Pam Montgomery, Chukar Cherries & Pike Place Market

Since 1992, visitors to the Pike Place Market have gravitated to the delightful front-and-center Chukar Cherries stall in the main arcade. The appeal might be the cheerful colors and friendly smiles... or could it be that locals and international travelers alike are attracted to free samples of Chukar's specialty: chocolate covered cherries and nuts!

Chukar Cherries can be found front-and-center in the Pike Place Market main arcade

 

The Chukar Cherries brand has become a beloved Washington icon, known for its freshly made and beautifully packaged food gifts, naturally dried Bing and Rainier cherries, and freshly made chocolates with centers of Washington dried cherries. The Chukar product line has expanded over the years, and customers will find cherry- and nut-themed granola, caramel corn, biscotti, pie fillings, preserves and sauces. Chukar customers can also buy award-winning Washington wine -- perhaps choosing a box set that is perfectly paired with chocolate cherries. Chukar proudly touts goods that are handcrafted at their headquarters in Prosser, Washington. 

Yakima Valley

 

Nearly nine years before Chukar Cherries made its 1992 debut at the Pike Place Market, founder and CEO, Pam Montgomery, was walking around her newly purchased cherry orchard in southeast Washington. The young mother had become enamored of the verdant Yakima Valley during frequent visits to her sister's place, who lived on a nearby hops farm. 

"It was an adventure," exclaims Pam about moving from Seattle to eastern Washington. "For some time, we had been taking road trips from Seattle to Washington’s Yakima Valley (three hours southeast), searching for a farming opportunity. On one such trip, we discovered an 8,000-tree cherry orchard for sale in the farming community of Prosser, population 5,000 at the time. With our newborn daughter, we moved into a small farmhouse on the east edge of the cherry orchard and a new chapter began."

Pam and her future husband sold the laundromat business they had built up in Seattle to fund their next venture. The laundromat had become so successful that its sale enabled them to buy the 100-acre orchard with 8,000 mature cherry trees. "We said, why not!" Without experience or much forethought, they decided to take the plunge, sold everything, bought the orchard, and made the move in February of 1984. 

Pam was 30 years old at the time. "We knew nothing, but we bought it. It was beautiful. It is still beautiful," reflected Pam in an interview. 

She describes the contrast of moving from the city to acres of farmland. "The resounding rural quiet of the night with the occasional hoot of an owl against the darkness of north Prosser was in strong contrast to the bright night lights, traffic noise, and city bustle of Seattle. Every morning I’d walk two miles ‘round the orchard with my baby daughter. The smell of earth, greens, dew, and fruity growth was the best perfume ever."

The family was soon rounded out with the addition of twin girls. Pam was known to walk around the orchard after the cherry harvest with her three young daughters in tow. It was during these walks that she had a realization. With 8,000 trees to manage, some trees remained unpicked, and Pam discovered that when you leave the fruit on the branch, the sugar builds and acts as a preservative. She had rediscovered something that our ancestors knew: "You let the fruit sit on the branch, the natural sugars build inside naturally, and it acts like a preservative." She tasted the shriveled morsels; they were delicious. It was an "aha" moment. 

Pam’s three daughters grew up wandering around the 100-acre family orchard in Prosser, Washington

 

Pam began investigating how to dehydrate cherries without adding preservatives. The 80s were a time of heavy preservative use in food processing, and dried fruits were usually preserved with added sulfites and sugar. But Pam concluded that -- despite the prevailing agricultural wisdom and many naysayers advising her otherwise -- the natural sugars in tree-ripened cherries were enough to preserve cherries without added preservatives. And she was right! Young Pam Montgomery pioneered a cherry-drying process the required one ingredient only: cherries. The seed for Chukar Cherries was planted. 

In 1988, Pam moved the 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. Pam soon wondered what other cherry goodies could she make. The addition of chocolate came when Pam visited an exhibit in the famed confectionary hall in Harrods of London, which featured European chocolate-covered fruits. She returned home determined to find exceptional chocolate to complement Chukar's dried cherries and nuts. She soon located a 6th generation master chocolatier near San Franciso that was selling their old-world copper craftsman panning kettles. Pam bought the equipment that Chukar still uses to this day.

