Commitment to Sustainability
Fowler Farms has been passionate about sustainable growing, picking and packaging practices since its early stages. We are proud of our continued commitment to the environment, and believe it’s among the factors that set us apart from other growers.
We grow locust trees on small plots of land that are not suitable for apples. The locust trees are cut down after five years, but regenerate once they are cut. The trees are then processed in our sawmill for use as trellis posts or supports, rather than using chemically treated wood.
At least a two-year or more of corn crop rotation is performed, using Sudan grass as a natural nematicide and organic matter booster.
We incorporate rejected apples into field preparation, which increases soil tilth. We also mulch tree trimmings into the orchard floor.
Orchards are planted at 2,200 trees per acre, which maximizes the apple yield and minimizes the environmental impact.
Our sprayers are custom built in-house and designed to spray downward directly onto trees. This cuts the spray usage by 40 percent compared to the air blast method. It also results in less off-target drift.
Water treatment systems are fully automated and are utilized to recycle potable flume water.
All of our forklifts are clean electric powered.
Cardboard and plastic recycling programs are in effect at Fowler Farms. We use a custom H Bliss box design that cuts our cardboard use by 50 percent.
