Doherty then led the guests to his solar panel field where he excitedly educated the group on the fuel and power savings his operation has made from the use of the solar panels. In fact, the farm’s panels often generate enough energy to cover the needs of the entire farming operation and more! Just in the last five years, the panels have saved over 527,000 gallons in fuel and mitigated more than 35 tons of carbon emissions. Blue Diamond ’s Director of Sustainability, Dr. Dan Sonke, introduced the reporters and editors to Blue Diamond ’s landmark Orchard Stewardship Incentive Program (OSIP) and its benefits. Sonke also explained the process of whole orchard recycling, sequestering carbon by use of cover crops and conservation planting/hedgerows before moving on to the importance of bee health, Bee Friendly Farming, and Project Apis m .’s Seeds for Bees program.
Blue Diamond Growers does not endorse or verify statements made by advertisers within this publication.
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MARCH–APRIL 2023
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