Local farms participate in safe pesticide control

Just by strolling down the local farmers’ market and purchasing local produce, you could check off two good deeds on your list: eating healthy and supporting your local farmers.

Now there is a third good deed to keep in mind, to ensure the vegetables and fruits you are buying are safe from potentially harmful pesticides.

The Department of Lands and Natural Resources, Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, and Bureau of Environmental Health have begun their initiative to test locally grown produce on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota for the purpose of instilling consumer confidence in locally grown produce and promoting the consumption of fruits and vegetables.

The initiative is known as “Eating Healthy is Living Healthy” and its main purpose is to educate vendors and consumers about the safe use of pesticides in local produce. 

A team of key staff members has been trained to conduct the test for chemical or pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables by using an onsite field test kit.

Pesticides and herbicides are intended to impair the reproductive system, breathing, and brain functions of pests and insects and unregulated exposure could be harmful to people, especially children and infants.

The onsite test will provide a quick response to confirm or eliminate the presence of chemicals or pesticides on the tested produce.

“This test is strictly a fact-finding endeavor to identify the current pesticide usage and pesticide residue level. The focus and intent is to raise awareness about the safe use of pesticides in local agriculture,” said BECQ pesticide manager Reina Camacho.

“Our local vendors have been cooperating in these field tests and the goals of this initiative are to assure the community that locally grown fruits and vegetables are safe commodities, promote the sales of participating vendors, and to foster a healthier CNMI,” she said.

The local farms tested so far are Acho’s Gualo, 3J’s Enterprises,William Ada Farm, Greg Calvo’s Farm, Saipan Farm & Garden, Rose’s Farm, Greenlife Local Fresh Produce, Camia Garden, R/D Enterprises, Guerrero’s Farm Produce, Jess Multi-Farms, KET/Roberto Farm, Lizama Farm, Y.A.S. Farm, and Frank Castro Farm.

The results from tests are kept confidential and no enforcement actions will be taken regarding the outcome of the residue test.

“If there is no residue on three sample crops on three separate occasions, the team shall advertise the farm/business as being pesticide free. The advertisement will appear in the newspaper and on the radio,” said Camacho.

“If there is residue, the farm/business will be asked to take a pesticide handling course,” she noted.

For more information on the “Eating Healthy is Living Healthy” campaign, call 664-8500 or visit http://www.deq.gov.mp/sec.asp?secID=38 under Special Project: Pesticide Residue Testing. (BECQ)