Broetje Orchards
Bearing Fruit that will Last
Background
As a recognized leader in the apple industry for over 25 years, Broetje Orchards is one of the largest privately owned apple orchards in the United States, with more than 6,000 acres of apples and cherries. The company's acreage includes approximately 5,000 contiguous acres near Prescott, 625 acres in Benton City, and another 550 acres devoted to certified organic fruit production in Wallula, Washington. It offers purchasers well over 15 different varieties of apples and cherries, some of which are available year-round. The company has more than 11 million square feet of controlled atmosphere and cold storage space as well as two packing lines that running at capacity pack an average of about 20,000 boxes of apples a day – a total of more than 5 million boxes a year! During peak fall harvest periods, 1,000 temporary workers join the company's 1,100 full time, year-round employees to help meet demand.
Business Model
Broetje Orchards is committed to growing and packing safe, quality fruit in a manner recognized as an example for others within the industry. Moreover, it has dedicated itself to a way of conducting business that seeks to uphold the concept of the quadruple bottom line, where they balance people, profits, the planet, and the organization's purpose. According to founder Ralph Broetje, "our philanthropic values and careful stewardship of people and the environment – are what set us apart from our competitors." He further explains, "Our belief is that business does not have to thrive at the expense of the planet or its people, but can chart a course that provides all parties an opportunity to improve."
Following the principal explained by Ralph – "Food safety and care of our employees is the number one reason why we're arguably the most successful grower in Washington"
Faith Based Branding
The Broetje Orchards brand—FirstFruits of Washington—refers to a Biblical festival during which the people offered the first and best of their harvests to God in the knowledge that they were dependent on God for their survival and blessings. Likewise, it offers its first fruits—in the form of profits—to help people and communities around the world and as recognition of God’s role in its success. Each year, Broetje Orchards donates approximately 75% of its profits to local, domestic, and international projects through its Vista Hermosa Foundation and carries out its model of business through affiliated businesses and ministries that it has created over the years. “We believe that this ethical foundation is the primary reason for our company’s business success,” says Ralph.
Over the years, Broetje Orchards has founded a number of businesses and ministries to carry out both its mission and the servant leadership philosophy:
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Center for Sharing: Draws others together to flesh out the mission of the Center For Sharing – calling forth the gifts of all people through Christ-centered community.
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Vista Hermosa Foundation: Established for the purpose of using proceeds from Broetje Orchards to serve children and under-served communities both at home and around the world.
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Snake River Housing Inc: Manages the community of Vista Hermosa, providing farm-working families of Broetje Orchards a refuge for body and spirit near their workplace.
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Mano à Mano: Provides asset-building opportunities to at-risk families and youth through housing, financial, educational, and spiritual programming and projects.
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C.A.S.A. LLC: Owner and developer of the Tierra Vida community, which provides homeownership opportunities to Broetje Orchard employees. Both economic and human development strategies are incorporated into C.A.S.A.’s work community, which is as much about people as it is about place.
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FirstFruits Marketing of WA: The sales entity for Broetje Orchard fruit, providing a year-round supply of apples, both conventional and organic. The organization is as committed to giving back to the community as it is to producing high-quality fruit, donating at least 10% of its profits to nonprofit charities, focusing on the under-served.
Looking to the Future
To maintain its growth and continue its philanthropic mission, Broetje Orchards has teamed with NCS International (NCSI) to adopt Food Safety Management Principles. Broetje Orchards chose NCSI over other local certification providers because NCSI is comprised of local auditors who have worked in the industry. "They understand our challenges and risks," explains Broetje Orchard's founder, Ralph Broetje. "Working with NCSI has helped the company in a variety of ways. The local delivery of certification saves us money because we are not flying people in to deliver the audits." NCSI also offers a high degree of technical competence and support while striving to go above and beyond the basic requirements of industry standards.
Broetje Orchards is SQF 2000, SQF 1000, & HACCP certified and is working with NCSI to become certified in both social and environmental sustainability.
Corporate History
Following a dream he'd had since junior high to own an apple orchard and use the money to feed children in India, Ralph and his wife Cheryl Broetje bought their first cherry orchard in Benton City, Washington in 1968. The childhood dream kept the Broetjes' cherry farm going after the first three disastrous years. "The cherries froze the first year," recalls Cheryl. "Rain ruined them the second year. The third year we lost them to fruit flies." Ultimately, the banks extended their credit and friends and relatives pitched in to help Ralph and Cheryl keep their dream alive.
By 1980, the Broetjes moved south, investing in 400 acres of sagebrush-covered land in the Columbia Basin near the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. Although no apples were grown in the region at that time, they irrigated the land and planted about 350 acres the first year, then planted 900 acres the next three years. "It was a new place for apples and that made it a risky spot," says Ralph. "But there was a lot of land available, and it had good slopes and available water. The area has about as ideal apple growing weather as you can find. Ever since we've been on this place, amazing things have happened. It was the beginning of our real mission in farming."
In 1988, the Broetjes invested about $5 million and built 121 single-family homes and apartment units to rent at low cost to year-round employees of their apple orchard. They also built New Horizons Preschool on site for 60 children. Vista Hermosa Elementary came next to provide students in grades K-6 with a quality, Christian education. "It has been so amazing to see the changes in the parents and kids," says Ralph. "They become very self-motivated. Although most have very little education, they believe they can do anything."
"There's a relationship," Cheryl explains. "We care for the land, the land cares for us, and we care for each other. There is love in the organization. It is about caring. People are the fruit that will last, so our orchards must bear fruit so we can bear fruit that will last." NCSI is proud to award Broetje Orchards with the 2010 Chairman's Award for their commitment above and beyond the requirements put forward by the standard.