Northwest Cherries Announces Inaugural Cherry Picked Partner Award Retail, Wholesale Winners
October 13, 2026 | 2 min to read
YAKIMA, Wash. – Northwest Cherries has announced the inaugural recipients of its Cherry Picked Partner Award, recognizing three industry partners for their commitment to supporting Northwest cherry growers through responsible sourcing, consistent seasonal pricing, and strong promotional execution.
The inaugural honorees are Sunset Foods in the 0–50 stores category, Giant Eagle in the 51+ stores category, and Four Seasons Produce in the wholesaler category. Each organization has demonstrated the importance of collaboration across the supply chain in supporting a sustainable future for Northwest cherry growers.
The Cherry Picked Partner Award was established by Northwest Cherries to recognize retail and wholesale partners who help support growers through meaningful promotions, merchandising, and sales support. The program emphasizes the importance of consistent, shopper-friendly pricing that encourages repeat purchases, supports category performance, and helps maintain the long-term viability of cherry-growing operations.
“Strong retail and supply chain partnerships are essential to the future of our industry,” said Karley Lange, Director of Domestic Promotions for Northwest Cherries. “Our growers continue to face rising production costs while making significant investments in quality and responsible farming practices. We are grateful to Sunset Foods, Giant Eagle and Four Seasons Produce for their partnership and commitment to supporting Northwest cherry growers, especially during a time when long-term sustainability is more important than ever.”
Award recipients were evaluated on their commitment to consistent seasonal retail pricing, support for Northwest cherry supply continuity, collaborative engagement with the Northwest Cherries program, and overall promotional execution. The program encourages industry partners to work together to maintain consumer demand while helping growers achieve more sustainable returns.
“When value is prioritized throughout the supply chain, everyone wins at retail,” Lange added. “Consistent pricing helps build shopper confidence, encourages repeat purchases, and supports more predictable movement throughout the season. The Cherry Picked Partner Award celebrates the partners who recognize that the success of the cherry category and the sustainability of our growers go hand in hand.”
The Cherry Picked Partner Award will be presented annually, recognizing industry partners who demonstrate leadership in promoting Northwest cherries and supporting the growers who produce them. Through this recognition, Northwest Cherries hopes to encourage even greater collaboration and promotional commitment across the industry.
About Northwest Cherries
Northwest Cherries represents the fresh sweet cherry industry in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Montana. Through promotional programs, retailer partnerships, consumer education, health research and industry collaboration, Northwest Cherries works to build demand for Northwest sweet cherries and support the long-term sustainability of the region’s cherry growers.