Seasonal Updates From bud to bloom to shuck split to ripening fruit, harvest is finally here and Rainier Fruit's Dark Sweet cherries are coming in record numbers! In a process that takes 24 hours or less, the fruit is picked, packed and on the road to you. The journey begins in the orchard where each cherry is carefully handpicked and placed in a bucket before being gently transferred into an awaiting bin. Once the bins are filled, the cherries are transported to a hydrocooler. A hydrocooler is a large piece of machinery that has the capability of cooling the fruit using water that is just above freezing. This process brings the internal temperature of the cherries down and begins our "cold-chain" progression. It is very important to immediately begin cooling the cherries by removing the field heat in order to keep them at their peak freshness. Once the cherries have been loaded onto a refrigerated truck, they are transported to our packing facility where upon arrival they go for another dip in the hydrocooler. From here, the cherries go through a series of quality control tests where the cherries are checked for temperature, firmness, sugar levels, color, and size before being sent for packing. Throughout the packing process, the cherries are kept cold by traversing from beginning to end in water that has been chilled using a hydrocooler. Over the course of their journey in the packing facility, the cherries move around by a series of water-filled pipes making their journey a bit like a water park amusement ride. Once packed, the cherries are loaded onto pre-cooled refrigerated trucks and shipped to retailers. The most important thing to do once you get your cherries home is to immediately place them in the refrigerator in order to keep them fresh and firm - that is of course you don't devour them all first! |
Quality Fruit Since 1888
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Welcome to Rainier Fruit Online!
For over a century, Rainier Fruit Company has been growing premium Northwest fruit that consistently appeals to consumers. In order to provide the highest quality fruit in the world, our on-staff horticulturalists are constantly seeking ways to improve the quality of the orchards and growing practices by applying new techniques which enhance our ability to deliver consistent supplies of quality fruit.
We offer a year-round supply of conventional (non-organic) and organic apples and pears, and seasonal supplies of conventional and organic cherries and blueberries.
A family owned company; we are dedicated to farming using principles of good stewardship. Our primary responsibility as good stewards is to grow the finest quality fruit, using the natural resources entrusted to us, without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. We farm in a way that shows our respect for the land, pride in our product and a commitment to our community and employees.
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