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Our Vision

​To be the best of the best in people, packing, and production.

Blue Star isn’t just about pears, it’s about people. Our team members return season after season because they’re treated like family. We offer stable jobs, opportunities to grow, and a positive, community-driven culture that makes work feel rewarding. Whether in the orchard or the packing house, every role supports a mission to deliver quality fruit and protect farming legacies.

Our History

Founded in 1907, Blue Star Growers has been a proud grower-owned cooperative for more than a century. Located in the heart of Cashmere, Washington, we represent a community of family farmers who work together to grow, pack, and ship some of the world’s finest pears.

 

What began as a small group of orchardists pooling their resources has grown into a co-op of over 70 growers farming over 2,600 acres of orchards across the Wenatchee Valley. Our cooperative spirit allows us to provide vital services to growers, including packing, storage, ripening, and food safety support, while ensuring that family farms remain strong for future generations.

 

In the 1950s, Blue Star built its first warehouse campus, creating a hub that still anchors our operations today. Over the decades, we have continued to invest in innovation to better serve growers and customers alike. In 2005, we became industry leaders by installing permanent pear ripening rooms, giving us the ability to deliver consistent, ready-to-eat fruit to markets worldwide.

 

From our early roots to today’s state-of-the-art facilities, one thing hasn’t changed: our dedication to working together. At Blue Star, growers aren’t just members, they are owners. Every decision we make is driven by the mission to keep family farming alive, strengthen our cooperative community, and share the best fruit from Washington with the world.

For more than 100 years, our growers have united to keep family farming strong.

Meet Our Team

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Gene Woodin

General Manager

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Cesar Ruiz

Operations Manager

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Suzy Hansch

HR Manager

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Cody Schuyleman

Fieldman

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Oleg Plukchi

IT Manager

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Andrew Greenman

Controller

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Kelli Canterbury

Quality Control Manager

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Shannon Przespolewski

Safety Manager

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