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Orchards sales, and connect with a generation that traditional produce marketing has struggled to reach,” Rochelle explains. The program can be deployed digitally or through in-store QR codes. Similarly, American Dream ® connects consumers with veteran communities through every purchase, offering patriotic promotional opportunities tied to key US holidays. Apple Flavors of the World™ curates premium global varieties now grown in Washington State, while the Flavogram ® tool simplifies selection at the shelf by comparing sweetness, tartness, and texture with an innovative visual tool.
At the forefront of these efforts is Planet Positive™, CMI’ s groundbreaking brand created to help shoppers identify fruit that actively benefits the planet. The Planet Positive™ seal represents fruit that has been grown and packed through regenerative practices, removing more carbon from the atmosphere than the growing process emits. Cutting through the noise of greenwashing, the brand provides retailers and consumers with something tangible: a trusted mark of genuine, positive environmental impact. By linking transparency, measurable results, and strong storytelling, Planet Positive™ bridges the gap between farm-level innovation and in-store engagement, helping people choose food that is better for them, and the planet.
Sustainable solutions
CMI extends innovation beyond apples into cherries, offering premium varieties like Skylar Rae ® and Strawberry Cherries™, providing new flavors and extending the season. Packaging innovations are also underway, with recyclable and compostable solutions designed to reduce plastic while maintaining food safety and freshness.
“ Together, these programs create a fresh, modern category experience,” Rochelle notes,“ providing retailers with tools to grow sales, connect with shoppers, and secure the future of the apple category.” CMI continues to lead by combining premium fruit with innovative marketing, retail solutions, and sustainable practices.
Looking ahead three-to-five years, CMI envisions continuing to set the global standard for regenerative agriculture.“ We are proud to already be carbon negative today, removing the equivalent emissions of nearly 75,000 vehicles from the road every year,” says Bob.“ That figure will only climb as we innovate, capturing emissions and transforming waste into valuable products. Our ownership families built an extraordinary fruit economy, and now that legacy is driving measurable environmental progress at scale.”
“ With just half a percent of Washington’ s agricultural acres, we will reduce or neutralize five percent of the state’ s total agricultural greenhouse gas emissions,” adds Michael.“ Within five years, we hope to expand that impact to reduce 15 percent of Washington’ s agricultural carbon footprint.”
Additionally, Rochelle sees expansion on multiple fronts:“ Internally, we’ ll advance our orchards with regenerative tools that sequester more carbon and improve soil health. Externally, we’ ll bring soil products from The Soil Center to retail, creating a closed-loop story consumers can see and touch.” Alongside this, CMI will continue driving branded apple and cherry innovation while expanding globally.“ The next few years will prove that fruit farming can be Planet Positive™,” she enthuses.
“ At CMI,” Bob concludes,“ our roots remain in the family farms that built us. Everything we do connects back to the land, our growers, and our communities. Through innovation and care for the environment, we’ re proving agriculture can be both productive and regenerative, thereby building a healthier future for the land and those who depend on it.” ■
www. cmiorchards. com
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