<p>Stemilt Growers has revealed a new, state-of-the-art cherry packing line, the first of its kind in Washington State. The line is equipped with high tech electronic sizing and defect sorting equipment. Stemilt will use the new line to pack dark-sweet cherries for both domestic and export.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/EuclidDedication_03.jpg" alt="Stemilt World Famous Cherries" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The ribbon was cut on the new addition at the company’s Euclid Street facility in Wenatchee, Washington this past weekend. Stemilt President, West Mathison and owner/grower Kyle Mathison led a dedication and blessing of the line as part of its inaugural run, according to a press release. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“We’ve been tracking this electronic sizing and defect sorting technology for over 5 years and feel that it’s finally ready to be implemented on a commercial level. It’s an exciting day and exciting addition at Stemilt. We believe that the technology on this line will help us improve returns to the land through better sizing and sorting of cherries, while simultaneously reducing sorting costs. It will benefit our growers, customers, and the end consumer through the delivery of World Famous Cherries,” said West Mathison, Stemilt President.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The Euclid cherry line is the first of its kind in Washington State and features two, 10-lane electronic sizers with defect sorters from GP Graders which will reduce the company’s reliance on manual sorting of cherries by efficiently sizing cherries and sorting each piece of fruit automatically. This innovation will allow the company to move away from the traditional method of using a diverging roll sizer as well as the human eye in sorting the fruit. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>VP of Operations, Jay Fulbright, notes that the Euclid red cherry line has the capacity to handle 12-13 tons per hour. Though the company’s Olds Station line has a higher capacity (at 18 tons per hour), the Euclid line creates better sizing separations for cherries and will mechanically sort cherries for colors, firmness, and defects. The grower will be able to size cherries in half rows (I.e. 9.5, 10, 10.5) rather than full row (I.e. 9, 10). The line is also designed to be gentler with the fruit with reduced drops and drop heights, the release states.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/EuclidDedication_04.jpg" alt="Stemilt World Famous Cherries" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“The Euclid line will enable us to efficiently and consistently pack a high-quality box of cherries. It delivers on accurate sizing and equips us with the ability to pack cherries according to set parameters, such as firmness or removal of certain defects. The technology allows us to be more of everything to every box,” said Fulbright.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Two Sorma machines offer flexibility in packaging cherries in a variety of pack types, including clamshells, bags, and bulk, in addition to the GP Graders equipment. Experimental air drying of the cherries prior to packaging will determine if it is a method that improves the overall quality and freshness of the pack. The Euclid line is also equipped with an eliminator sizer, called Herbie, which cleans up small-sized cherries and sends them to designated sorting tables for manual sorting. The onto packing they go…</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The addition of the Euclid cherry line gives Stemilt five cherry packing lines in Washington. In addition to the Euclid line increasing Stemilt’s cherry packing capacity, it also enables the company to dedicate packing lines for specific varieties, such as organic dark-sweet cherries.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The line is primarily made up of GP Graders equipment, with a dump tank and elevator provided by Van Doren Sales, conveyors by R.H. Brown and Van Doren Sales, and peripheral equipment by Stemilt. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/EuclidDedication_01.jpg" alt="Stemilt World Famous Cherries" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Stemilt had a turnout of 225 people at the cherry line dedication and blessing of the line, which included growers, customers, employees, and those that contributed to the line’s construction. Approximately 105 employees will work on the line, which is housed in a 24,000 square foot building.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“Every day I wake up with a goal of growing World Famous Cherries for people to enjoy. It’s not a destination, it’s a journey and this new cherry line is equipped with the technology that will support us in that journey for years to come,” said Kyle Mathison.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Congrats Stemilt on the amazing new addition!</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.stemilt.com/Our_Fruit/index.cfm" target="_new"> Stemilt </a> </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
