Sustainability

From recycling and conserving water to relying on natural predators in our orchards, Bountiful Fruit has been focused on the environment since the very beginning. Our sustainability efforts stem from the Mathison family’s belief that we must protect the land, water and community around us in order to make agriculture a sustainable business for future generations.

Bountiful Fruit is committed to making the Responsible Choice every time we send a package of gift fruit. Read on to learn more about how we are making a difference in the environment and community around us:

• Organic Leader: Stemilt has been at the forefront of organic farming since transitioning our first orchards to organic production back in 1989. In 2009, we certified our entire peach and nectarine crop as organic. Additionally, our experience in organic farming has enabled us to implement proven natural farming methods in our conventional orchards.
  
  
• Integrated Pest Management: Our orchards use information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment to effectively manage pest levels with the least hazard to people, property and the environment. Additionally, many orchards use natural predators, such as trained falcons and pheromone traps, to keep pest levels at a minimum.
  
  
• Water Conservation: Stemilt grower’s work to conserve water through the use of micro-sprinklers, ground cover plantings (prevents moisture loss) and water retention ponds to save water for the driest periods in the season.
  
  
• Composting: Our 23-acre compost site takes 100% of the green waste (leaves, culled fruit, wood chips, etc.) from Stemilt’s packing plants and regenerates it into a nutrient-rich fertilizer that feeds over 1,000 acres of orchards. This unique operation prevents more than 160 truckloads of waste from filling up area landfills each year and strengthens the trees’ natural defenses, therefore reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. To learn more about compost, including how you can compost at home, visit the Environmental Protection Agency's compost website.
  
  
• Recycling: Bountiful Fruit participates in Stemilt’s comprehensive recycling program. We recycle paper, cardboard, and leftover supplies in order to reduce our carbon footprint.