A bankruptcy judge has approved a roughly $231.3 million sale of one of Washington’s biggest apple and cherry operations. The decision moves Brewster Heights Packing & Orchards, a major part of the Gebbers Farms operation, closer to new ownership as Washington’s longtime fruit businesses face difficult conditions.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington approved the sale to Heritage Orchard Alliance LLC on October 13, 2026. The transaction still has steps to clear before the new owner takes control.
A new owner for a century-old fruit operation
Brewster Heights Packing & Orchards, LP, along with 12 affiliated companies, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 4, 2026. The business is based in Brewster, where the Gebbers family has farmed for generations.
Heritage Orchard Alliance is affiliated with International Farming, the North Carolina-based investment business behind Legendary Fruit. It emerged as the lone bidder in the court-supervised sale process.
The purchase price is about $231.3 million, subject to adjustments. The deal combines cash with assumed debt obligations and covers substantially all the debtor companies’ assets.
In a September company announcement, Brewster Heights said it operated more than 8,000 acres of orchards and packing facilities capable of handling over five million boxes of fruit annually. Its apple varieties include SugarBee, LucyGlo, LucyRose and Rockit.
Financial pressure grew before the filing
The orchard business went to bankruptcy court after struggling with heavy borrowing, rising production expenses and disputes with major lenders over continued financing. The Spokesman-Review reported that it owed more than $225 million to its major lenders before the filing.
The case carries major stakes for the surrounding communities. The newspaper reported that the operation employed 3,742 people as of June 4, with staffing increasing during peak harvest periods.
The purchase agreement gives the buyer discretion over which workers receive job offers, without guaranteeing a minimum headcount. It generally calls for the seller to end employment at closing, with separate transition arrangements for employees on H-2A agricultural visas.
What happens to the orchards now?
The company said in September that orchard work, packing, storage, shipping and grower services had continued through the bankruptcy process. Heritage has said it plans to continue operating the acquired business under the Brewster Heights name.
The October 13 approval clears a major hurdle, but closing remains subject to additional conditions, including confirmation of a liquidation plan for the debtor companies.
For the region’s growers and workers, the next question is how the transition will unfold. The court-approved sale offers a path to new ownership, while the final handoff date and future staffing levels remain unsettled.
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