Responsible Choice is Stemilt's sustainability and social responsibility program. The program was launched in 1989 by Stemilt founder Tom Mathison - long before sustainability was a buzzword. In 1989, Tom transitioned a large number of acres to organic production and began implementing integrated pest management techniques in orchards to reduce pesticide use. He added a ladybug, which is considered a beneficial insect to orchardists, to the company logo to signify the program and our commitment to sustainability.Tom believed that it was Stemilt's job to make the responsible choice when growing, packing, and shipping apples, pears, cherries, and summer fruits. His forward-thinking led Stemilt to become a leader in sustainability. Today, Responsible Choice is embedded in the Stemilt culture and evidence of the program in action can be seen across our operations.