Starr Ranch has expanded its offerings of premium apples and large cherries with the newly formed merger of Highland Fruit into Gilbert Orchards. The partnership, effective immediately, is just in time for the 2022 apple harvest season around the corner. This collaboration will help expand Starr Ranch’s sales and marketing efforts offering top-quality year-round availability to its customers worldwide.
Highland’s apples will be packed in Wiley City, Washington beginning this fall at the Gilbert packing facility (seen here) and sold through Starr Ranch.
Highland Fruit was founded in Yakima in 1947 and is a partnership between the Ball and Schlect families. Highland’s apples will be packed in Wiley City, Washington beginning this fall at the Gilbert packing facility and sold through Starr Ranch.
“This new partnership, with such an outstanding growing operation, allows us the capability to offer increased volumes to our customers throughout the year and is an important step in our overall growth strategy. It enhances our ability to supply our retail customers with the best tasting, highest quality fruit,” says Brett Reasor, CEO of Starr Ranch Growers.
Left to right: Brett Reasor, Sean Gilbert
Sean Gilbert, president of Gilbert Orchards, is equally excited about this new partnership. “In many ways, the hard work is just beginning,” he says. “But with the Highland team on board, we are stronger and able to handle anything that comes our way.”
Starr Ranch is composed of family growers across the Pacific Northwest, from Central Washington to Northern Oregon.
For more information:
Dan Davis
Starr Ranch Growers
Tel: +1 (509) 961-1919
dand@starranch.com
www.starranch.com