The Northeast Eco Apple Project Sets Standards for Ecological Apple Production

The Northeast Eco Apple Project, funded by EPA, Region 1 Strategic Agriculture Initiative and an anonymous foundation, qualifies participating growers using a set of mandatory standards for ecological production in the Northeast. Grower adherence to these practices is verified by an on-site, independent third-party inspection prior to harvest. The standards were drafted by the IPM Institute with input from a working group including area growers and consultants, and scientists from UMass and Cornell. Eco Apples are distributed by Red Tomato, a non-profit based in Canton MA and working to preserve ecological agriculture in the Northeastern US. First harvest in 2005. Download the standards and protocol in PDF format here.

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