Should Strawberry Farmers Stop Using Pesticides?
Introduction
Strawberry farming is major business in the United States. The state of California is the leading producer of strawberry, accounting for an estimated 88 percent of the U.S. strawberry production, and 20 percent on the global scale. It is common practice for commercial strawberry farmers to apply different types of pesticides in the various phases of the plant’s growth cycle. Pesticides are important to protect strawberries from such pests as mites, aphids, caterpillars, Rutherglen bug, plague thrips, western flower thrips among other fungal diseases The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified 90 percent of all fungicides, 60 percent of all herbicides, and 30 percent of all insecticides as probable cancer-causing chemicals. Strawberries are listed high on the dirty dozen list of produce items which retain the greatest amounts of pesticide residue. Large scale strawberry farming is concerned with maximizing profits at the expense of the environment, food safety, soil and water quality, and health of consumers as well as rural communities. Considering these negative far reaching effects of pesticides, there is much to gain in rethinking the use of pesticides in strawberry farming. Use of toxic, carcinogenic fumigant pesticides to grow strawberries need to be stopped.
Use of pesticides
The term pesticide refers to a wide range of compounds which include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, nermaticides, molluscicides, rodenticides, plant growth regulators among others. Ideally, a pesticide needs to be lethal enough to the particular targeted pests, and not to non-target species such as human. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, leading to controversy over the use of pesticides on such crops as strawberries (Zoumbaris 636).
The debate on whether to continue using pesticides in strawberry farming particularly in the United States has persisted for a long time. proponents of use of pesticides in growing strawberries base their argument on the increasing threats posed the crop by pests. Strawberries are liked by consumers not only for their good taste but also for good look – plump, bright, red, and shiny. It is argued that because the physical appearance is a crucial selling factor of the strawberries, there is need to produce perfect-looking strawberries which is only possible with the help of pesticides (Harrison 41). The quality assurance programs requires that this cosmetic appearance is taken into consideration, necessitating everything to be done to meet supply.
The proponents of the newer, more effective pesticides also cite the growing problem of strawberry pest having grown resistant to conventional pesticides. It is for this reason that more controversial pesticides like Methyl iodide are currently preferred for profitable growing of strawberries. The western flower thrips, for instance, has emerged as a most serious pest for strawberry farmers because its resistance to common insecticides used to fight it (Ronald et al 215). In addition, fungal diseases pose significant threats to strawberries, necessitating frequent use of preventative fungicides.
Continued use of pesticides is also favored because of their ability to improve productivity. Together with high-yield varieties of seeds and advanced irrigation technologies, pesticides contribute to increased amount of harvestable strawberry produce in the United States (Aktar 20). Pesticides are therefore instrumental in preventing major losses from insect pests, weeds, diseases. It is therefore the argument of proponents of strawberry pesticides that considerable economic losses are bound to incurred if the use of pesticides is discontinued or outlawed. It is further held that most strawberry are not harmful to human as thought because they undergo photochemical transformation into metabolites that are less toxic to both the environment and human beings (Aktar 20).
A common accusation of strawberry farmers by opponents of pesticides is their use of many strong pesticides during the growing process of the fruits. In response, however, farmers have pointed to the fact that they battle against a range of pests. In addition to resistant pests, farmers are forced to other pesticides against a particular pest but turn out to be beneficial for another group of pests (Aktar 21). This implies that is currently no one pesticides suited to control all the pests. As such, farmers have to use various types of pesticides that well fit with the given withholding period. Specific pests and fungal diseases need to be appropriately targeted with selective pesticides, which explains the over 50 types of pesticides used during the life cycle of strawberries.
The pro-pesticides also resist going the organic farming way on time and economical considerations. It is argued that it is a great risk given that it takes a minimum of three years for a piece of land to be certified as organic. Evidently, there is no business for the farmer during this period and the farmer would not sell the fruits a premium so as to cover the higher cost of production (Levine 95). It translates into not only a loss in yield but also inability to recoup the loss with a higher price. Organic strawberry farming is relatively more costly and takes more time to produce, something that makes traditional strawberry farmers weary of taking the risk of going organic because of the lack of assurance of consumer’s willingness to pay more for the product (Raven et al 462). In the same vein, most longstanding strawberry farmers are strongly resistant to change because they are used to the conventional way of doing things, of which use of pesticides is at core.
Opponents of the continued use fumigants on strawberries cite their notably high levels of pesticide residue. Strawberry fruits have had a long history of potent toxicity, posing great threat to farm workers, plantation neighbors, and the consumers (Koike 223). This has been blamed on the relatively high pest management they need, the greater affinity of their soft skin to absorb pesticides, along with the unwillingness of the government to effectively regulate the use of such chemicals on economic considerations. At present, strawberries are ranked the third worst possible food item to consume because of the high pesticide residue risk (Zoumbaris 636). Strawberry farmers in the United States today use more than 50 pesticides in the several life cycles of the plant. These pesticides include the potentially harmful carcinogens, hormone disruptors, neurotoxins, and triggers of other environmental and human health destruction. The use of these toxic chemicals on plants can have far reaching on consumers, including humans, animals and birds. This can be evidenced by the narration in Silent Spring:
“The hearings convinced the committee that the threat to wildlife was ‘most alarming’; it accordingly recommended to the House of Commons that “the Minister of Agriculture and the Secretary of State for Scotland should secure the immediate prohibition for the use as seed dressings of compounds containing dieldrin, aldrin, or heptachlor, or chemicals of comparable toxicity” (Carson 373).
