Stemilt Growers

Stemilt Growers is a privately held American fresh-fruit company based in Wenatchee, Washington, and owned by the Mathison family. It grows, packs, markets, and ships apples, pears, cherries, and other stone fruit for domestic and international customers. The company is particularly associated with Washington State tree-fruit production and is described as the world's largest shipper of fresh-market sweet cherries, as well as one of the United States' largest grower-packer-shippers of apples, pears, cherries, and stone fruit. Stemilt's roots extend to 1893, when the Mathison family homesteaded 160 acres on Stemilt Hill near Wenatchee. The family began planting commercial-scale orchards in 1914, initially cultivating apples, pears, and cherries. The business expanded from family orchard production into packing and shipping under Tom Mathison's leadership. A packing house was established on Stemilt Hill in 1961, followed by Tom Mathison's founding of Stemilt Growers in 1964. The company subsequently began packing fruit for other growers, broadening its role from orchard operator to a grower-packer and agricultural supply-chain business. In 1975, Stemilt opened a larger packing and storage facility at Olds Station in Wenatchee. That site later became the company's headquarters and supported the integration of receiving, storage, packing, and distribution operations. The company remains closely connected to the Wenatchee Valley and the surrounding fruit-growing region, while its shipping activities serve customers beyond the United States. The company's portfolio includes mainstream and premium apple varieties such as Gala, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Piñata, along with sweet cherries, pears, and other stone fruit. Stemilt is also a significant organic-fruit producer. Reference material identifies the company as producing approximately 26% of Washington's organic apples and 32% of the Pacific Northwest's organic pears, illustrating the importance of organic production within its business rather than treating it as a minor specialty line. Stemilt's business model combines agricultural production with post-harvest handling and marketing. This gives it control over multiple stages of the fresh-fruit chain, from orchard cultivation and grower relationships through packing, cold storage, branding, and shipment. Its scale was illustrated in 2008, when the company reportedly shipped more than 20 million boxes of fruit and employed about 1,500 full-time workers. The company is also associated with branded and varietal marketing intended to distinguish particular fruit offerings in retail markets. Leadership passed between generations in 2005, when Tom Mathison transferred the company presidency to his grandson, West Mathison. Tom Mathison died in 2008. Available reference material does not establish a complete current executive roster, but the ownership and management history indicate that Stemilt has remained a multigenerational family enterprise. The name Stemilt comes from a Native American term described as meaning “coming from the mountains” or “foothills to the mountains,” and also refers to the agricultural area near the Cascade Mountains and Wenatchee.

Stemilt Growers developed from the Mathison family's agricultural presence near Wenatchee, Washington. The family's local history dates to 1893, when it established a 160-acre homestead on Stemilt Hill. In 1914, the family planted its first ten acres of apples, pears, and cherries, laying the foundation for a long-term tree-fruit enterprise. Tom Mathison, described as a third-generation farmer, took leadership of the family orchard business in 1947. Under his direction, the operation expanded beyond orchard cultivation. In 1961, he built a fruit packing house on Stemilt Hill. Three years later, in 1964, he founded Stemilt Growers and began packing fruit for other growers. This change established the company's enduring grower-packer-shipper model and made it a participant in the broader regional fruit supply chain rather than solely a family orchard business. The company continued to invest in infrastructure as production and outside grower relationships expanded. In 1975, Mathison built a new packing and storage facility at Olds Station in Wenatchee. The facility eventually became Stemilt's headquarters, supporting the handling, storage, packing, and shipment of fruit from the company's own orchards and affiliated growers. Stemilt later grew into a major North American fresh-fruit business. Its principal categories became apples, pears, cherries, and other stone fruit, with the company developing particular scale in fresh-market sweet cherries. It also built a strong position in organic fruit production. Reference material identifies Stemilt as responsible for approximately 26% of Washington's organic apples and 32% of the Pacific Northwest's organic pears. Its branded apple portfolio includes Piñata, Honeycrisp, Gala, and Pink Lady varieties. A major generational transition occurred in July 2005, when Tom Mathison transferred the company presidency to his grandson, West Mathison. This formalized the continuation of Mathison family involvement across multiple generations. Tom Mathison died in 2008. By that year, Stemilt reportedly shipped more than 20 million boxes of fruit and employed approximately 1,500 full-time workers, providing an indication of the company's operational scale. Stemilt's identity remains tied to Wenatchee and the surrounding Washington tree-fruit region, while its shipping network reaches domestic and international markets. Its name refers both to the Stemilt agricultural area near the Cascade Mountains and to a Native American expression explained in reference material as meaning “coming from the mountains” or “foothills to the mountains.”

• 2008

  Reported operating scale exceeds 20 million boxes

  [1]Stemilt Growersen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material reports that Stemilt shipped more than 20 million boxes of fruit and employed approximately 1,500 full-time workers. Tom Mathison also dies during the year.

