FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2008
www.stemilt.com
Contact Information:
Roger Pepperl
Marketing Director
Natural farming techniques enhance the quality of Stemilt peaches and nectarines
PASCO, Wash. – For the Douglas family of Pasco, Washington the decision to transition their entire peach and nectarine crop to organic production came from a strong desire to provide consumers with flavorful fruit and one-of-a-kind eating experience.
The Douglas family has been farming in eastern Washington since the 1920’s and have grown peaches and nectarines for more than two decades. They own and operate Douglas Fruit Co., the state’s largest packing company for peaches and nectarines. Following the 2006 harvest, they began transitioning their orchards to organic production, using natural growing methods to deliver fruit that is rich in flavor.
The Douglas Family
“We saw the transition to organic as an opportunity to not only meet, but also build consumer demand for healthy, flavorful products,” said Jill Douglas, general manager of Douglas Fruit. “It’s all about the eating experience and these naturally farmed peaches and nectarines definitely deliver.”
In 2003, Douglas Fruit and Stemilt Growers, one of the nation’s leading tree-fruit operations, began jointly packing and marketing their respective crops of peaches and nectarines. Like Douglas, Stemilt is a family-owned company that has its own orchards and also packs for premium family growers. When they complete the transition to organic next year, Stemilt and Douglas will combine to pack and market approximately 800,000 boxes of organic peaches and nectarines.
This season, the two companies are packing peaches and nectarines under the Artisan Naturals label, which was designed by Stemilt specifically for transitional fruit. Next year, they plan on packing these summer fruits under the Artisan Organics label in boxes that will bear the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s certified organic seal.
According to Stemilt marketing director Roger Pepperl, this niche program is a great way for retailers to spread the ‘locale’ and family-farming message among consumers, which is especially important with today’s on-going concern over food safety.
“Consumers want to know that their fruit is grown under great conditions and by people who love what they do,” said Pepperl. “Our Artisan Naturals peaches and nectarines benefit from ideal climate conditions and advanced natural farming techniques. These well-balanced trees are not over-vigorous, and produce large peaches and nectarines with complex flavors and fantastic eating qualities.”
The transition to organics brought many significant changes to the peach and nectarine orchards. Along with eliminating synthetic fertilizers and sprays, the Douglas family introduced a population of beneficial predator insects, like ladybugs, into the orchards. These predator insects help control populations of known tree fruit pests. Additionally, they are using compost as a natural fertilizer to enrich the soil with nutrients, thus bringing a balance throughout the orchard.
“These advanced growing techniques intend to build organic matter into the soil, thus creating an ideal environment for growing peaches and nectarines organically,” said David Douglas, field service manager for Douglas Fruit.
Beyond these natural growing methods, Stemilt and Douglas greatly benefit from the location of their orchards, which are primarily found in eastern Washington’s Columbia Basin region. This arid region has an ideal climate for developing the high sugar levels and vibrant colors of premium peaches and nectarines.
“Trees require ample time during the day to develop sugars and also need time at night to replenish. With our long summer days and significant temperature swing from daytime to nighttime, we have absolutely ideal conditions for growing flavorful peaches and nectarines” said David Douglas.
Additionally, trees are planted in small variety blocks to help manage the harvest and ensure that only mature, ripe fruit is picked from the tree.
“Unlike some other fruits, peaches and nectarines don’t gain sugars off the tree,” said David Douglas. “Consumers look for a consistent level of maturity with these fruits and we are dedicated to providing them with just that.”