Produce veteran Dashan Dookhu brings 36 years of retail know-how to succeed Tim Harrington and energize Stemilt’s merchandising across the U.S. and Canadian East Coast
Stemilt Growers has appointed produce veteran Dashan Dookhu as East Coast Merchandising Manager, tasking him with strengthening the company’s retail partnerships and shopper engagement programs in Toronto, Montreal, New England, New York and the Mid-Atlantic.
Operating from his home base just outside Queens, New York, Dookhu will design and execute in-store promotions, food-show activations and Stemilt’s signature Cherry and Apple Colleges while providing day-to-day support to produce buyers and wholesale teams.
The role is critical to Stemilt’s strategy of pairing premium fruit with field-tested merchandising to boost category performance across eastern Canada and the United States.
“We’re excited to welcome Dashan to the Stemilt team. He’ll be stepping into the role currently held by our esteemed Sr. Merchandising Manager Tim Harrington, who is retiring in 2026 after more than 16 remarkable years with us. While we’ll deeply miss Tim and the impact he’s made, we’re equally enthusiastic about the expertise Dashan brings from his keen insight into the retail landscape to his passion for fresh produce and natural talent for growing connections.”
Brianna Shales, Marketing Director
Harrington’s pending retirement places added urgency on a smooth hand-off, and Stemilt expects Dookhu’s three-plus decades in produce much of it at ShopRite and Whole Foods Market to accelerate that transition.
Known for combining creative displays with rigorous category data, Dookhu has built a reputation for turning seasonal campaigns into sustained sales lifts, experience Stemilt hopes will translate to apples, cherries, pears and other core items grown in Washington’s Wenatchee and Yakima valleys.
“What I’ve always loved about this industry is the people. Meeting them, training them, and watching them grow is the most rewarding experience. Having spent lots of time in the produce and floral world, I understand what resonates in produce departments. I’ve lived it, and I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running with our partners across the East Coast.”
Dashan Dookhu, East Coast Merchandising Manager
Stemilt’s merchandising program is considered a cornerstone of its retail-support model, supplying store teams with point-of-sale materials, assortment analytics and experiential events designed to turn high-graphic cartons and branded pouches into incremental dollars per square foot.
The company credits that approach with driving double-digit velocity gains for late-season apple varieties and with helping its proprietary cherry lines command premium shelf space in crowded summer sets.
“I see this role as more than just merchandising,” Dookhu added. “It’s about inspiring confidence, building trust, and helping our retail partners succeed. Whether I’m setting up a promotion or walking a store floor, I’m focused on bringing energy, ideas, and a deep understanding of what drives results in produce.”
Dookhu will also collaborate with Stemilt’s quality and logistics teams to align seasonal supply flows with regional ad calendars a necessity as the marketer prepares for its first full crop year under a revised storage strategy aimed at extending domestic apple availability deeper into the summer.
With a 60-year legacy and a grower base spanning more than 5,000 acres, Stemilt says field-to-store execution remains the linchpin of its brand promise.
Company leaders believe Dookhu’s boots-on-the-ground perspective, honed in some of the busiest produce departments on the East Coast, will keep that promise visible and profitable for retailers and consumers alike as the 2025-26 fruit season approaches.
