After Fines On 88 Pesticide Violations In FL, NC Takes Action Vs. Ag-Mart

[hatrack]

A day after Florida agriculture officials fined tomato-grower Ag-Mart Produce $111,200 in a complaint citing 88 pesticide violations, agriculture officials in North Carolina confirmed Thursday they had notified the company of at least as many violations in their state. North Carolina agriculture officials would not elaborate on their findings or the amount of the fine until the company received notice via certified mail, a spokesman said.

An Environmental Protection Agency official in Washington confirmed that in North Carolina, it is alleged that Ag-Mart applied some pesticides more often than allowed by the label. The EPA, along with other federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, plans to analyze findings of the investigations in Florida and North Carolina, the EPA official said. The company, which grows the popular Santa Sweets grape tomato, operates farms in Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey and Mexico.

Other investigations continue. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection confirmed Thursday that it, too, is investigating Ag-Mart's pesticide "use and practices" in that state. North Carolina health officials confirmed this week that they also are investigating Ag-Mart.

Ag-Mart, based in Plant City, declined to comment on the North Carolina allegations as it had no information as of late Thursday. Ag-Mart on Thursday said it "will be appealing most of the alleged pesticide use violations" in Florida, including allegations that it allowed workers to reenter fields too soon after pesticides had been applied. Ag-Mart has 21 days to ask for a hearing. The company said it "fully cooperated" with Florida agriculture investigators and is "confident that most of the agency's alleged violations are neither justified or factually accurate. We look forward to successfully challenging the asserted violations of federal and state pesticide laws through the administrative hearing process."

EDIT

Damn - $1,264 per violation - hope they make it! :eyes:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/content/state/epaper/2005/10/14/m1a_Ag_Mart_1014.html