Do Eco Apple growers use Organophosphates (OPs) on their apples?
Eco Apple producers have been working steadily to eliminate OPs, and no OPs have been applied to Eco Apple fruit for several years. The Eco Apple protocol prohibits all use of OPs on the fruit itself. Since 2008, only one specific OP, chlorpyrifos, is allowed in restricted use for a specific pest, early in the year, to tree trunks only, and only as a last resort. (Chlorpyrifos is sold as Lorsban and several other generic brands.) The protocol is reviewed annually. For the current 2009/2010 season, we are carefully monitoring whether any grower will need to use chlorpyrifos on any trees, and we will provide complete disclosure before we begin shipping product to market. How is Eco fruit different from regular fruit? Eco farmers use advanced Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to control insect pests, weeds and diseases in their orchards. They rely primarily on the least-toxic and natural methods such as biological controls, along with extensive monitoring of trees, pests and environmental
