With an ever-growing portfolio of blueberries and the largest (and longest) cherry season in the Pacific Northwest, Superfresh Growers BB #:113721 is constantly looking for ways to increase consumption of these summer commodities.
As an impulse purchase item, consumers often need to be reminded that cherries are in season. Having their social pages flooded with delicious cherry content is step one! With this thought in mind, Superfresh was recently joined in their orchards and fields by Team Nosh – a group of online creators specializing in fresh, nutritious, and colorful food for families and kiddos.
These social media gurus embarked on a journey of the Pacific Northwest to see where their favorite fruits come from and learn about farming. The stories shared and knowledge gained were then used to educate their collective 300,000+ followers.
Topics covered during this two-day tour include the importance of skilled labor, farming sustainably, and what it takes to ensure quality while maximizing the crop. With little to no previous experience in orchards, this group was able to explore hands-on with open minds and curious attitudes!
This excitement translated into countless stories shared on their social media pages throughout the trip as well as recipe content in the weeks following. A brief trip recap can be seen here thanks to The Carda Mom! Chacha shares in the caption, “As an advocate for health equity and food justice, this experience deepened my understanding of what it takes to provide equitable access to nutrient-dense foods”.
Team Nosh captain, Kelly Pfieffer, has been a long-time partner of Superfresh Growers. Kelly has cherry-picked this group of influencers who share the same values and vision for feeding their families and eating the rainbow. Team members include Eat the Rainbow Kids, The Carda Mom, Kid Food Explorers, Food Kids Love, Eat Pretty Darling, Hello Little Foodies, and Pure Mom Blog. In this group are published cookbook authors, child food educators, registered dieticians, and big-time foodies!
“Since my first trip to Yakima in 2017 until now, Superfresh continues to impress me with their innovations in farming, employee retention and support, and product quality. The best part for me on this particular trip was seeing my Team Nosh gals fall in love with Superfresh Growers just like I did all those years ago” says Kelly.
Kicking off the trip was a tour of the Superfresh Clemens Mountain Orchard led by Director of Farm Operations, Quincy Menning. This 300-acre orchard sits on the Clemens Mountain hillside and provides late-season cherries thanks to its elevation reaching over 3,500 feet.
The touring group enjoyed breathtaking views, sweet and juicy cherries fresh off the tree, and talks on bees and sustainability. Geographical diversity and variety assortment were both factors that Team Nosh had not considered in keeping fresh cherries in store all summer long. The group was awed by the levels of decision-making in farming, leading them to have a new appreciation for their fruit.
From the orchard, Team Nosh got to see the Superfresh Growers Zillah cherry line in action! This 48-lane sorter is a site to behold, wowing the team with volume and quality control. Jane of Food Kids Love boasted that “seeing all the behind-the-scenes effort that goes into growing the best cherries made me appreciate them even more!”
The next day, Team Nosh and their Superfresh hosts traveled down to Roseburg, Oregon, where they got to pick their own blueberries and learn about farming in the Umqua Valley from berry experts Paul Norris and Gage Thompson. The picturesque valley was a content creator’s dream! Here, they learned what makes our blueberries such high quality, how we reduce waste in the field, and how to preserve freshness post-harvest.
The tour continued on to a voyage through the chilly packing line. Ellie Norris led the group through the technology and process of bringing blueberries to market. Team Nosh also saw firsthand how Norris Farms takes pride in their local workforce, employing students seasonally and driving the local economy.
At the end of the day, Team Nosh was enamored with the detail and year-long commitment that is farming summer fruit. Tenille of Pure Mom Blog gushed, “From cherries to blueberries and everything in between, it was great to see the process from growth to distribution and learn more about the greater impact Superfresh and local farmers are making across communities.”
Seeing the Superfresh story resonate with this group brought into focus why these trips are important.
“The biggest takeaway for me was how Superfresh prioritizes its people. They ensure farmers and farm workers earn more than a livable wage and are treated with respect” shared Chacha of The Carda Mom. Dana of Hello Little Foodies adds, “The best part for me was the farm tour; it gave me a newfound appreciation for the hardworking farmers who play such a vital role in bringing top-quality produce to our tables.”
This trip took seven Superfresh Growers fans and turned them into lifelong brand advocates! The power of education and hands-on experiences cannot be undervalued for consumers. By educating Team Nosh on growing practices, they can enact their storytelling abilities to share the Superfresh story with their followers. Keep an eye on their pages for exclusive cherry and blueberry recipes. Superfresh Growers looks forward to hosting Team Nosh again for apple and pear harvest this fall!
