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 founder Tom Mathison launched a sustainability and social responsibility program called Responsible Choice.
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.
For two decades, Stemilt has focused on sustainability through the 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 – Shown in the image above is a portion of our 23 acre composting farm where leaves, culled fruit, wood chips and other green waste from our operations are regenerated into a nutrient-rich orchard fertilizer. The impact of composting is substantial—preventing more than 160 truckloads of waste from filling up area landfills each year. Additionally, compost boosts the nutritional balance of the soil, strengthens the trees’ natural defenses and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Reducing Carbon Emissions – Stemilt successfully transitioned more than half of our 174 company forklifts from propane to electric-powered units. We also require that trucks shut down completely while waiting for loads of fruit. Finally, our logistics department works hard to organize cargo pick-ups and deliveries so that no truck ever travels empty.
Energy Conservation – We work closely with our local utility company to monitor and reduce our energy use. From changing our lighting system at our largest packing facility to installing automatic folding doors on cold storage rooms company-wide, energy conservation continues to be a primary focus of our Responsible Choice program.
Water Conservation – Stemilt uses a variety of methods to conserve water, including irrigating only when needed, micro-system sprinklers, and ground-cover plantings that prevent moisture loss. Water retention ponds located near various orchards save water for the driest periods of the season. These ponds are 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. Stemilt orchards use information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment to manage them with the least hazard to people, property and the environment. Additionally, we use natural predators, such as trained falcons, to ward off fruit-damaging birds.
Packaging – Stemilt tries to use minimal packaging, but where packages are needed we select materials that are friendlier to the environment. A large number of our boxes are printed on Kraft paper. Kraft requires 5% less wood fiber and 20% less water than boxes built from white paper. Kraft paper also reduces the Biological Oxygen Demand of waste water by about 50 percent, reducing the electricity required to treat the water.
Recycling – Our packing facilities and corporate offices have recycling programs in place for paper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum and leftover supplies to reduce the amount deposited in landfills. Additionally, our local fiber tray manufacturer produces more than 8 million fiber apple trays with Stemilt's recycled paper. Thus, more than 35% of Stemilt's annual need for fiber trays comes from our company's own recycled material.