Berry Picking: Organic vs. Conventional Strawberries It's March
and strawberry season is in full swing here in California. Those
red ripe strawberries are a welcome change from winter fruits,
and the farmer's markets are bursting with locally-grown
varieties. But before you bring home those first strawberries of
the season, consider this: 1) Whether you live in California or
not, the overwhelming majority of fresh strawberries are grown
in the Golden State, and shipped from here. Growing conventional
strawberries involves the use of methyl bromide as a pre-plant
fumigant for the soil (possibly to be replaced by another
controversial chemical called methyl iodide**). Methyl bromide
is a toxic chemical that has resulted in harmful side-effects to
farm workers. 2) The pesticide residue on conventional
strawberries is among the highest of all fruits. In 2008, over
50 pesticide residues were identified for conventional
strawberries, according to the USDA Pesticide Data Program. 3)
There's a growing consensus among