For Immediate Release
May 30, 2008
www.stemilt.com
Contact Information:
Roger Pepperl
Marketing Director
Stemilt Growers Recognized by Washington CEO Magazine as the Greenest Agriculture Company in Washington State
WENATCHEE, Wash. -- Washington CEO Magazine recently honored tree fruit company Stemilt Growers, for its leadership in environmental sustainability, as the ‘greenest’ agriculture company in Washington state.
Stemilt president West Mathison and co-owner / grower Kyle Mathison accepted the award at the first-ever Green Washington Awards banquet held on May 21, 2008 at Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle. Stemilt was among 25 other companies honored that evening—a small group compared to the 140 entries the magazine received.
“Our winners distinguished themselves through their strong efforts to address sustainability in the workplace, in the community and in the hearts and minds of their employees and customers,” said Bob Ritter, Washington CEO publisher.
Sustainable business efforts have been part of Stemilt’s culture since 1989, when the company launched the Responsible Choice program as a way of communicating its commitment to the environment. “Our business is intimately connected with the land and we believe it is our duty to protect the environment and help make agriculture a sustainable business for future generations,” said West Mathison.
In 2005, Kyle Mathison started a compost farm in order to consume natural wastes from his orchards and Stemilt packing facilities. Today, the compost farms spreads across 23-acres, taking 100% of the leftover natural waste from these two locations and generating it into a nutrient-rich fertilizer.
“Rather than taking leftover wastes—like apple culls and leaves—and putting them into landfills, we decided to regenerate the materials into fertilizer for the soil. We now feed over 1,000 acres of orchards with custom-made fertilizer that meets the specific nutritional needs of each tree,” said Kyle Mathison.
In addition to the innovative compost farm—which prevents approximately 164 truck loads of waste from going into landfills each year—Stemilt recycles paper, cardboard and other packaging materials throughout its corporate offices and packing facilities. Stemilt has also worked to reduce its energy consumption through the installation of automatic closing doors and continues to invest in electric forklifts in order to reduce carbon emissions.
According to Washington CEO Magazine, the Green Washington Awards were established to honor leading Washington state companies and organizations in regards to environmental sustainability. A distinguished panel of judges determined top performers in 13 categories, with winners in each category being announced at the banquet.
“We are proud to be among the leading sustainable businesses in our state,” said West Mathison.
Mithun, a Seattle-based architecture firm, received the overall Greenest of the Green prize. Other Green Washington Awards went to the following companies and organizations: Nucor Steel Seattle, Entellium, ShorePacific Bank, City of Bellingham, Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat, REI, Turner Construction, Housing Resources Group, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle University, and the Seattle Mariners.
Headquartered in Wenatchee, Washington, Stemilt is a leading grower, packer and shipper of premium apples, pears, cherries, and summer fruits. The family-owned and operated company is the nation’s largest shipper of sweet cherries, as well as a major supplier of organic tree fruits.
About Washington CEO Magazine
Washington CEO is the business magazine of Washington state, reaching a powerful audience of more than 162,000 influential decision makers, business owners, entrepreneurs and policymakers. It provides essential perspectives about the business issues, companies, and personalities that impact our state’s economy and lifestyle. It is available online at www.washingtonceo.com.