For Growers
Join a community of growers, scientists, and agricultural experts dedicated to advancing fruit production practices adapted to regional conditions. The EcoCertified® program provides access to new markets, valuable marketing support, and a network of forward-thinking farmers
Our Approach
We've developed a rigorous, adaptive protocol that addresses the unique challenges of farming in the Eastern and Central United States. Our program is:
Science and Experience Based
Developed in partnership with the IPM Institute of North America, agricultural experts, and participating farmers
Regionally Tailored
Practices tailored to the unique climate, pest pressures, and ecological conditions across our grower regions
Continuously Evolving
Annual revisions ensure our protocols reflect the latest research and grower insights
The EcoCertified® Protocol
The EcoCertified® Protocol is a living document, revised annually to reflect the best available methods for growing fruit in our region.
Growers meet regularly with Red Tomato, IPM consultants and crop specialists, extension agents, scientists, and other growers. By including the most recent research and grower experience in the protocol, growers in the Eco program are on the cutting edge of advanced IPM strategies.
Curious to see the details? The current protocols are always available on the IPM Institute of North America website.
- Operations, Food Safety and Management
- Ecosystem and Water Conservation
- Orchard Floor Enhancement
- Soil Health
- Pest Management and Pesticide Risk Reduction
- Pollinator Protection and Enhancement
- Energy and Waste Management
Why join the EcoCertified® program?
By becoming an EcoCertified® grower, you:
- Join a community of innovative, environmentally conscious farmers;
- Differentiate your produce in a competitive marketplace;
- Benefit from coordinated, professional brand and marketing support;
- Gain access to new markets;
- Benefit from ongoing scientific research and expertise
The Certification Process
Becoming EcoCertified® involves a basic application and verification process:
Contact Red Tomato or IPM Institute for a conversation to determine if the program is a good fit for your orchard.
- Submit application materials including Core Eco Protocol, crop supplement, and required records
- Complete an initial third-party verification audit
- Maintain annual certification through record keeping and periodic re-verification
Annual deadlines and detailed requirements are outlined in our Core Eco Protocol.
Community and Support
We offer more than just fruits and vegetables—we provide a connection to the farms, farmers, and sustainable practices that make our produce unique.
Marketing Support
We know that great produce is only part of the equation. At Red Tomato, we help farmers tell their stories, connect with buyers, and showcase the incredible work happening on their farms.
As an EcoCertified® grower you benefit from the marketing, visibility and brand recognition of the entire network. The more growers, customers and Red Tomato promote EcoCertified, the more value that recognition has for everyone in the supply chain, from farm to consumer.
Our marketing support goes beyond traditional sales. We provide resources, point of sale materials, and strategic guidance to help you effectively market your EcoCertified produce. From easy-to-understand brochures and posters that explain EcoCertified to your customers, to communication strategies that highlight your farm’s unique approach, we’ve developed tools to help you communicate the value of your farm.
Grower Stories
The orchards in the Eco program combine deep family roots and experience with fresh energy and innovation. They represent some of the oldest farms in the region, with family roots that go back centuries, as well as the newest generation of fruit growers. Here are some of their stories:
Fishkill Farms and Treasury Cider
Fishkill Farms has been in Josh Morgenthau’s family for almost 100 years. When Josh moved back to the farm after studying art in college, it was on the brink of no longer being viable. “I saw an amazing opportunity to help preserve the land by continuing to farm it in a progressive way,” he explains.
Today, Josh and the team at Fishkill Farms are dedicated to achieving sustainability and carbon neutrality on the farm. Working with other young farmers who share this vision, he has diversified the operation to include organically grown vegetables, summer fruit, chickens and sheep. The farm also produces Treasury Cider, a tree-to-bottle brand using their EcoCertified apples.
Rogers Orchards and Long View Ciderhouse
Founded in 1809 as Shuttle Meadow Farm, Rogers Orchards is now the largest apple grower in Connecticut. Eight generations of the Rogers family have tended these orchards, with each generation building upon the legacy while innovating for the future. The orchard, which now encompasses two farms including Sunnymount Farm (acquired in 1965), represents both their heritage and their commitment to future generations.
Today, the farm is a testament to how traditional knowledge and modern sustainable practices can work together. Their Long View Ciderhouse crafts exceptional hard ciders through traditional methods that bring out the natural flavors of their EcoCertified apples, while their growing practices ensure these orchards will continue to thrive for generations to come.
Scott Farm Orchard
Cultivated since 1791 and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Scott Farm Orchard grows over 70 varieties of heirloom apples, some rarely seen on this side of the Atlantic. General Manager Simon Renault, who grew up in a family of French cidermakers, works alongside orchardist Erin Robinson to maintain these historic varieties while building a thriving ecosystem of people, plants and business.
Grower Success Stories
Hear directly from the farmers who are part of our network about how Red Tomato supports their work and vision.
Always interested in Integrated Pest Management, known as IPM. Moved into organic in the 1990’s and peaked out at 172 acres Certified Organic… by 2008 the writing was on the wall that organic production could be done much more efficiently and less costly on the west coast where they grow apples with less disease pressure and much less insect pressure. We brought our organic production down to 5 acres and meanwhile, thru IPM, we joined up with fellow growers and a group called Red Tomato and EcoApples.
The EcoCertified program aligns with our philosophy perfectly. As stewards of the land, we strive to raise a viable and high-quality crop in the most ecologically responsible way.
Our Initiatives
Explore our innovative Food Access Initiatives—from our Farm to Institution program that connects local farms to institutional kitchens, to the Bypass Project, which creates efficient supply chains for underserved communities. Discover how these efforts support regional agriculture, improve food quality, and empower growers.
Current Distribution Partners Include:
Connect with Red Tomato
Contact us to learn more about how we can benefit your farm, and our environment and communities.
