Everybody loves strawberries. At least everybody I know. They’re an absolute favorite food in our house. Luckily, we are fortunate enough to have access to, and can afford organic strawberries. For those who are not so lucky, sadly, the dangers are many. First and foremost, a toxic pesticide called methyl iodide is used to grow our favorite berry, and according to John Froines of UCLA, it is “one of the most toxic chemicals on earth.”
Methyl idiodide is a gas pesticide that is injected into soil, it is not on our actual berries. The problem? Methyl iodide is:
- highly toxic and reactive
- a well known carcinogen
- linked to late term miscarriages
- a source of ground water and soil contamination
- able to contaminate neighboring properties via pesticide drift
- especially toxic to workers in the fields
Do people really need to be poisoned so that I can have strawberries for dessert? I say no. Thinking of a corporation touching nature’s bounty is most disturbing indeed, which is why I am begging Arysta (the largest pesticide company in the world) to: keep your hands off our strawberries! Since this company is in the business of selling poison, I highly doubt they will listen to my plea.
Thankfully, one of my favorite organizations, PAN, has come to the rescue, filing a petition with the EPA to ban the use of this scary pesticide nationwide. EPA is considering public comment until April 30th. What can you do? Just head over to PAN’s website and sign the online petition. This chemical is too toxic to be used safely as a soil fumigant pesticide, and has no place in our country’s agriculture.
By the way, conventionally grown strawberries come with a mouth watering dose of 53 additional pesticides. However, you can take heart in the fact that there are many amazing companies such as Swanton Farms that are doing it right –growing beautiful strawberries without ANY chemical assistance from corporate America.
We grow strawberries in our sunny front yard. The stunning photo above (taken by the incredible Annabelle Breakey) is from my forthcoming book Gluten-Free Cupcakes (coming out in less than 3 weeks –um, not sure what they’re thinking, but it’s on sale for pre-order for only $9.03 right now). Most importantly though, remember to protect nature’s bounty by protecting our strawberries!
Lisa Daniel says
Yummmmmm! I went directly to PAN, signed the petition, sent a link by email to my entire address book and then came back to ogle the cupcake again!! =D Now, I think I will go and visit Amazon for a certain gluten free author’s upcoming cookbook!!!
Kelley Hart says
This is so upsetting! We hardly ever buy strawberries anymore because we refuse to buy conventional and the organic ones are ridiculously expensive (same with blueberries). Really, really angers me! How all of this use of pesticides and other poisons was ever approved in the first place is beyond me. Just another example of greed I guess. Now it’s time for us to get greedy, let’s take back our food and our health! Hope something gets done about this strawberry issue. Thanks for providing the petition link. Going there now!
Stephanie says
I’d like to encourage everyone to post a comment directly on the Federal Register. The EPA is REQUIRED to review each and every comment received from the public, and more thoughtful comments in favor or removing methyl iodide registration would only help.
It’s pretty quick. Write up your text or find text (organizations like PAN typically have that available; I also posted my comment on my blog), go the federal register, search for your issue, and post. It’s a great way to voice your opinion and knowledge during the rulemaking process!
Link for MeI:
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0541-0010
Mandy says
Thanks for being so informative. The cupcake photos is so beautiful!
Maryanne Andricola Fiadino says
That cupcake is gorgeous! Thank you for making it so easy for us to support the goodness of strawberries as they are a household favorite here as well but we pay a fortune at whole foods & it’s been worth every dime. Can’t wait until the release of your book & thank you again!
Maryanne
The Gluten-Free Italian
Lexie says
Elana,
Beautiful post … sweet and meaty. Hats off to courageous ones like you who bring it all to the forefront.
We recently had our son screened for toxic build-up. Turns out he’s got a good load of lead, mercury, PCBs and PESTICIDES (and we eat clean … I likely dumped my toxic load into him in utero)! Part of his issue is that his methylation process inhibits detoxification so that needs to be fixed … but the fact that he has pesticides in his little body (and other evil evil things) is what I find grievous.
On a brighter note, the photography in your book is going to be stunning … I can tell by this little preview and the preview on Amazon.
Ordered 5 copies! They are such a good deal right now on Amazon … only $9.03, woohoo!
xo
Lexie
Lexie’s Kitchen
Alisa Fleming says
So awesome that you are bringing attention to this Elana! We switched to organic strawberries a few years ago, and they are tastier too! If only we had known even earlier.
Gorgeous cupcake!!
Evie Britt says
Thank you for your post. I noticed some strawberries in Walmart last week from Mexcio. Are they using this pesticide as well? Going over to sign the petition now. Thanks again.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
What a beautiful cupcake. Thank you for enriching our knowledge on pesticides Elana. It’s scary what some people put out there in order to make huge profit.
MaryBeth says
Thank you. It is time that we take care of the planet and ourselves!
I just preordered your new book. Can’t wait!