Do Eco growers use Organophosphates (OPs) on their fruit?
Eco Apple: 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. Stone Fruit (peaches, nectarines): 2010 is the first year of our eco program for stone fruit. Only one OP is allowed in our initial Eco Stone Fruit protocol– in the category “Use with Restrictions.” It is chlorpyrifos (sold as Lorsban and several other generic brands) and is only permitted for control of grea
