According to The Seattle Times…

A major fruit company has decided to convert 100 percent of its stone fruit trees to organic-farming practices, part of the push to meet consumers’ insatiable demand for more healthful food. But Stemilt Growers, a bit player in the stone-fruit industry but one of the nation’s leading apple suppliers, isn’t waiting two years to capitalize on the switch. The company has created a new label — Artisan Naturals — to sell its naturally farmed fruit, an effort to get a higher price for the fruit even if it can’t yet come with an “organic” sticker. To be certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, growers must raise their crop free of bug killer or fertilizer for three years. Agricultural experts estimate the costs for growers at as much as 30 percent higher during the transition, and growers rarely get a higher return for the fruit during that time. But higher costs don’t appear to be deterring growers from changing their practices. The organic food industry has been growing at about a 20 percent clip annually.

Artisan Naturals. That’s a new one. Look for it to appear on Eco-Labels.org soon!