End of a maraschino cherry era


Forest Grove’s Gray & Co. shut down its cherry processing facility last week, laying off 23 of its 25 employees.

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Forest Grove’s Gray & Co. shut down its cherry processing facility last week, laying off 23 of its 25 employees.

The company plans to consolidate its operations at its other processing plant in Michigan, following demand.

“We need to be where the cherries are, and that means Oregon or Michigan,” he said. Michigan ended up winning, he explained, for a couple reasons. First, materials used in processing – glass, metal lids, cardboard – are less expensive in the Midwest.

Consolidating operations in Michigan will also save the company significant transportation expenses, as the market for his product is becoming increasingly centered on the East Coast.

“Sadly, not many Californians think a maraschino belongs on a sundae. They’re wrong, of course. But in Philadelphia they do,” he said.

Read more at the News Times.

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