FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2007
www.stemilt.com
Contact: Roger Pepperl
Marketing Director
Stemilt's organic & sustainable background line up with Earth Day mission
WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Go Organic! for Earth Day campaign will embark on its third year this month, and Stemilt Growers Inc., one of the nation's leading organic apple, pear, cherry, and stone fruit shippers, will take part in this supermarket promotion that helps to educate consumers about organic products.
Stemilt Marketing Director Roger Pepperl said activities connected to Earth Day are a good fit for the company. Stemilt has been a major supporter of sustainable agriculture and protecting the environment for over two decades, launching its own program called Responsible Choice in 1989 to encourage farmers to reduce pesticide use, conserve water, and become better stewards of their orchard lands.
Since then Stemilt has become one of the largest U.S. producers and packers of organic tree fruits. Pepperl said Stemilt has recently expanded its Responsible Choice program to embrace more sustainable agriculture concepts such as composting.
"Stemilt is a huge advocate of activities, promotions, and events that celebrate Earth Day, because we work continually to incorporate farming and fruit packing methods that assure we are good stewards of the environment," Pepperl said.
Stemilt's composting project began three years ago on Stemilt Hill near the company's main operations in Wenatchee. Wastes from Stemilt's orchards and packinghouses are disposed and recycled at the composting site. Such degradable refuse as leaves, branches, discarded fruit, and pieces of plywood bins are recycled there. The compost is specially mixed and applied in the orchards to enrich soils, providing an environmentally-friendly way to get rid of wastes and reduce synthetic fertilizer use.
"Stemilt has long believed in farming methods that make our world a healthier place and maintain agriculture as a thriving industry," Pepperl said. "Promotions like Go Organic! for Earth Day fit right into the mission and concepts we've supported for years."
Pepperl said Stemilt encourages all retailers to engage in some type of Earth Day promotion using organic apples. He said ads on organic apples have become synonymous in retail with promoting Granny Smith on St. Patrick's Day and large Red Delicious during Christmas.
"We've seen a definite increase in organic sales associated with Earth Day promotions, sometimes as high as three times the typical sales volume," Pepperl said. "Earth Day creates a lot of excitement for organic foods, and that's very positive for fresh produce, especially organic tree fruits."
Many organizations and companies nationwide have embraced Earth Day as a time to promote good stewardship of the environment. According to Music Matters, the Minneapolis-based company organizing the Go Organic! for Earth Day promotion, 3,500 grocery stores and 40 leading organic manufacturers and suppliers will participate in Go Organic! for Earth Day this April.
The National Marketing Institute published a report stating that the 2006 Go Organic! campaign reached an estimated 10 million consumers nationally and raised awareness of organic products by 3 percent. The report also emphasized the importance supermarkets play in educating the public about organic foods, stating that 65 percent of consumers learn about organic products from grocery store promotions and displays.
In-store events, organic product sampling, and coupons for products from participating suppliers will all be part of the Go Organic! for Earth Day promotion offerings. Pepperl said bulk organic Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Granny Smith will be key Stemilt items that retailers should consider advertising during Earth Day events.
"Earth Day is a perfect opportunity for supermarkets to tie into a positive national movement," Pepperl said. "We're excited to be able to supply a premium organic product that will fit well with any retailer's Earth Day promotions and ads."