Founder Pam Montgomery with one of Chukar’s earliest products 

 

The company began partnering 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, which will naturally preserve the fruit. "In addition to our own cherries left hanging on the branch after harvest, we have always purchased ripe fresh cherries from small growers nearby. Now, a state-wide network of cherry growers continues to fulfill our fresh cherry requirements, and in turn we provide cherry growers another market for their cherries."

 

Pike Place Market

Pam recalls the company's expansion into the Pike Place Market. "Chukar was just a few years young when we were approached by Market’s outreach field reps with the offer to lease a portion of the old Loback space," said Pam. The space is centrally located in the Market's main arcade under the historically protected neon Loback Meat Co. sign. Even though her home and business were on the other side of the state, Pam didn't hesitate to accept the opportunity and eagerly signed the lease.  

"You see, in my twenties I lived and worked in Seattle. I had a love affair with Pike Place Market for many years and knew how to navigate the city. Throughout my twenties, nearly every Sunday I would walk down the hill from my apartment on Capitol Hill to Pike Place Market, eat breakfast at a café facing the waterfront, and buy my produce for the week while basking in the lively ambiance." The Pike Place Market offer felt like a full-circle moment. 

Pam was confident that Chukar would be able to supply and manage the difficult logistics from its rural location. Thirty-plus years later, time has proven her right. "Despite our production site being three hours’ drive east, Chukar was able to bridge the distance." 

Founder Pam Montgomery talks with Ambassador Matthew Murray of the US Department of State on why small businesses mater to the Asia-pacific region and to the Seattle community

 

In a wonderfully reciprocal relationship, Chukar Cherries and the Pike Place Market have now been partners for 32 years. "We attract locals and tourists alike because we have a great story paired with delicious and consistent product." Plus, don't forget those free samples! Chukar Cherries has become an integral member of the Market community and proceeds from the sale of their Seattle Souvenir Box are contributed to the Pike Place Market Foundation to support community services in downtown Seattle. 

Pam is thrilled to report that the business is truly a family affair. "We have two daughters involved in Chukar Cherries now and it’s great, but I never expected it." Her eldest daughter, Vivian, leads the Seattle location, while one of her twins, Wynne, heads up marketing. In musing about her daughters' involvement with Chukar's, she says, "It’s helpful to grow up around a well-run family business because you learn valuable work skills, soak in company culture, and contribute to the surrounding community in myriad ways," says Pam. "It's a terrific team with a committed operations group and a tremendous general manager, who is also part owner." 

Pam is thrilled that two of her daughters are working with her at Chukar Cherries. (Left) Daughter Vivian Auld leads the Seattle location in the Pike Place Market. (Right) Daughter Wynne Smith - pictured with Pam - is the Marketing Manager.

 

Pam comments about the joy of seeing her daughters' involvement in the business that began in their childhood; while she hopes to continue working alongside them for as long as she can, she admits that she's wound down. "But I'm a happy mentor to our incredible team, the guardian of the brand, and still enjoy brainstorming and contributing." 

Pam and her husband, JT Montgomery, live on the Horse Heaven Hills overlooking Prosser, where it all began. She reflects on her journey: "Chukar Cherries was like a gift from the heavens."

MORE INFORMATION

• A Chukar is a rotund game bird; their song is a noisy 'chuck-chuck-chukar-chukar'. Chukar.com tells us that 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.

• Watch a short video of Pam talking about the origins of Chukar Cherries, her adventures in Prosser and the Pike Place Market. You'll see images from the beautiful hills of Prosser and from Chukar Cherries' Seattle location. (Pam begins talking about 35 seconds into the video.) Pam Montgomery and Chukar Cherries

• When Chukar opened in 1988, Pam 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. Chukar Cherries supports the communities where they work, creating jobs with training and opportunity, and supporting non-profits such as Boys & Girls Clubs and the Pike Place Market Foundation, and a commitment to environmental responsibility. (Left) The Chukar Cherries Flagship Store & the team at the factory headquarters in Prosser. (Right) Management team (l-r): TJ Montgomery, Pam Montgomery, Tim Oten

For more information about Chukar Cherries, visit www.chukar.com.