Some figures on Florida strawberry pesticide use:
97% of acres fumigated with methyl bromide.
87% of acres treated with paraquat (herbicide)
82% of acres treated with methomyl (carbamate insecticide)
99% of acres treated with captan (fungicide: prob. human carcinogen)
5,800 acres total:
5,000 pounds of herbicides annually
~50,000 pounds of insecticides
350,000 pounds of fungicides
1,100,000 of fumigants (methyl bromide)
Source: USDA NASS Agricultural Chemical Usage: Vegetables, 1994 Summary.
pub. 7/95
There is no pesticide use reporting system in Florida so it is impossible
to quantify or even estimate human exposure to these pesticides. Most
Florida berries are grown in a small area near Plant City, FL between Tampa
and Orlando. See EWG's website for more info on strawberries
(http://www.ewg.org): "A Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce" and
methyl bromide reports. Anyone want to write the Journal Constituion a
letter or an Op-Ed?
Happy Shortcake-
Kert Davies
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Lance Howard wrote:
>Today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution published a story on strawberries,
>featuring a Roy Parke from Plant City, FL. The article claims that Florida
>is the largest producer of strawberries in the US at this time of year
>(although it states that overall, CA produces the most). The article is in
>the food section and presents strawberries as a wonderful, delicious,
>wholesome food.
>
>A while ago there was much discussion on this list about California
>strawberries, the heavy use of methyl bromide and its exposure to farm
>workers, residents of Watsonville, and other horror stories.
>
>Does anyone know if commercial strawberry production in FL is essentially
>different than in CA?
>
>Thanks.
>
>
>Lance F. Howard
>Department of History and Geography
>Clemson University, Clemson SC 29634
>(864)656-5359 (office)
>(864)656-1015 (fax)
><lanceh@clemson.edu>
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Kert Davies
ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP
1718 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20009
e-mail: kert@ewg.org
EWG web page: http://www.ewg.org
202-667-6982 fax 202-232-2592
Any opinions expressed are mine and not my employer's.
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