Stemilt organic stone fruit line a national signature program
Stemilt organic stone fruit line a national signature program
Stemilt Growers LLC has taken great pains to farm stone fruit for flavor and is proud of the fact that all its peaches and nectarines are organic. “This is a signature organic program in the U.S. for soft fruit,” Director of Marketing Roger Pepperl told The Produce News. “We have been organic for six years now, and it reflects in the balance and great flavors the fruit possess.”
Sixty percent of the company’s apricots are organic. “This organic supply is very popular, and we anticipate great demand for our product due to the quality and organic certification.”
Pepperl said conditions during the production season have been favorable. “We have had ideal weather conditions,” he said. “Great pollination with an expected great crop to follow. We are very optimistic about the crop.”
Apricots are a big item at Stemilt Growers. (Photo courtesy of Stemilt Growers LLC)The apricot harvest will ramp up in late June, and Pepperl said the fruit will ship to customers throughout the month of July and well into August. Peach production will begin in mid-July with volume hitting its stride by the third week of the month. “Nectarines will follow the first week of August,” he went on to say. “We will ship until mid-October in volume.”
He said peaches and nectarines will be large and peak in the 36-44 range. “Nectarines, like most orchards, will be about a size smaller than peaches. This is normal,” he said.
“Apricots will be a range of sizes this year,” he continued. “We will have a good supply of smaller sizes in random weight bag programs this year. The random weight bags that Stemilt was first to bring to market 15 years ago are still a very popular item. The bags are now pouch bags for the second year straight.”
The Robada apricot continues to gain in popularity, and Pepperl said Stemilt anticipates increased volume of the variety in 2014.
Stone fruit is marketed under Stemilt’s “Artisan Organic” brand. Pepperl said retailers will have an opportunity to move stone fruit in display bins featuring the Douglas family, who grows the majority of fruit. “People want to know who grew their food,” he commented. “We pull this off with a great sales piece.”
