Manufacturing 2019 Manufacturing Week Bus Tour | Page 31

Stemilt Growers
Wenatchee
Through five generations of apple growing and fruit packing, Stemilt Growers has
continued to innovate. Its expanded facility in Wenatchee recently opened an automated
storage retrieval system, similar to Amazon’s warehouse technology. The Fresh Cube
Distribution Center has cut the time for truckers picking up apples from 120 minutes to 42
minutes. Operating the machinery requires a high-skilled workforce, and as a result, Stemilt
has invested a lot into career development programs. The company provides more than
$60,000 annually in college scholarships and makes employee well-being a priority with an
on-site primary care health clinic that’s free for employees and their dependents to use.
Above: AWB President Kris Johnson is
interviewed by TJ Martinelli of The Lens News.
Left: Daniel Blazquez, Stemilt’s cultural,
training and development manager, after
signing the Manufacturing Week bus with an
appropriate apple design.
Right: U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, D-WA, tours
Stemilt Growers’ new cherry processing facility.