Ellips Group, a global leader in AI-powered vision grading technology for fresh produce, today announced that two respected North American fruit growers, Riveridge Produce Marketing (Sparta, Michigan) and Gibson Farms (Newcastle, Ontario), have each signed on to purchase Elifab cherry grading lines powered by Ellips True-AI technology, through Ellips USA. The investments support both companies' expansion of cherry production into regions not traditionally associated with the crop, positioning them to better serve fresh-market demand across the Midwest and East Coast.
Two established cherry growers scale into new regions
Riveridge Produce, long known as one of Michigan's leading apple growers, packers, and marketers, has been steadily building out its sweet cherry program in areas of the state outside its traditional lakeshore-cherry belt. Gibson Farms, a multi-generation Ontario apple grower and packer, is similarly diversifying into cherries as it looks to meet growing demand from retailers and consumers across Ontario and the northeastern United States.
Both lines are on track to be fully operational by December 2026. Beyond grading each company's own domestic harvest, the new equipment will allow Riveridge and Gibson to repack cherries imported from Chile during the winter months, giving both operations a nearly year-round cherry program and a steady counter-seasonal supply for Midwest and East Coast retailers.
A continued commitment to quality
The new state-of-the-art grading, sorting and packing technology reflects the continued investments and commitments both companies have made to their cherry programs and their customers, ensuring they grow and deliver the best possible product as their operations scale.
Quality, labor reduction and throughput build growers' confidence
"Cherries are a demanding crop to sort — quality, firmness, and consistency all matter to the retailers and consumers we serve," said Jeff Armock, VP Operations at Riveridge Produce. "As we've expanded cherry acreage into new parts of our operation, we needed grading technology that could keep pace with our standards from day one. Ellips Group's Elifab line gives us that confidence."
Gibson Farms echoed the sentiment. "Growing cherries in a region that hasn't traditionally grown them means we can't afford to compromise on quality control," said Mike Gibson, Co-Owner of Gibson Farms. "Partnering with Ellips Group lets us bring the same rigor to cherries that we've built our reputation on with apples."
Elifab grader with Ellips True-AI technology
Both grading lines combine Ellips Group's AI-powered vision technology with the robust mechanical design Elifab is known for. Cherries are among the most delicate fruits to handle, requiring both gentle handling and precise quality grading. Engineered for gentle fruit handling at high throughput, Ellips TrueAI technology uses multiple cameras and camera angles to identify external and internal defects—including softness, splits, nose cracks, and pitting—and grades fruit by size, color, and quality with a level of precision manual sorting cannot match. This intelligence is paired with Elifab's mechanical systems, from dump tanks to sorting and packing tables, engineered to operate reliably at high volumes. Together, the solution helps packers maintain consistent quality as cherry production expands.
A proven system for growers scaling up
"Riveridge and Gibson represent exactly the kind of forward-looking growers we love working with," said John Albert, General Manager at Ellips USA. "Both are established leaders in their core crops who saw an opportunity to grow cherries in new areas to reach markets closer to home. Our AI vision technology and mechanical design give them a system that's as dependable as it is precise, so they can bring that fruit to market with the quality and consistency their customers expect."
The additions of Riveridge Produce and Gibson Farms grow Ellips Group's footprint among North American cherry packers as demand for local fresh cherries continues to rise across the Midwest and East Coast.
About Riveridge Produce Marketing
Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc. is a vertically-integrated apple and cherry grower/packer/shipper/marketer/processor headquartered in Sparta, Michigan, a unique growing region in West Michigan due in part to the elevation, proximity to Lake Michigan and ideal soil conditions. The company represents more than one-half of Michigan’s fresh apple crop and is leading the way in food safety, new orchard technology and innovation in sales and marketing. Additionally, Riveridge markets fresh Michigan asparagus, sweet cherries, prune plums, and fresh apple cider.
About Gibson Farms
Gibson Farms is a multi-generation Ontario apple and cherry grower and packer based in Newcastle, Ontario, farming the land since 1836. The company is one of Canada's leading retail apple suppliers, known for varieties including Gala, Honeycrisp, and its exclusive Emerald Crisp™, marketed as Canada's green apple. Gibson Farms combines its farming heritage with modern innovation as it expands into new crops like cherries to meet growing retail demand.
About Ellips - Elifab
Ellips Group is a global leader in AI-powered vision grading technology and mechanical engineering for fresh produce, serving customers in more than 50 countries. Its Elifab division builds grading and packing machines for the blueberry, cherry and cherry tomato industries, combining gentle fruit handling with high throughput and Ellips True-AI Grading Technology to help growers maintain quality and improve packhouse efficiency. In the United States and Canada, Ellips Group's products and technology are sold and supported through Ellips USA.