Stemilt Apples Organic, WA

 

Family owned by Mathisons for five generations

 

Brian Vertrees – Customer Services Manager

 

Jurisdiction over other family orchards in CA and WA – manages growers’ orchards and advises partners to maintain family standards

 

Products:

Apples, blueberries, cherries, pears, peaches, nectarines, pluots, apricots, Apple Sweets (sliced flavored apple snacks)

22% organic/78% non

"Artisan Organics" line since 1989

All peaches and nectarines are 100% certified organic

The first designated organic packing plant in the state

2000 acres organic orchards

Organic farming requires closer management meaning more time, labor and resources

 

Food safety:

SQF-HACCP program

GAP

 

Green:

Half vehicles are electric

Composting

Minimal, environmentally friendly packaging; recycle company paper for cardboard trays

Energy use monitored

 

Pesticide use:

IPM – natural predators including trained falcons to ward off birds !!!

Pheromones, insecticidal soaps, dormant oils

Beneficial insects, cover crops, mulching, mechanical methods

 

Fertilizer use:

Manure, bone and fish meal, minerals, compost

 

Sustainable:

Strict water conservation

"Responsible Choice" program – sustainability and social responsibility – stewards of land, water and community

Fair Trade certified? No

 

Other state and federal certifications:

USDA Certified Organic, Certified Organic Producers of Washington State

Dept. of Labor/OSHA

Follows all requirements

 

Comments:

Participates in "Go Organic" – Earth Day

Partners with Sesame Street Workshop’s "Heathy Habits for Life"

2008 Green Washington award