Growing fruit organically is no easy task, but it's one that Stemilt has committed itself to since 1989

Did You Know

An orchard must be farmed organically for three years before it can be certified as organic.

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What Is Organic

Organic Apples We've all heard about organic products, but what does organic really mean? As you can imagine, the definition of organic is quite lengthy. In fact, the U.S. has a set of standards which all producers must follow in order to deem their product as organic.

According to the Organic Trade Association, organic refers to the way agriculture products (including food and fiber) are grown and processed. It is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes the soil without using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Outside the farm, organic products are minimally processed without artificial ingredients or preservatives.

Growing fruit organically is no easy task, but it's one that Stemilt has committed itself to since 1989. We focus on natural farming practices in order to produce organic apples, pears, cherries, and stone fruits that are rich with flavor.

How does an apple, pear, cherry, or stone fruit orchard achieve organic certification?

When a farmer decides to transition his/her orchard to organic production, they are making a huge commitment. An orchard must be farmed organically for three seasons before it can be certified as organic. This is known as the "transitional" phase. The farmer only uses natural fertilizers (such as manure, compost, and rock minerals) to maintain soil fertility, and natural insecticides (like pheromones, soaps, and dormant oils) and beneficial insects to keep pest populations at bay. Weeds are controlled by cover crops, mulching, and mechanical methods rather than herbicides.

Once the three-year period is over, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its state agencies inspect the orchard in order to issue an organic certification. The fruit can then be packed and marketed as organic. A farmer must renew his/her organic certificate annually.

How do I know if I am buying organic fruit?

Here at Stemilt, all of our organic fruit is sold under the Artisan Organics label, which can be found on all of our organic packaging. In general, the PLU (price-look up) number will have a leading "9" followed by the industry-standard four digits to differentiate it as organic. It may also have the USDA's certified organic seal on the packaging.