Brandt's Fruit Trees of Yakima, Washington has been granted exclusive propagation rights in the United States for the KIR™ series of sweet cherries. KIR is the overarching brand name for a collection of 13 cherry selections developed from open pollinations of the variety Sweetheart by Hilmar Gräb in Kettig, Germany. Three of the more advanced selections have already been branded by the owner, LFP Licenses for Fruits and Plants GmbH, under the trade names KIR Rosso®, Kir Lamour®, and KIR Vulcano®.
Gräb, along with his son and daughter, focuses their cherry breeding program on desirable characteristics such as large size (28 mm+), firmness, flavor, and an ultra-late ripening window. Their orchards, located in Germany's Rhine region, can experience summer rainfall, therefore tolerance to rain-induced cracking was also a breeding trait they prioritized. Nearly all of the selections are self-fertile, highly productive, and feature the heart-shaped fruit the Sweetheart parent is known for.
KIR is the overarching brand name for a collection of 13 cherry selections developed from open pollinations of the variety Sweetheart by Hilmar Gräb in Kettig, Germany.
Stemilt Growers LLC, a vertically integrated grower, packer, and marketer in Washington State that offers high quality, late-season cherries under its A Half Mile Closer to the Moon® brand, has partnered with Brandt's Fruit Trees to test the cultivars under Washington State growing conditions with an option to commercialize the selections in the United States. "In finding a partner such as Stemilt Growers, we are confident that the KIR series of cherries will soon find a home in the hearts of consumers looking to enjoy first-class Pacific Northwest cherries throughout the summer months", said Kevin Brandt, vice president of Brandt's Fruit Trees.
"We are excited to test the KIR series at our high altitude locations and we look forward to bringing these high-quality selections into the A Half Mile Closer to the Moon cherry portfolio in time," said West Mathison, Stemilt president.
For more information:
Kevin Brandt
Brandt's Fruit Trees, LLC
Tel: +1 (509) 248-4315
[email protected]
www.brandtsfruittrees.com