<p>Stemilt Growers Co-owner Kyle Mathison has been recognized by The Organic Trade Association, based in Brattleboro, Vermont, as its Organic Farmer of the Year. The award was presented during an inspirational Organic Leadership Awards celebration in Baltimore, Maryland on September 25th.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/hl_stemilt_oct_2013_body00.jpg" alt="images100613" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“It’s an honor to be recognized by the Organic Trade Association as their farmer of the year,” said Mathison. “This is the result of a team effort. I wouldn’t be anything without my two sons, West and Tate, and the entire Stemilt team of dedicated and hardworking people. I’m blessed to be able to live out my passion for growing World Famous Fruit every day, and even more fortunate to work with my family and friends as I do it.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The industry leader was selected for the award based on his innovative approach to farming organic and conventional fruit, as well as his commitment to advancing the tree fruit industry, according to press release. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/hl_stemilt_oct_2013_body01.jpg" alt="images100613" /></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Mathison farms apples, pears, and cherries on Stemilt Hill in Wenatchee, WA and also has cherry farms in Bakersfield, California and Chile. He has been farming fruit organically since the late 1980s and was one of the first organic growers to use an integrated organic program in his orchards. Mathison also deploys innovative farming techniques, such as the use of fish oil and compost, in order to grow “World Famous” fruit. Mathison's compost farm, located on Stemilt Hill, takes in 100% of the green waste from his orchards and Stemilt packing facilities in order to regenerate it into nutrient-rich and organic fertilizer that feeds trees. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Congratulations, Kyle, on the recent honor!</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.stemilt.com/Organic/index.cfm" target="_new"> Stemilt </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
