What Small Business Saturday Means to Us

Friends, we are coming up on a special day that means a lot to the entire Chukar team: Small Business Saturday. 

Most of us are familiar with Black Friday, which occurs the day after Thanksgiving and is advertised well in advance, and Cyber Monday. Sandwiched in-between these goliath shopping days is the lesser known Small Business Saturday.

In 2010, American Express made Small Business Saturday to encourage shoppers to pay attention to smaller, local businesses that may have been overlooked in the rush of Black Friday sales. Small Business Saturday is a chance for everyone to spend their dollars in local brick-and-mortar shops and online at small companies like Chukar Cherries.

We believe that Chukar Cherries exemplifies a small business that gives back to the local economy and goes against the grain of cheap, imported, mass-produced modern goods found in big box stores.

• At Chukar, quality comes first and always has. 
• All of our cherries, apples, and wine grapes are locally grown.
• All of our products are locally made right here in Prosser, WA.
• All of our product containers are sourced in the US and made from environmentally sustainable materials whenever possible. 
• We are proud to employ many wonderful people in the Prosser and Seattle communities.

Did you know that there are over 31 million small businesses in the United States? Since the mid-1990s, more than two-thirds of the new jobs created have been by small businesses. Nearly 50% of the working population find employment through small businesses.

Small businesses like Chukar are intimately connected to their communities, by providing services and jobs and salaries, as well also through supporting local events and initiatives.

As you may know, Chukar Cherries was the ultimate small business when it started: a one-woman enterprise. Founder Pam Montgomery moved from Seattle to a cherry orchard in Eastern Washington where she noticed that cherries left to dry on the tree were bursting with natural sugars. Her vision was to create healthy, no-sugar-added dried cherry snacks that delivered the fresh flavor of Washington State cherries.

Today, that vision is carried forward and Chukar Cherries is still a family-owned business. Over the years we’ve kept a lot of the characteristics you would expect of a small business, including long-term employees and superb customer service.

Speaking of customer service, have you ever stepped foot into a big box store where you needed assistance, but either no one was around to help or they were just too busy? At Chukar, we are proud to staff a full customer service team that answers the phone directly when you call. No phone tree! A tailored shopping experience is what we strive to deliver to every customer, no matter how big or small.

In addition to our Prosser team, we are also a local destination for shoppers at Pike Place Market. If you are planning to do any holiday shopping this year and live in the Seattle region, we encourage you to stop by and see our new, delicious holiday gifts. We truly appreciate your support. 

Just remember, our team at Chukar Cherries is here to help with your shopping experience every step of the way. We can't thank you enough for your support on Small Business Saturday and every day of the year!