large and super-sweet cherries.”
Beyond locale and climate, Mathison also likes to align his cherry harvest with the days leading up to the full moon, which this year will occur on August 15th. Mathison has found the extra gravitational pull from a full moon enhances nutrient delivery from the root of the trees to the fruit hanging from its branches. This extra gravitational pull results in harvesting fruit with high sugars, acids, aromatics and ends in a phenomenal eating experience.
“Moon cherries are a great differentiator at retail and proven way to end the cherry season on a high note,” states Shales. “The packaging and mystical story of these cherries highlight the quality inside and the unmatched passion of Kyle, who is the ‘Cherry King’ whose farmed for four decades.”
Varieties that can be found under A Half Mile Closer to the Moon® cherries include Skeena, Sweetheart, Staccato®, and Sentennial™, all late-ripening varieties. Each variety is firm, comes in large sizes (10 row and larger) and has a nice balance of sugars and acids, making summer’s end a perfect sweet treat.
“The varieties found under the Moon cherries label are what allow us to end the season with a grand finale,” states Shales. “They also leave retailers with a delighted consumer and a lasting memory of our World Famous cherries.”
Retailers have the option to load Moon cherries starting the first week of August through the month. Stemilt packs Moon cherries in random-weight pouch bags and 1lb. and 2lb. clamshells. Stemilt also offers multiple digital resources to help promote Moon cherries in store, including a digital toolkit that features social media assets, POS and poster materials, video, photography and more. Retailers will also find resources for Stemilt’s national holiday dedicated to Moon cherries, National Chant at the Moon Day that happens every year on August 15.
“National Chant at the Moon Day is where we celebrate our premium Moon cherries and how the moon cycle can benefit cherries during harvest,” states Shales. “We encourage retailers to use this tool on a consumer level to elevate Moon cherry sales as well as share the story of our mystical Moon cherries.”
Stemilt is also supporting A Half Mile Closer to the Moon® cherries by using influencers across the country to target new market groups. The company has partnered up with more than 15 influencers who will be sharing the Moon cherry brand and packaging through their various social platforms. Stemilt will also be supporting in-store sales with geo-targeted social ads that will target social media users in major Moon cherry markets.
“We are constantly looking for ways to support the brand to ensure retailers find success at the end of the cherry season,” says Shales. “Using influencers who reach shoppers and geo-targeted social ads are effective yet simple ways to support retailer’s efforts in store.”
For more information about A Half Mile Closer to the Moon® cherries, Stemilt’s Moon Cherries digital toolkit and National Chant at the Moon Day, contact your Stemilt representative today.
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About Stemilt
Stemilt Growers is a leading tree fruit growing, packing and shipping company based in Wenatchee, Washington. Owned and operated by the Mathison family, Stemilt is the leading shipper of sweet cherries and one of the nation’s largest suppliers of organic tree fruits. Stemilt has also demonstrated a commitment to sustainable agriculture and social responsibility since 1989, when founder Tom Mathison launched the company’s Responsible Choice program. For more information about Stemilt, visit www.stemilt.com and follow Stemilt on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and You Tube.
