FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2007
www.stemilt.com
Contact: Roger Pepperl
Marketing Director
Stemilt transitions entire peach and nectarine crop to organic production
WENATCHEE, Wash. - Stemilt Growers Inc. will transition 100 percent of its peach and nectarine crops into organic production this year, and about half its 220,000 cartons of apricots, a move that will eventually provide 1.5 million packs of organics to the marketplace.
Stemilt Marketing Director Roger Pepperl said the move is significant because the company sees tremendous promise for organic fruits in general, and more specifically for organic peaches, nectarines, apricots and pluots. The move is also important because the 1.5 million packs comprises approximately 70 percent of the total peach, nectarine, apricot and pluot crop produced in Washington state.
In 2003, Stemilt teamed with leading Washington stone fruit shipper Douglas Fruit Co. in Pasco to jointly pack and market all of the two companies' peaches, nectarines, apricots and pluots. The decision by the two organizations to move all of these tree fruits into organics prompted the development of a new "naturally-farmed" label and a new organic label. All of the transitional peaches, nectarines, apricots and pluots will be packed at Douglas, Pepperl said.
Artisan Naturals will be the new banner used for all tree fruits being transitioned into organics. The newly designed Artisan Naturals carton features rich tones of brown, orange and black creating an earthy feel.
Stemilt also created an Artisan Organics label. It features colors and graphics similar to Artisan Naturals so that consumers will associate the two brands and their products as the transitional fruit becomes certified organic over time, Pepperl said. Both are printed on kraft cardboard, and both are described on the cartons and in point-of-sale as "naturally farmed" tree fruits.
"Naturally-farmed Artisan Naturals are grown with the same techniques and practices as organic tree fruits, but they're in the three-year transitional timeframe before they can be legally called organic," Pepperl said. "These are high-quality fruits with superior flavor because they're grown in orchards that are balanced from a horticultural standpoint."
Already Stemilt is a leader in Washington-grown organic apples, pears and cherries, with about 12 percent of Stemilt apples and pears sold organically and about 5 percent of its cherries sold as organics. Although Stemilt has its own growers with peach, nectarine, apricot and pluot orchards, the packing agreement with Douglas Fruit has augmented Stemilt's manifest making the company one of Washington's top stone fruit suppliers.
Douglas has a lengthy history in the tree fruit business, producing and packing stone fruits in the Pasco area since 1984. The Douglas family has also been in the business of apple farming in Washington since the early 1900s.
Stemilt is also family-owned, founded by the Mathisons who have been in farming since the early 1900s. They started packing and shipping tree fruits in 1960. In the late 1980s Stemilt became an industry leader in organic fruit.
Coupling with the two families' fruit-growing experience, Artisan Naturals and Artisan Organics summer fruits will provide "a quality eating experience beyond compare," said Douglas Fruit General Manager Jill Douglas.
"We feel that moving these stone fruits into organic production will enhance the quality of what is already a superior product," Douglas said.
She added that Washington is one of the "best locations in the world to produce stone fruits" because of the long, cold winters that provide for adequate dormancy and rest for the trees. That fact gives the trees more energy to grow high-quality fruit in the summer.
In addition to offering superior-tasting fruit, Pepperl said Artisan Naturals and Artisan Organics reflect an important part of Stemilt's company mission. Stemilt has been a strong advocate of reducing pesticide use, conserving water, and protecting the environment through sustainable fruit production since the company launched its Responsible Choice program in 1989.
Pepperl said Stemilt will pack as much as 25 percent of its fruit organically by 2010. Stemilt will pack a total of 10 percent of its dark-sweet cherries in the Artisan labels this summer, 5 percent as Artisan Organics and 5 percent as Artisan Naturals.
"Customers are looking at sustainability as a serious subject today, relating to health and the future well-being of their families and the planet," Pepperl said. "The fact that we farm in a manner that sustains the environment and produces highly flavorful fruit is a powerful message."