Producer
Chukar Cherries
Contact: Pam Montgomery
Address: 320 Wine Country Road Prosser, WA, 99350
Website: chukar.com
About Us
Chukar Cherries, founded in 1988 by Pam Montgomery, began on her family's cherry orchard in Prosser, Washington. Pam noticed that ripe Bing cherries left on the tree dried naturally, inspiring her to dehydrate cherries without added sugars or preservatives—a method previously deemed unfeasible. Her success led to partnerships with local farmers and the establishment of a manufacturing facility in Prosser. By the mid-1990s, Chukar Cherries had become a prominent vendor at Seattle's Pike Place Market, offering a variety of cherry-based products.
Practices
Chukar Cherries is committed to producing all-natural products without added sugars or preservatives. They collaborate with family farmers in Washington and Oregon, who allow cherries to ripen longer on the tree to enhance natural sugars, facilitating preservation without additives. The cherries are dehydrated using warm air tunnels, and the company employs traditional panning methods to create chocolate-covered fruits and nuts. Chukar emphasizes responsible sourcing, low-impact packaging, and minimal waste in their operations.
Zero Waste Cherry Processing: Chukar washes, pits, and dehydrates over 500,000 pounds of local cherries every year. All pits, stems, and leaves are composted locally, reducing landfill waste.
Responsible Chocolate: Chukar has purchased chocolate from the same family-owned manufacturer since the beginning. As a founding member of the International Cocoa Initiative, our trusted supplier is an industry leader in efforts to ensure sustainable cocoa growing practices including fair labor.
Responsible Paper and Packaging: Chukar’s catalogs and brochures are printed on Forest Stewardship Council Certified Paper, supporting sustainable forestry. Much of Chukar’s packaging (including assortment boxes, gift boxes, shipping boxes, glass jars, and tins) is recyclable. Our OceanPoly® retail bags contain a minimum of 25% plastic recovered from coastal pollution areas, supporting healthy beaches and waterways.
Carbon Neutral Shipping and Sustainable Power: Chukar purchases emissions offsets for every delivery. Chukar has invested in high efficiency equipment to minimize our facility’s electric use. Additionally, because we are located in the Columbia River Basin, over 93% of our power is carbon-free hydroelectricity.
The vast majority of Chukar products that Farmstand Local Foods carries are certified organic (look for the USDA Cert. Organic attribute or "..,Org" at the end of the product name).
Zero Waste Cherry Processing: Chukar washes, pits, and dehydrates over 500,000 pounds of local cherries every year. All pits, stems, and leaves are composted locally, reducing landfill waste.
Responsible Chocolate: Chukar has purchased chocolate from the same family-owned manufacturer since the beginning. As a founding member of the International Cocoa Initiative, our trusted supplier is an industry leader in efforts to ensure sustainable cocoa growing practices including fair labor.
Responsible Paper and Packaging: Chukar’s catalogs and brochures are printed on Forest Stewardship Council Certified Paper, supporting sustainable forestry. Much of Chukar’s packaging (including assortment boxes, gift boxes, shipping boxes, glass jars, and tins) is recyclable. Our OceanPoly® retail bags contain a minimum of 25% plastic recovered from coastal pollution areas, supporting healthy beaches and waterways.
Carbon Neutral Shipping and Sustainable Power: Chukar purchases emissions offsets for every delivery. Chukar has invested in high efficiency equipment to minimize our facility’s electric use. Additionally, because we are located in the Columbia River Basin, over 93% of our power is carbon-free hydroelectricity.
The vast majority of Chukar products that Farmstand Local Foods carries are certified organic (look for the USDA Cert. Organic attribute or "..,Org" at the end of the product name).