Did You Know

Fruit must be grown and packed according to the USDA’s stringent guidelines in order to be certified organic

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Packing Organics

Just like the farming side, packing organic fruit is a little different than the process for packing conventional fruit Just like the farming side, packing organic fruit is a little different than the process for packing conventional fruit. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (or like state agency) inspects and issues organic certifications for each facility that will pack organic fruit. These must be renewed annually.

After harvest, all of Stemilt’s organic fruit is placed in plastic bins and then immediately brought to a nearby packing and storage facility, where it is either packed for shipment or stored in controlled atmosphere (C.A.) storage rooms for packing later in the season. The type of equipment used in organic fruit packing is virtually the same as conventional. However, all equipment (brushes, belts, etc.) must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before organic packing begins.

Once on the packing line, organic apples and pears are washed with a certified-organic soap to remove any residue from the field. Soap is not necessary when packing organic cherries, peaches, or nectarines. After this stage, organic fruit continues down the line to be sized, sorted for quality, and in many cases, stickered. The final step is to pack the fruit in one of many Artisan Organic packs, including bulk, bags, clamshells, and specialty cartons.

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Q	Do the PLU stickers applied to Artisan Organics fruit compromise the organic status?
A	No. These stickers are designed to be removed and not consumed. They are not an ingredient and do not change the flavor of the fruit. Therefore, the stickers do not compromise the organic status.