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When social media influencers with millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok disparage organic, they are using their clout to misinform and mislead consumers. Unfortunately, in this day and age, these instances are easily found, creating tremendous mistrust with important next-generation consumers.
Lost in all of this is that organic is not only a choice about what it is does for you, both now and later, but it also impacts farmers, workers, the environment and the community at-large.
Yet, one critical perspective that is almost always missing in this debate is that of individuals who actually have to live where super-toxic, non-organic approved pesticides are sprayed.
One such group of people resides in Pajaro Valley in California’s Santa Cruz County — the home of berry giant Driscoll’s, in the city of Watsonville. And many of these residents are paying a very steep price for being exposed to such hazardous chemicals.
Dr. Ann López, executive director at the Center for Farmworker Families and author of The Farmworkers’ Journey, has witnessed the devastation first-hand for decades.
“98.5% of the pesticides associated with childhood leukemia and 95.2% of pesticides tied to childhood brain cancer were applied in 2019 in Watsonville alone, and each year, more than 1 million pounds of pesticides are applied in Santa Cruz County.”
“Every family involved in conventional farming in this area has had a child affected by pesticides, whether it is brain cancer, bone cancer, autism, ADHD, behavioral disabilities, mental and learning disabilities, or effects that are often much more subtle and not as obvious. In the farmworker community, disease is so common that it is almost normalized. These kids could have had tremendous potential and now their lives are destroyed. It hurts my soul.”
PROTESTS AGAINST DRISCOLL’S
(Photo used with permission, credit to Nicholas Sestanovich and the Santa Cruz Sentinel.)
Driscoll’s, whose corporate headquarters are in Watsonville, is under pressure from local advocacy groups; notably, the Campaign for Organic & Regenerative Agriculture (CORA), who has been calling for Driscoll’s to transition its conventional farms in the region to organic. In a recent interview, Soren Bjorn, the CEO of Driscoll’s, has said that 15-20% of the company’s overall berry production is organic.
According to CORA, which is part of the advocacy non-profit group Center for Farmworker Families, Driscoll’s controls numerous conventional berry farms in Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley, several of which are in extremely close proximity to schools. And while CORA has been engaged with the company over this issue for the past few years, including two high profile protests in May, tangible changes have yet to be made or promised.
(Graphic from the Campaign for Organic & Regenerative Agriculture)
“The pesticide regulations in California do not work and do not keep people safe, particularly the children, teachers and other individuals who spend their days at these schools,” said Adam Scow, leader of CORA. “Even though the farms are not allowed to spray during school hours, these are fumigant gases. Some of them persist in the air for up to 72 hours and can travel up to six miles. But there are plenty of families who live close to these schools and are vulnerable when classes are not in session.”
Deeply concerning to activists are a handful of extremely toxic chemicals that are being sprayed near schools, including:
— Malathion (a nerve poison, probably carcinogenic to humans)
— 1,3 Dichloroproprene (banned in 34 countries, probable human carcinogen, tiny exposure over time can cause nose damage, respiratory issues and increased cancer risk)
— Chloropicrin (has been used as a warfare agent, can cause significant respiratory tract injuries)
RESPONSE FROM DRISCOLL’S
Organic Insider reached out to Driscoll’s and requested to speak with someone at the company to discuss this situation. An external PR person subsequently directed us to publicly available links that state the company is in full compliance with state and federal pesticide laws.
According to activists, getting the company to make important changes has been an uphill battle. Many of the farmworkers who work in the fields are in the U.S. illegally and are fearful to speak up. Furthermore, Driscoll’s is a very powerful economic engine in the county and gives extensively to non-profits in the area, both of which complicate the matter.
Meanwhile, with each passing day, the pesticides continue to be sprayed, and conversion to organic has still not happened.
“The influencers who disparage organic do so out of ignorance and have no idea about its importance. If they had witnessed all of the lives ruined from these chemicals, as I have, their message to their followers would be vastly different,” said Dr. Ann López. “Driscoll’s has no such excuse. They know exactly what is going on in their backyard, and they choose to ignore it. It is cruel and brutal, and makes me furious.”
(In the red box, Lakeville Middle School is close to conventional berry farms. Photo courtesy of the Campaign for Organic & Regenerative Agriculture.)
(Above, Dr. Ann López, executive director at the Center for Farmworker Families, speaking at a press conference in May held by the Campaign for Organic & Regenerative Agriculture. Photo credit to Steve Herrera.)
(Dolores Huerta (seated and wearing the hat), one of the most influential labor activists of the 20th century and a leader of the Chicano civil rights movement. Photo credit to Steve Herrera.)
(A farmworker speaking about her stomach cancer, which is thought to have been caused by exposure to pesticides. Photo credit to Steve Herrera.)
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