Good news today for a Santa Cruz-area organic farming family. Jacobs Farm Del Cabo won a million dollar jury verdict because pesticides sprayed nearby ruined a year’s worth of organic sage, rosemary and dill.
The pesticides were meant for a nearby Brussels sprouts crop. But the aerial application apparently evaporated, then blew over to the organic fields, contaminating the pesticide-free crop. See this story in the San Francisco Chronicle to learn more about the case.
Western Farm Service, which supplied the pesticides, is reportedly planning to appeal. My favorite part of their response to the verdict is when they blamed Jacobs Farm for “coming to the conventional (farming) area with incompatible crops.”
Conventional? What’s more conventional or traditional than organic farming?
I expect we’ll be seeing many more of these conflicts as more farmers reject genetically modified crops and heavy pesticide use.
Cross contamination is nearly impossible to prevent when the only separator between farms is an old fence line or gravel road. Add a coastal wind and you’ve got…well, a lawsuit.
Crop duster making a pass, photo by Hoosier Outsider.
Virtual Farmgirl 