State Fines Watsonville Berry Farm for Use of Illegal Pesticide

After discovering an illegal pesticide was used, state regulators have ordered 10 acres of Watsonville strawberries be destroyed. 

Lorenzo Lopez of V.L. Farms reached a settlement with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation in May, which was announced Thursday morning.

Under the settlement, Lopez must pay a $15,000 fine and tear out about 10 acres of his 20-acre farm, where second-year berries worth an estimated $200,000 were growing. 

DPR officials first discovered methomyl residue in April while randomly testing produce from a southern California grocery store. Methomyl is banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use on strawberries.

Since methomyl was banned on strawberries in 2010, growers have turned to the fumigant chloropirin, which DPR is currently considering tighter restrictions on, and mechanical means to remove a bug called lygus. (Imagine a giant vacuum-like machine rolling along a field, sucking up the insects.)

Monterey is the second-highest user of methomyl in California by county, DPR data shows. It's used mostly on alfalfa, celery, corn, grapes and lettuce. 

The insecticide was first approved for use in 1968, and restrictions have been tightened since. 

EPA lab studies show  methomyl is highly toxic to birds and mammals, and moderately toxic to fish.  

However, it's not likely a threat to human health, DPR officials say. DPR can choose to order a recall, but in this instance, officials did not see cause for concern to consumers. 

 “This is a significant action that should deter anyone who considers breaking our regulations,” DPR Director Brian Leahy said in a statement. 

DPR monitoring shows most produce is free of pesticide residue. In 2011, DPR analyzed 2,707 samples of fresh retail produce and found 92, or 3 percent, with illegal pesticide residues. (Sixty percent were entirely residue-free.)

In the past two years, the worst offenders for illegal pesticide residue were snow peas from Guatemala; tomatillos, chili peppers, limes and papaya from Mexico; ginger from China; and spinach and kale from California.