Teresa Garcia photo

“Pam pioneered dehydrating Northwest cherries without additives in the 1980’s.”

JT MONTGOMERY, CHUKAR CFO


LIVING IN A CHERRY ORCHARD

On daily walks around her family’s orchard after cherry harvest with 3 young daughters in tow, Pam Montgomery discovered ripe Bing cherries drying naturally on the branches. Although studies at UC Davis had concluded that drying cherries without added sugar or preservatives was not plausible, Pam believed the natural sugars in tree-ripened cherries were enough. She was right—and the seed for Chukar Cherries was planted.


FARM TO TABLE

Chukar partnered with family farmers in Washington and Oregon who agreed to leave their unpicked cherries hanging on the tree a week longer to increase the sugars, there by naturally preserving the fruit. This resulted in a new market for local cherry growers.

In 1988 Pam moved her budding enterprise into a manufacturing facility in Prosser—the center of Washington’s wine and cherry growing region—where she began dehydrating the local cherries in warm air tunnels with no added sugar and selling them in snack-size boxes.

Dried cherries from harvest

CHOCOLATE & CHERRIES

Pam was inspired by an exhibit in the famed confectionery hall in Harrods of London featuring luscious European chocolate-covered fruits. Inspired, Pam returned to the Northwest searching for exceptional chocolate to complement Chukar’s dried cherries & nuts. As luck would have it, a 6th generation master chocolatier outside of SF was moving to full automation, and Pam was able to purchase the company’s old-world panning kettles.

Panning Chocolate

“The finest chocolate with nothing but a rich, chewy dried cherry in the center. Delicious!”

FRAN - PROVIDENCE, RI

CHUKAR CHERRIES IN PIKE PLACE MARKET

In the mid-90's, Pike Place Market’s field team was visiting farms throughout Washington State, aiming to increase the number of farmers represented in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Chukar Cherries was given a central location in the Market’s main arcade building. 20+ years later Chukar is a cornerstone of the Market community and a must-stop for locals and visitors.

Pike Place Experience

A UNIQUE REGION

Chukar Cherries is headquartered in the Yakima Valley in Central Washington. This bountiful region produces exceptional fruit such as cherries, wine grapes, apples, and pears. Northwest cherries are world renowned for their size and flavor. In the video below, local cherry growers Scott and Vicky Williams explain the geography and climate of our unique region.


ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

When Chukar opened in 1988, our founders promised that Chukar® fruits would be regionally sourced, crafted with minimal or no added sugar, and free of preservatives and artificial ingredients. Responsible sourcing, low-impact packaging, and minimal waste are touchstones of Chukar’s operation. Learn more about our current efforts on our Responsibility page.

Carbon Neutral Box


THE CHUKAR BRAND

Northwest illustrator Jim Hays created a library of pen & watercolor images depicting the cherries, berries, nuts, and wildlife of our region. To this day, these illustrations are the heart of the Chukar brand. From the engaging Chukar logo to fruit & nut illustrations on Chukar® packaging—Jim captured the Pacific Northwest.

Chukar Bird and Logo

WHAT’S A CHUKAR?

A rotund game bird and aerial speedster, the Chukar is related to a rock partridge and inhabits the arid lands of the Intermountain West. Their song is a noisy chuck-chuck-chukar-chukar, from which the name is derived.



CHUKAR MANAGEMENT

Family Owned, Quality Focused, Since 1988. As a well-run, community-oriented company, Chukar continually attracts good people and the development of the Chukar Team is a top priority at Chukar. Chukar provides a nurturing workplace where listening, continual improvement, workforce training, fair compensation, and good benefits are the norm.

Chukar management photo