Orkin and IPM Institute Announce Gold Medal IPM Partners Hall of Fame

Organic Distributor Tree of Life Named First Hall of Fame Member.

ATLANTA, October 18, 2006 – Orkin, Inc. and The IPM Institute of North America have inducted organic distributor Tree of Life as the first member of the Gold Medal IPM Partners Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes Tree of Life’s ongoing commitment to Integrated Pest Management (IPM), exemplified by three consecutive Gold Medal IPM Partner Awards since 2004.

“Tree of Life’s partnership with Orkin exemplifies the level of commitment that is essential for an effective IPM program. Their dedication to the program, year after year, ensures their success,” said Orkin Quality Assurance Director Zia Siddiqi, Ph.D. “As the first Hall of Fame inductee, Tree of Life’s efforts as an IPM partner will serve as a guide for future award nominees.”

Since 2003, Tree of Life – a distributor of natural, organic, ethnic and gourmet food products – and Orkin have partnered to implement an IPM program at Tree of Life’s Bloomington, Ind., warehouse that focuses on sanitation, structural maintenance and diligent record-keeping. The result has been effective pest management, with minimal use of pesticides.

“Since partnering with Orkin Commercial Services, Tree of Life Midwest has received perfect scores in the pest management categories of many external and internal audits of the facility,” said Dave Boyer, Tree of Life’s Director of Operations. “Our successful IPM partnership and a dedication by all the warehouse employees have allowed us to achieve excellence in all aspects of pest control.”

Tree of Life won its first Gold Medal IPM Partner Award in 2004, the first year of the Gold Medal IPM Partner Awards, and was presented with its third consecutive award in October. In subsequent years, Tree of Life will have the opportunity to recertify its Hall of Fame status through a nomination submitted to the Gold Medal IPM Partner Awards jury.

“It is a privilege to honor Tree of Life as the first Gold Medal IPM Partners Hall of Fame member. They have an outstanding IPM program in place and should be very proud,” added Thomas Green, Ph.D., President of The IPM Institute of North America, Inc., and member of the Awards jury.

About the Awards Jury

• Austin Frishman, Ph.D., B.C.E., Founder and President of AMF Pest Management Services, Inc.

• Thomas A. Green, Ph.D., President of the IPM Institute of North America, Inc.;

• Frank Meek, B.C.E., Technical Director, Orkin, Inc.

• Zia Siddiqi, Ph.D., B.C.E., Director of Quality Assurance, Orkin, Inc.

About The IPM Institute of North America

The IPM Institute of North America, Inc. is an independent non-profit organization formed in 1998 to foster recognition and rewards in the marketplace for goods and service providers who practice IPM. The Institute’s mission is to accelerate adoption of IPM in agriculture and communities through consumer education and development of IPM standards for self-evaluation and IPM certification. The Institute is funded by grants from government, private foundations and industry, memberships and fees for services and programs. Learn more at www.ipminstitute.org.