What is Eco?

Eco means grown on family farms; by stewards of land, water and wildlife; using natural methods and minimal spray; closing the distance from farm to table. Ecological farming covers a spectrum of environmental and conservation based practices including organic, biodynamic, and advanced integrated pest management.

The farmers who work with Red Tomato vary in the specific types of production they use, but all of them are committed to reducing pesticide use, caring for the water, soil and health of their farms, and their communities. They use a combination of old agricultural methods and leading edge technologies to minimize spraying and other environmentally disruptive practices. Eco farmers are rebuilding diverse, earth-friendly local agriculture in the northeast U.S.

Many Red Tomato growers are pioneers in what is known as integrated pest management. Integrated pest management (IPM) means preventing pest infestations before they happen, monitoring crops closely, and treating pests only as needed. Ecological growers encourage and rely on naturally-occurring controls such as ladybugs, spiders, wasps, bacteria, and predatory mites. They must have a deep knowledge of farm and crop ecology to succeed. Their methods are often more labor-intensive than standard practices such as routine spraying. However, in some cases IPM can also reduce overall costs. Eco Apple™ is a Red Tomato network of ecological orchards that use the strictest IPM standards possible to grow and market top quality regional apples.