WENATCHEE, Wash. – It’s another sunny day in Pasco, WA and the Douglas family is all set to harvest peaches and nectarines. This is a scene that has played out year-after-year since they started growing stone fruit back in 1980, with one significant difference – they are now farming their entire crop of peaches and nectarines organically.
“2010 marks the second year our entire crop of peaches and nectarines have been certified organic,” said Jill Douglas, general manager of the family’s fruit packing company, Douglas Fruit. “Since the move to organics, we’ve seen our trees come into balance from a horticultural standpoint. The nutrient-rich soils combine with Columbia Basin’s arid climate to create an ideal growing environment that is producing peaches and nectarines with higher Brix (or sugar) levels, vibrant colors, and an all-around better eating experience for the consumer.”
In conjunction with their marketing partners, Stemilt Growers of Wenatchee, WA, the Douglas family took on the challenge to farm all of their peaches and nectarines organically following the 2006 season. It was a decision based on the high demand for organic fruit and a strong desire to provide consumers with a healthy, flavorful product.
Both Stemilt and Douglas Fruit are family-owned companies that have a rich heritage of farming in eastern Washington. The Mathison family has grown fruit since the early 1900’s, while four generations of Douglas’s have been living out their passion for farming since 1920. The companies have been jointly packing and marketing fruit since 2003, and are now heading into the peak of their second season with organic-only peaches and nectarines. All of the fruit is marketed under Stemilt’s Artisan Organics label.
After four years of farming these summer fruits organically, the Douglas family has seen many changes to their orchards. They were successful in introducing a population of beneficial predator insects (such as ladybugs) in order to help control known tree fruit pest populations. Additionally, since they can’t rely on synthetic fertilizers, they are using compost as a natural fertilizer to enrich the soil with the right level of nutrients. These and other efforts have brought everything from the soil to the limbs of the trees into balance.
Beyond farming organically, Stemilt and Douglas greatly benefit from the location of their peach and nectarine orchards, which are primarily found in eastern Washington’s Columbia Basin region. This arid region is at the confluence of three rivers and has an ideal climate for developing fruit size and flavor.
“Stone fruit trees need warm temperatures during the day to develop sugars, but cooler temperatures at night to reenergize. We get just that with our long, hot summer days and significant temperature drop at night. It’s the ideal environment that makes growing organically a bit less challenging,” said Douglas.
Additionally, Stemilt and Douglas plant their stone fruit trees in small variety blocks to help manage harvest and ensure that only mature, ripe fruit is picked from the tree. “Consumers look for a consistent level of maturity with these fruits and we are dedicated to providing them with just that.”
The season for Artisan Organics peaches and nectarines is nearing its peak timeframe now, and will run through the end of September. Stemilt has several promotion opportunities available for retailers looking to build excitement around this niche program. “From value opportunities on certain items to our pop-up displays and signage that feature four generations of Douglas’s, we have all the tools retailers need to get the word out about these unique fruits,” said Roger Pepperl, Stemilt marketing director.
Source: Stemilt Growers Inc.