WENATCHEE, WA - Stemilt spent Pollinator Week with a typical buzz of excitement. The company highlighted this buzz-worthy event by celebrating its Bee Friendly Certification® through Pollinator Partnership, which has a Bee Friendly Farming® program created to promote the health of pollinators and ensure the future of sustainable agriculture.
“Stemilt earned its certification in Bee Friendly Farming through Pollinator Partnership in April 2021 for its owned acres of farmland,” noted Dianna Sanchez, Stemilt’s Technical Support Agronomist. “Pollinator protection has been a priority at Stemilt for many years, and before receiving our certification, it began with our Responsible Choice® mission to do what’s right for the land and maintain sustainability in our orchards.”
During Pollinator Week, Stemilt partnered with Pollinator Partnership to spread awareness about the importance of pollinators and what can be done to support them.
In 2021, Stemilt planted 400 acres of native wildflowers and bee forage to support pollinators and continues to practice Integrated Pest Management, as explained in a press release.
“We are very excited to continue our partnership with Stemilt as we continue to expand the Bee Friendly Farming program into the Pacific Northwest,” stated Miles Dakin, Bee Friendly Farming Coordinator at Pollinator Partnership. “Bee Friendly Farming will soon have an on-the-ground presence as we hire a Pacific Northwest associate and through our partnership with LIVE Certified. These new resources will assist farmers in planting pollinator habitat and implementing [the] best management practices—a big win for both pollinators and farms.”
Stemilt noted that in the first year of planting bee forage in its orchards, there was pollinator growth because there are places for bees and other pollinators to find flowering plants outside of the bloom time for apples, pears, and cherries. Pollinators have habitats all year-round because of different species of flowers that bloom throughout the season.
“Providing pollinator habitats gives the pollinators a place of refuge and diverse diets when there are no blooms in the orchards to ensure their health and wellbeing,” added Sanchez. “Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are present in Stemilt’s owned orchards, and they play a most important role in growing World Famous Fruit. Our Bee Friendly Farming program has provided them with the habitats they need to thrive, so we can help them help us in supporting healthy and sustainable ecosystems in agriculture.”
Helping the bees is a key part of sustainable ag programs, and we love to see Stemilt take this so seriously. Save the bees!
