In 1989, Stemilt Growers added a ladybug to its logo as a way of communicating the company’s commitment to the environment. That same year, Stemilt developed a sustainability and social responsibility program called Responsible Choice. Today, the ladybug continues to be a symbol of Stemilt’s ongoing commitment to the environment, high-quality products and respect for employees.
Consumers who choose Stemilt’s World Famous Fruit can be assured that they are purchasing not only healthy and nutritious products, but products that have been produced responsibly.
In 2008, Stemilt introduced a new logo for the Responsible Choice program. It reflects the company’s promise to be good stewards of the land, water and community— with the ultimate goal of protecting the environment and helping to make agriculture a sustainable business for future generations.
The upcoming year marks the 20th anniversary of focusing on sustainability through our Responsible Choice program. We are proud to have been early adopters of a corporate responsibility program that continues to make a difference in our community and the world around us.
Some examples of our sustainable business efforts include:
Composting – More than 20 acres are dedicated to composting at Stemilt where leaves, culled fruit, wood chips and other green waste are turned into nutrient-rich orchard fertilizer instead of further filling up area landfills. The compost is used in orchards to boost the nutritional balance of the soil and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers. With different mixes applied to orchard blocks with specific nutrient needs, the compost strengthens the trees’ natural defenses so they can fight off pests and diseases with less help from man-made pesticides.
Reducing Carbon Emissions – Stemilt is transitioning its propane-fueled forklifts to electric forklifts in all our operations. Of our 174 forklifts company-wide, more than half are now electric. In addition, our logistics department works hard to organize cargo pick-ups and deliveries so that no truck ever travels empty!
Energy Conservation – Stemilt installed automatic folding doors for all of its cold storage rooms in order to conserve energy.
Water Conservation – Stemilt uses a variety of methods to save water, including micro-system sprinklers, drip irrigation, and ground-cover plantings beneath orchard trees to prevent moisture loss. Water retention ponds used in various orchards save water for the driest periods of the season. They’re also stocked with local fish so that appropriate ecosystems are maintained.
Integrated Pest Management – IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. These methods are used to manage pests by the most economical means and with the least hazard to people, property, and the environment.
Packaging – Stemilt tries to use minimal packaging, but where packages are needed we select materials that are friendlier to the environment. For example, in 2006 we simplified our standard apple and pear cartons so that only two designs would be used. Both are printed on kraft paper. Kraft requires 5% less wood fiber and 20% water than boxes built from white paper. Kraft paper also reduces the Biological Oxygen Demand of waste water by about 50%, reducing the electricity required to treat the water. Kraft also recycles easily because of its natural color tones.
Recycling – Stemilt recycles cardboard, fiber trays, plastic strapping, and other materials used in the packing process to reduce the amount deposited in landfills and the cost of disposal.