Poisonous Fields Forever?

 


The words “methyl bromide” went mainstream this week (April 7, 2015), with the news that a Delaware family had been poisoned by the pesticide while on vacation in the Virgin Islands. In its report on the story, NBC news pointed out that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn’t allow exterminators to use methyl bromide in the U.S.—but the agency does grant a “critical use exemption” to certain farmers, including strawberry farmers.

What better opportunity to call on Driscoll's, the largest organic and "natural" strawberry company in the world, to stop using methyl bromide on strawberry seedlings that the company then sells to organic farmers, so they can raise “organic” strawberries.

Driscoll's uses toxic fumigants, including methyl bromide, on all of the company’s strawberry seedlings. The company then sells those seedlings, to, among others, organic farmers, who raise the plants organically and sell them under the organic label.

How does Driscol'sl get away with this scam? The company has convinced its organic certifier, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), and the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), that there are no “commercially available” sources for legitimately organic strawberry seedlings.

But that’s just not true.

TAKE ACTION! Tell Driscoll's to stop using toxic fumigants on organic strawberries, and start growing seedlings for their organic farmers organically!

Copyright © 2015 Organic Consumers Association · 6771 South Silver Hill Drive, Finland MN 55603

https://www.organicconsumers.org/newsletter/organic-bytes-465-dedicated-dirt/poisonous-fields-forever