THE WORLD’S FRESHEST APPLES, CHERRIES, AND PEARS GROW HERE.

THE PERFECT CHERRY

FARMING – IT’S IN OUR DNA

A GROWING TRADITION

Gebbers Farms has become one of the most trusted and top apple growers in the northwestern U.S., and the largest provider of cherries in the world, for two reasons: quality and freshness. With many thousands of acres of engineered orchard, and strategically located high up at the base of Washington state’s Cascade Range, the renowned Gebbers family has practiced the art of freshness for well over a century.

Our growing seasons offer cooler days and crisp nights – ideal for growing fragile fruit like apples, cherries, and pears. We proudly tend – and are constantly improving – one of the biggest contiguous apple orchards in the world and have become the largest supplier of late season sweet cherries that are simply second to none in quality, freshness and taste.

OUR HISTORY

100% FAMILY OWNED AND MANAGED

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    1885

    first apple orchardDan Gamble arrived with his backpack at the Harts Pass area in Washington State having walked from Nova Scotia for the beginning of the upper Methow gold rush. Later, he chased the silver boom at Ruby in the Okanogan Valley. He first established a saw mill in the mouth of Cactus Canyon near Brewster in 1894 where he caught and milled drift wood out of the river. He followed this venture with the establishment of the Gamble Hotel and steamboat landing on the banks of the Columbia River.

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    1889

    Martha Gamble GebbersDan Gamble planted his first apple orchard in Brewster in 1910. He incorporated Gamble Lumber Company and a second saw mill located on Paradise Hill in 1910, with a large part of the production being wooden apple boxes. He built his first apple packing shed in Brewster in 1918. Martha Gamble Gebbers was the first baby girl born in the new town of Brewster.

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    1906-1927

    Gebbers Farms family orchards1906 John Gebbers and his family homesteaded at Alta Lake near Pateros Washington, where they farmed potatoes and worked on the Cooper apple orchard. 1927 John Gebbers and Martha Gamble married and established a home in Brewster where John ran the family orchards and cattle ranch while Martha operated the apple packing shed and saw mill.

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    1930

    Danny Boy apple labelDan Gebbers was born the only child of John and Martha Gebbers.  The previous photo with Dan Gebbers at 18 months of age was used for the “Danny Boy” apple label.

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    1930

    apple suppliesDuring the Great Depression, the Gebbers sold apples on the streets of Los Angeles and continued moving their winter apple supplies throughout Southern California, Las Vegas, and Phoenix until the late 1950’s. Also during this time while other farmers were going bankrupt, Martha Gebbers issued her own scrip to pay her employees and vendors and continued to grow her operations.

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    1941

    Hispanic work force at Gebbers FarmsMartha Gebbers built a new apple warehouse in Brewster. Martha recruited the first Hispanic work force through a guest worker program to build and operate the new warehouse, as well as help run the cattle ranch and saw mill during the war years.

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    1949

    Gebbers Farms stable work forceIt was Martha Gebbers’ insight that led to the beginning of a necessary and stable work force. In 1949 she moved the saw mill from paradise Hill to Brewster where they operated an apple box factory and retail lumber planing mill, establishing several commercial accounts throughout the Midwest and West.

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    1968

    cherry growingThe Gebbers family planted some of Washington’s first Granny Smith apples trees and is now one of the leading sources of the variety, as well as Fuji, Gala, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples. While many fruit growers in the Northwest lost their trees to severe winter cold in 1969, the Gebbers’ trees were fortunate to survive, allowing the family to expand their acreage.

    Over 20 years ago, Dan Gebbers foresaw the opportunity to expand the cherry marketing season by planting late-ripening cherry varieties at high elevations above Lake Chelan. “High and Dry” is a good combination in the cherry business. The family also owns additional cherry orchards near Brewster and Bridgeport.

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    2001

    fruit businessFollowing two difficult pricing years, the Gebbers Family acquired full ownership of the Brewster Heights Packing facility where they had delivered much of their fruit to be packed and were shareholders.  After taking over full ownership of the company and assuming full responsibility over both the warehouse and farming operations, the family changed the organization’s name to Gebbers Farms. This name reflects the family’s long-term commitment to the fruit business.

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    2003-2004

    Chelan Fresh2003 The Gebbers combined marketing forces with other neighboring shippers to organize the Altafresh marketing agency, which sold fruit for their own company, as well as for MAGI, Gwinn White and Prince, Apple House and Obert Cold Storage. 2004 Chelan Fruit Company joined the marketing venture, and Altafresh was renamed as Chelan Fresh Marketing.

    Chelan Fresh™ is one of the top marketers of Washington apples, cherries and pears, providing direct access to over 250,000 boxes of fruit per week, 52 weeks per year. Chelan Fresh is grower-owned, representing family-owned farms, many of which are now being led by fourth or fifth generation. Growing fruit and growing it well is in their genes.

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    2014

    Danny Gebbers legacy

    Click image to watch tribute video.

    In October 2014, the Gebbers family and the entire farming industry lost a true innovator and friend when Danny Gebbers passed away following complications suffered from a fall he took during the 2014 wildfires. A fascinating and hard working man, Danny learned about all facets of the orchard business from his parents, John and Martha. Some of his notable work included planting the first commercial Lapin cherry orchards in Washington and setting a new precedent in late season cherries.

    Danny’s legacy of creativity, integrity, respect for the land, and innovative growing techniques lives on in his children, grandkids and employees of whom he invested so heavily of his time and talents.

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    Today

    Gebbers Farms familyGebbers Farms is 100 percent family owned and managed. Most all of the related family members play a role in the day to day operation of the company and the future generations are spending their summers learning the family trades. Now in its second century, Gebbers Farms is focusing on customer service, productive farming practices, workplace safety, and sharp management to prosper for the next generations to come.

    “Grown by Gebbers” means the fruit comes from one of the most trusted growers of high-quality, fresh apples, cherries, and pears.

    View a printable version of the Gebbers Farms Historical Timeline.

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