Washington Business Spring 2017 | Washington Business | Page 25

what’s working: sustainability
Wine, Seed or Vegetables, Conservation is King
at this Family-Owned Business
For over 125 years, the Mercer family has been stewards of the same land
in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills along the Columbia River.
employer: Mercer Canyons, Inc. and Mercer Wine Estates
location: South of Prosser along the Columbia River
number of employees: 87 full-time, up to 200 seasonal
product: Founded Jan. 12, 1959, Mercer Canyons, Inc., is primarily an agricultural company that focuses on vegetables,
wine grapes, and a winery in Prosser. On the vegetable side, the company farms nearly 7,000 acres, growing carrots,
onions, potatoes, sweet corn seed, green bean seed, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, wine grape nursery, alfalfa, timothy hay and
wheat. The operation includes an organic crop rotation for carrots, onions, potatoes, peas and alfalfa. The operation is also
home to Mercer Wine Estates, where wine grapes were first planted in 1972. The vineyard grows primarily red grapes with
nearly 3,000 acres in production as of 2017.
innovative environmental stewardship: Mercer’s farming and winery practices uphold the family’s long-
standing belief that sustainability and conservation are the single most important factors in the continued success of
their operations. Sustainability practices focus on responsible management of water, soil and fertility, pest and waste that
relies on solid research. Conservation efforts emphasize energy management, wildlife habitat improvement, native plant
protection, weed suppression, water management and soil protection. In addition to the agricultural land, Mercer has set
aside 2,500 acres for native vegetation and wildlife. There are 15 areas throughout the farm actively managed as wildlife
habitat, many of which include natural waterways and ponds to benefit fish and waterfowl species.
in their own words: “We practice farming with balance. Every decision we make, every day of the year, with regard
to our agricultural practices, incorporates balance. There is always the possibility of adding too much or giving too little
when nurturing a plant to produce its highest quality and most abundant fruit.
Balancing the care of the plant today with the care of the ecosystem that it thrives
in from year to year always weighs heavily on our minds.” — Rob Mercer, president,
mercercanyons.com
Mercer Canyons, Inc.
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