NW Cherries Promoting Product

In a year where Northwest cherries are hitting the grocery stores later than in the last couple of seasons, marketing will be even more important for local cherry growers.  James Michael with NW Cherries told the Washington Ag Network they have stepped up efforts to increase awareness not only of the quality of local cherries, but also the health benefits.  He said this year they are focusing on getting spokespeople to actively promote cherries in a variety of venues.

“Pushing cherries on behalf of us.  We ship out just under 3,000 pound of fruit every year in 10-20 pound increments to media and influences around the nation and we have since 2011.”

Michael says in addition to traditional advertising they are pushing on-line and social media to encourage consumers to purchase Northwest cherries.  But, he notes cherry growers are benefiting from Americans that want to know the story of their food.

“Americans want to know where their food is coming from and they want to know more about the ingredients and the things that are going into their food and showing the effort that growers take and the risks that they take the gamble that they take every year to get that crop ready and ripe and then out to market, that needs to be told.”

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com