ELGINN, MN - Shoppers eagerly await cherry season every summer, and retailers depend on the delicate fruit to drive summer produce sales. Honeybear Brands, a leading grower, marketer, and developer of premium conventional and organic apples, pears, and cherries, will deliver Dark Sweet Red Cherries in celebration-themed pouches featuring Red, White, and Blue USA Birthday graphics -- a standout for shoppers looking for that sweet taste of summer.

“Honeybear is marking our country’s 250th birthday with special packaging. We celebrate cherry season every year, but this year we’re going the extra mile to make sure they pop off produce shelves. We know shoppers anticipate cherry season and we want to surprise and delight them, while helping retailers boost sales,” said Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing, Honeybear Brands, in the recent release.

Built for display impact, the bold, patriotic pouches make it easy for retailers to create high-visibility placements and themed promotions. The limited-edition packaging is designed to create urgency at shelf, encouraging impulse purchases and seasonal trade-up as shoppers celebrate the milestone.

While it is too early to predict, this year’s crop appears slightly down from last season, thanks to cooler temperatures in Washington. Honeybear anticipates plenty of promotable fruit for the holiday push.

“Our goal is always to provide a seamless supply of high-quality fruit with unmatched service to our customers. We recognize the importance of the cherry category to their overall success and are rolling up our sleeves as we anticipate the start of our season in early June,” said Sinks.

The desire for better-for-you options is one reason cherries are so popular. They provide the sweet taste of candy but are highly nutritious.

• Cherries are packed with antioxidants, offering numerous health benefits: reduced inflammation, improved heart health, better sleep, and faster exercise recovery.
• Rich in vitamins A and C, fiber, and potassium, cherries help manage blood pressure and support a healthy immune system.

PITTSBURGH, PA - Del Monte Foods, Inc., a division of Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., one of the world’s leading vertically integrated producers, distributors, and marketers of fresh and shelf-stable produce, reaffirmed its long-standing connection to Pittsburgh by making the city its central hub.

“Pittsburgh has been an important part of our story for more than two decades,” said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Fresh Del Monte Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in the recent release. “As we look ahead, we are proud to deepen our presence here while continuing to invest in the people, partnerships, and community that have supported us over the years.”

Del Monte Food’s history in Pittsburgh dates back to 2002, when the company acquired several iconic brands—including StarKist, 9Lives, and Nature’s Goodness—from Heinz. In 2021, Del Monte Foods relocated its Pittsburgh offices from the North Shore to Penn Center West in Robinson Township, marking a new chapter in its regional footprint while maintaining strong ties to the local community.

More than two decades later, the company’s Foods division is proud to call Pittsburgh its operational hub. In the near term, core functions for the Foods division—including supply chain, finance, commercial operations and research and development—will be anchored in the city. Notably, the presence of senior leadership in Pittsburgh marks a meaningful evolution, reinforcing the city’s role at the center of the division’s next chapter.