| Organic Farmer Wins Pesticide Suit |
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| Written by Kiki Hubbard | |
| Wednesday, 01 October 2008 | |
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Organic farmers have long been concerned about pesiticide drift, where residues of chemicals applied in nearby fields show up in their products or kill their crops outright. Even the National Organic Program acknowledges the risk, and requires certified organic farmers to include in their "organic plan" measures for avoiding contamination by area pesticide applications and by setting a tolerance level for chemical residues in organic products (no more than 5% of the EPA tolerance level). Recently, an organic farmer in California won $1 million in damages for crops injured by pesticide drift. The story goes like this: Organophosphate chemicals (known to persist in the environment) were applied to brussel sprouts on a nearby farm. The pesticides evaporated and drifted via coastal fogs to neighboring fields. Some of these fields were farmed by Jacobs Farm Del Cabo, an organic farm that reported having its culinary herbs "wiped out." The case brought to light that regulations don't provide adequate protections for organic farmers. The liability imposed on the company that applied the pesticides will certainly set a precedent for future cases, since state and federal regulations pertaining to pesticide applications and drift have never before been applied to pesticide evaporation. Source: San Francisco Chronicle & Environmental News Service
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It's true what our moms said...we are what we eat. In fact, it's truer than they thought. What I eat doesn't just affect me anymore, it affects all of us.
Unfortunately, the story of food can sometimes be complicated. But envirovores help each other out...which is why this blog will be bringing you news, tips, and information about food and the environment every step of the way.
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