Tom K. Mathison Orchards, LLC

Stemilt’s company roots trace back to 1893, when the first generation of the Mathison family settled on Stemilt Hill overlooking the Columbia River and town of Wenatchee, WA. Recognizing that this region of high-elevation micro-climates would be ideal for growing tree fruit, the family planted its first 10 acres of apples, pears, and cherries in 1914.

Over the next three decades, the Mathison’s gradually expanded their farming operations. In 1947, Thomas “T.K.” Mathison returned home from World War II and began farming alongside his father, Chris. That same year, a tragic farming accident resulted in Chris’ passing and left young Tom in charge of the family orchards.

Tom continued the traditions that his forefathers began and persevered through tough crop years in order to provide for his family. In 1964, he founded Stemilt Growers under the premise that consumers everywhere should have access to high-quality fruit. Over the next four decades, Tom pioneered better growing and packing techniques in order to transform the tree fruit business into the global player it is today.

Fast-forward to today and Stemilt continues to be family-owned and operated under the guidance of the fourth and fifth generations of Mathison’s. Tom’s grandson, West Mathison, serves as company president. With the same pioneering spirit as his grandfather, West has been preparing the company for sustainable growth since becoming president in 2005. From investing in top-notch packing and storage equipment to bringing new fruit varieties to market, West continues to take steps to make Stemilt a stronger company in order to live out its mission – maximize long-term return to the land by building consumer demand.