The Mathison family has pioneered growing better cherries for five generations. It all began in 1893, when Thomas Cyle Mathison and the first generation homesteaded 160 acres on Stemilt Hill, a fertile growing region that overlooks the Columbia River and town of Wenatchee, Washington.
Recognizing the area’s nutrient-rich soils and high-elevation microclimates, Thomas Cyle planted the family’s first ten acres of cherries, apples and pears in 1914. His son, Chris, farmed the land and gradually expanded the family business over the next three decades.
In 1947, Tom “T.K.” Mathison, returned home from World War II and began farming alongside his father, Chris. That same year, a tragic accident resulted in Chris’ passing and left young Tom in charge of the family orchards.
Tom continued the traditions that his father and grandfather began, and persevered through tough crop years in order to provide for his family.
Back then, the Mathison’s relied on the local co-op to market their cherries. Freshly harvested cherries were loaded onto a railcar and shipped to markets on the East Coast, where they were later sold. Unfortunately, these railcars were not refrigerated properly and the long trip east often led to high spoilage of Tom’s beloved cherries.
In 1958, Tom grossed a mere $88 for his 100-ton cherry crop. Faced with the choice of working hourly at the local factory or improving his cherry business, Tom decided he must significantly change his go-to-market practices.
Over the next few years, Tom transformed his cherry business by implementing new harvesting and packing techniques. To ensure his fruit would remain fresh at the markets, Tom began harvesting cherries in the early morning hours, then immediately cooled the fruit in icy cold water. By 1961, Tom had constructed a small facility and officially entered the cherry packing business.
Years of perseverance finally paid off for Tom and his family. Not only did these new techniques improve the end quality of their fruit but after one year of packing fruit, the Mathison’s Stemilt Hill cherries were selling at significantly higher prices. Finally, in 1964, Tom founded Stemilt Growers.
Today, the same pioneering spirit that led Tom Mathison to start and drastically change his cherry business in the 1950’s, lives on with the fourth and fifth generations of Mathison’s. Tom’s sons continue to farm cherries and other fruits atop Stemilt Hill, while his grandson, West Mathison, serves as president of Stemilt. Together, the Mathison’s continue the traditions that their predessors began, all while taking on new innovations and varieties that serve to enhance the eating experience for cherry lovers everywhere to enjoy.