Strawberry farmers, especially commercial farmers, have increasingly used such lethal pesticides as lead arsenate in the effort to fight a host of new pests. As a result, there have been increased farm fields for the farmers but increased incidences of sickness and death among consumers and local communities (Carson 372). At the marketplace, it is common to find strawberry fruits that are heavily spotted with white pesticide powder. The government has always come under harsh criticism over its apparent inadequacy to enforce stricter pesticide regulation along with their favor towards agribusiness. The government inaction often comes with a heavy price as lethal environmental pollutants like TCCD go unchecked resulting in such serious conditions as chloracne in humans. Sandra Steingraber in Having Faith (2001) attests to this:
“Through its unwavering attraction for the Ah receptor, TCCD is capable of altering physiological processes inside the human body at levels so minute as to be nearly undectable – at levels of parts per trillion” (Steingraber 937).
The use of Methyl bromide has probably sparked the greatest outrage as relates to the use of pesticides in strawberry farming in the United States. Methyl bromide is a broad-spectrum fumigant designed to sterilize the soil, used almost exclusively in strawberry farming. However, its damaging effects has raised controversy and brought to light the weakness of the government as relates to regulation of pesticides. Successful lobbying especially by strawberry agribusiness has led to ‘critical use exemptions’ (Levine 154). Opponents of Methyl iodide – including farm-workers, unions, 6 Nobel laureates, non-profit organization, and the public – have advocated for its delisting as registered pesticides. The argument has been based on the pesticides potential to cause cancer, permanent neurological damage, thyroid toxicity, and fetal loses. It is therefore evident that it is for the good of all of us for pesticide use to be abandoned. In a chorus of a poem titled Big Yellow Taxi, Marvin Gaye makes a passionate plea to this effect:
“Hey farmer farmer
Put away that DDT now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees –
Please!” (Mitchell 490).
While most people perceive organic strawberries as the answer to the controversy pertaining to use of pesticides, it remains a contentious issue. Opponents point attention to the use of non-organic strawberry seeds and plant stock by organic strawberry farmers (Harrison 215). This especially the case because currently the National Organic Program’s standards permit use of non-organic stock where organic stock is nit “commercially available.” Unscrupulous strawberry farmers always fall on this excuse to go for relatively profitable non-organic strawberry seeds (Carson 56). It is argued that the allowance of non-organic materials in organic strawberry farming only serve to violate existing regulations in addition to jeopardizing the very credibility of the organic label. To this end, it is clear that use of pesticides is impacting negatively on us because human are only as safe as their habit and food chain. Barbara Kingsolver in Knowing Our Place pens:
“We sing the song of our home because we are animals, and an animal is no better or wiser or safer than its habit and its food chain” (Kingsolver 947).
Conclusion
Control of pests in the strawberry crops requires an approach that is devoid of pesticides. This should start with cutting on insecticide applications on all kinds so as to achieve better control of pesticides. Many organic farmers in California, the United States and other parts of the world have proved that they can remain relevant and profitable in the industry without relying on fumigant or hazardous pesticides. Farmers can also avoid the need of pesticides and fumigants by growing their strawberries in tree bark, peat, or other non-soil substances which are disease-free.
Another smart way of passing by the reliance on pesticides in strawberry farming is for farmers to embrace non-chemical alternatives. This would include: selecting more resilient varieties; use of improved cultivators of strawberries; biological control e.g. use of predatory species and bacteria; cultural practices such as natural fertilizer, crop rotation, cover crops; and physical interventions e.g. anaerobic disinfection and soil solarization. As the USDA has recently discovered, use of hot molasses, poultry litter, sorghum, cowpeas, and mustard meal could be better alternative to fumigation.
Policymakers need to ensure greater investment in non-chemical alternatives so that farmer can stop use of toxic, carcinogenic fumigant pesticides to grow strawberries need to be stopped. Strawberry farmers would need more economic support so as to smoothly transitions from pesticides to non-pesticide alternatives, including grants and crop insurance. This should be supported with more grower test plots, online resources and other communications by researchers, the industry and the state to educate strawberry farmers, farm advisors and pest control advisers on the adoption of these non-fumigant options.
Work Cited
Aktar, Wasim, Sengupta D, and Chowdhury, Ashim. Impact of pesticides use in agriculture: their benefits and hazards. 19 June 2013. Web.2 March 2009.2(1) 1-12
Carson, Rachel, Lois Darling, and Louis Darling. Silent Spring. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1962. Print.
Harrison, Jill L. Pesticide Drift and the Pursuit of Environmental Justice. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 2011. Print.
Harrison, Jill L. Pesticide Drift and the Pursuit of Environmental Justice. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 2011. Print.
Kingsolver, Barbara. Small Wonder. Faber & Faber. 2002.
Koike, Steven T. Organic Strawberry Production Manual. Richmond, Calif: University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 2012. Print.
Levine, Marvin J. Pesticides: A Toxic Time Bomb in Our Midst. Westport: Praeger, 2007. Print.
Mitchell, Joel. Lines Through. Oklahoma: See Talk, 2009.
Raven, Peter H, Linda R. Berg, and David M. Hassenzahl. Environment. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2012. Print.
Ronald, Pamela C, and R W. Adamchak. Tomorrow’s Table: Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food. Oxford: Oxford University Press, USA, 2008.Print
Steingraber, Sandra. Having Faith. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press, 2001.
Zoumbaris, Sharon K. Encyclopedia of Wellness: From Acai Berry to Yo-Yo Dieting. Santa Barbara, Calif: Greenwood, 2012. Print.
