EFI Story
2025 Farmworker Of The Year
“When you work together, the job gets done right. We’re doing a good job to deliver fresh food and a good product to people.” – Rafael Teran Melchor, Stemilt Sanitation Team Member
At Stemilt, we bring Integrated Pest Management (IPM) into the orchard opting for natural methods first when it comes to deterring unwanted pests. We carefully monitor our orchards, and if needed, will release beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewing larvae, or helpful birds like falcons. If natural defenses don’t do the trick, we’ll apply targeted treatments only when necessary.
Integrated Pest Methods:
Bee Friendly Farming
Stemilt is Bee Friendly Farming certified by Pollinator Partnership. This means we offer nutrition and habitats for bees, including 140 acres of native wildflowers around our orchards, to support pollinators.
We use tools, like moisture probes, so we can water our trees just the right amount to conserve this vital resource.
We take extra care of keeping local streams and rivers clean by managing water as it flows through our orchards and protecting riverbanks. This supports salmon habitats near our orchards by preventing erosion, filtering runoff, and maintaining cool, clean water.
Our apple production lines use a water reuse system that recirculates water up to three times across multiple stages of the process, significantly reducing overall water consumption and supporting our commitment to sustainable resource management.
We return nutrients to the soil by using compost, which helps build healthy, living ground for our orchards, and planting cover crops. These practices also store carbon in the ground, contributing to climate-friendly farming.
Compost
We’ve been composting at a commercial scale for over 20 years. Our 23-acre facility processes about 40,000 tons of organic material each year, much of which would otherwise go to waste. From that, we create 16,000 tons of compost that nourishes our orchards. The Stemilt Organic Recycling Facility is open to the Wenatchee public for yard waste drop-off and also receives curbside yard waste from two counties.
Cattle Feed
Any leftover fruit that isn’t fit for people is sent to nearby cattle feedlots, where it’s used as nutritious feed instead of going to waste.
Our EZ Band is a fiber-based solution that replaces plastic clamshells while keeping fruit secure and visible.
We offer a #4 plastic bag that can be recycled via store drop-off in many locations, and we include How2Recycle® labels to help shoppers know what to do.
We also make sure our paper and pulp packaging comes from responsibly managed forests, using materials certified by SFI or FSC.
We recycle an average of 72,500 tons of material each year, including paper, cardboard, plastics, and metals.
Through our partnership with Keyes Packaging, we recycle over 2 million pounds of cardboard each year into upcycled fruit trays, creating a local, circular system that gives the packaging a second life.
Yes. Taking care of the land is part of how we grow fruit. We use practices like composting, cover crops, and natural pest control to keep our orchards healthy for the long term, not just this season.
Sometimes, but only when needed. We start with natural methods like beneficial insects and careful monitoring. When necessary, we use targeted treatments to protect the fruit while minimizing impact. We grow both organic and conventional fruit, and our organic growing methods avoid most synthetic pesticides, relying primarily on natural or approved pest management tools.
A lot, because we depend on them as pollinators. We plant wildflowers around our orchards, provide habitat and water, and follow Bee Friendly Farming® practices to support pollinators.
We use tools to give trees exactly the water they need: no more, no less. We also reuse water in our packing houses to reduce overall use.
Healthy soil is a big part of it. By adding compost and planting cover crops, we improve soil health and store carbon in the ground, which helps make farming more climate-friendly and makes orchards more resilient over time.
We’re always working to reduce our packaging impact. While retailers often choose final packaging formats, we offer more sustainable options, including recyclable, paper-based designs like our EZ Band. Our aim is to balance protecting fruit, reducing waste, and using materials more responsibly.
We participate in programs like the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), which focuses on fair working conditions, food safety, and continuous improvement on our farms. We also work with CIERTO to ensure ethical recruitment of our H2A guest workers from Mexico. Along with benefits like onsite healthcare and a focus on safe workplaces, these efforts help ensure our team members and their families can thrive.
Our founder Tom Mathison rooted in sustainable practices before it was a buzzword.
We’re investing in energy efficiency and electrification projects across our operations to lower emissions and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. 80% of our forklifts are now electric.
Stemilt fruit grown in Washington is packed at facilities powered by 100% renewable electricity, thanks to local hydropower and our participation in Chelan County’s Sustainable Natural Alternative Power (SNAP) Program.
We’re also expanding our on-site solar, with approximately 3,000 new panels across four acres at our California cherry packing facility in Stockton, CA.
Did you know apples get sunburned, too? Apples can get sunburned from extreme heat, not just sunlight. Sunburn is a leading cause of apple damage that keeps fruit from reaching the market.
We’re adapting to climate affects such as extreme heat with tools like shade cloth and overhead cooling to protect our fruit.
We’re also taking care of our team by adjusting schedules and making sure everyone stays safe during hot weather and smoke events.