• 2005

  Presidency passes to West Mathison

  [1]Stemilt Growersen.wikipedia.org

  In July, Tom Mathison transfers the company presidency to his grandson, West Mathison.

• 1975

  Olds Station facility becomes the operating base

  [1]Stemilt Growersen.wikipedia.org

  The company builds a larger packing and storage facility at Olds Station in Wenatchee, which later becomes its headquarters.

• 1964

  Stemilt Growers is founded

  [1]Stemilt Growersen.wikipedia.org

  Tom Mathison establishes Stemilt Growers and begins packing fruit for other growers.

• 1961

  Stemilt Hill packing house opens

  [1]Stemilt Growersen.wikipedia.org

  Tom Mathison builds a fruit packing house on Stemilt Hill, moving the operation further into post-harvest handling.

• 1947

  Tom Mathison assumes leadership

  [1]Stemilt Growersen.wikipedia.org

  Third-generation farmer Tom Mathison takes the lead in the family orchard business.

• 1914

  First family fruit plantings

  [1]Stemilt Growersen.wikipedia.org

  The family plants its first ten acres of apples, pears, and cherries, establishing the orchard base from which Stemilt develops.

• 1893

  Mathison family establishes a Stemilt Hill homestead

  [1]Stemilt Growersen.wikipedia.org

  The Mathison family's agricultural history begins when it homesteads 160 acres on Stemilt Hill near Wenatchee, Washington.

A large, family-owned Washington fruit grower-packer and shipper positioned around premium apples, fresh-market sweet cherries, pears, stone fruit, and substantial organic production.

• Fresh fruit

  Apples

  Apples are one of Stemilt's core product categories and include widely marketed varieties such as Gala, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Piñata. The company combines orchard production, grower sourcing, packing, storage, and shipment, allowing it to serve retail and other fresh-fruit customers with multiple varieties and seasonal supply profiles. Stemilt is also identified as a major producer of organic apples in Washington.

• Fresh fruit

  Sweet cherries

  Fresh-market sweet cherries are a signature Stemilt category. The company is described as the world's largest fresh-market sweet-cherry shipper, reflecting its scale in growing, packing, and distributing a highly seasonal product. Cherries complement the company's apple and pear business and contribute to its broader identity as a Washington tree-fruit specialist.

• Fresh fruit

  Pears

  Pears are part of Stemilt's longstanding orchard and packing portfolio. The company handles conventional and organic pear production, and reference material identifies it as producing approximately 32% of the Pacific Northwest's organic pears. Its pear business is integrated with the same regional grower, packing, storage, and distribution infrastructure used for its other tree-fruit categories.

• Fresh fruit

  Stone fruit

  Stemilt's stone-fruit activities extend beyond cherries. The company is described as a major grower-packer-shipper of stone fruit, although the available reference material does not provide a complete list of individual varieties or branded sub-lines. These products broaden the company's seasonal fresh-fruit offering and use its established packing and shipping network.

• Organic fresh fruit

  Organic fruit

  Organic production is a significant part of Stemilt's business. Available reference material describes the company as producing approximately 26% of Washington's organic apples and 32% of the Pacific Northwest's organic pears. The organic portfolio is therefore best understood as a substantial production and sourcing capability spanning key fruit categories rather than as a single standalone product.

• 2005

  Transfer the presidency to the next generationOther

  Background

  Stemilt remained a Mathison family enterprise and was preparing for a generational leadership transition.

  Action taken

  In July, Tom Mathison transferred the company presidency to his grandson, West Mathison.

  Aftermath

  The transition continued the family's managerial involvement in the company, although the available reference does not document subsequent executive changes.

  Source

• 1975

  Build a larger packing and storage facilityStrategy

  Background

  The company's packing activities and relationships with other growers required expanded infrastructure.

  Action taken

  Tom Mathison built a new packing and storage facility at Olds Station in Wenatchee.

  Aftermath

  The Olds Station site later became Stemilt's headquarters and an important base for its integrated fruit-handling operations.

  Source

• 1964

  Expand from family orchards into third-party packingStrategy

  Background

  The Mathison family had operated orchards and built a packing house before formally establishing Stemilt Growers.

  Action taken

  Tom Mathison founded Stemilt Growers and began packing fruit for other growers, creating the company's grower-packer-shipper model.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened Stemilt's role in the regional fruit industry and supported its later growth into a large-scale fresh-fruit shipper.

  Source

• Unconfirmed

  Reported2026.10.23

  Stemilt Growers wins Best Sustainable Packaging award[2]Stemilt Growers 获得最佳可持续包装奖freshplaza.com

  Stemilt Growers won the International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce & Floral Show “Best Sustainable Packaging” award in collaboration with Sinclair. The award recognized Stemilt Growers’ adoption of Sinclair T55 certified compostable PLU labels across select apple programs.

Read more

1. 1Stemilt Growersen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Stemilt Growers 获得最佳可持续包装奖freshplaza.com