MOSES LAKE, WA - Okanagan Specialty Fruits® (OSF), the innovative developer and grower of the Arctic® apple, is proud to announce it has been selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) climate-smart pilot program. The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) was awarded a Climate-Smart Commodities Grant through the USDA and will be spearheading the four-year pilot project titled “A Vibrant Future.”
“We are thrilled to be one of the 100 growers in the United States, and one of only four in Washington State, to be selected to participate in the project,” said Don Westcott, President of OSF. “We pride ourselves on being leaders in the biotechnology industry and look forward to continuing to set the bar when it comes to sustainable agriculture practices.”
Participants in the program will benefit from the development of personalized plans for the implementation of climate-smart practices, a press release stated. Additionally, they will have access to a certified crop adviser, sustainability consultants, and software data to assess their progress.
As part of the program, IFPA will ask growers of specialty crops to adopt one of six climate-smart production practices, with the goal of creating a market for fruits and vegetables grown using these methods. These practices include short-season cover crops, nutrient management, residue and tillage management, alley cropping, water management, and soil amendments and mulches.
“This is a groundbreaking program and we’re committed to playing an active role in promoting sustainable agriculture,” said Joel Carter, Orchard Operations Manager for OSF. “By embracing climate-smart practices, OSF aims to contribute to a greener future while continuing to provide consumers with the highest quality specialty crops.”
Tamara Muruetagoiena, IFPA’s Vice President of Sustainability, also commented.
"With the involvement of innovative members like Okanagan Specialty Fruits in IFPA’s ‘A Vibrant Future’ project, supported by USDA’s Climate-Smart Commodities Grant, we are strengthening the produce industry’s resilience against climate impacts and advancing regenerative agriculture on a global scale. Increasing our consumption of fruits and vegetables benefits both personal health and the health of the planet, helping to reduce our collective carbon footprint,” explained Muruetagoiena. “These specialty crop investments will develop essential tools to measure inputs, ecosystem services, and yields, while establishing systems to track, verify, and promote climate-friendly produce. Through these critical agricultural research initiatives and the dedication of our specialty crop growers, we are advancing our goals to adapt to climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and sequester carbon in the soil.”
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