Photo courtesy of Palm Beach Post.

In 2005, the births of three children with severe birth defects to NC farmworker families employed by FL produce grower Ag-Mart exposed some of the serious flaws in North Carolna’s system of pesticide regulation.  Those loopholes may allow Ag-Mart to escape paying record fines for the hundreds of pesticide violations found in this case, including sending workers back into freshly-sprayed fields, and spraying toxic pesticides while workers were in the fields. 

The Agricultural Family Protection Act (H 1818), was filed by Rep. Dan Blue in the NC House to close some of the loopholes exposed by the Ag-Mart case.  This bill would:

• Require employers to keep records of compliance with the Worker Protection Standards
• Ensure confidentiality and protection from retaliation for workers who report pesticide problems on the job;
• Increase pesticide fines from $500 to $2,000 per violation for the worst offenders;
• Allow for emergency telephones and adequate showers to wash off pesticides at worker housing sites.

Check back to Toxic Free NC Action Alerts this summer for more information on how you can take action to support this important legislation. 

Support for organic farming in NC

Organic foods are a booming industry around the US, including here in North Carolina.  But of the millions of dollars worth of organic products consumed in our state every year, the vast majority is grown out of state.  Our farmers need access to the growing market for organic foods.

The NC Organic Economic Opportunities Act (S 967) would provide state research on the current status of organic agriculture in North Carolina, and its potential for growth. The study would help our farmers and policy makers identify the opportunities and challenges involved in the rapid expansion of organic production to feed North Carolina families and communities.

The research would allow us to understand:

• The economic benefits to North Carolina farmers and related businesses from the expansion of organic agriculture in our state;
• The potential obstacles and opportunities for expanding organic farming in NC to meet the state’s demand for organic products;
• The potential for new jobs in agriculture and related industries that the expansion of organic agriculture would create.

Check out Toxic Free NC Action Alerts for more information on how you can take action to support this important legislation.

Toxic Free News is a publication of
Toxic Free North Carolina
206 New Bern Place, Raleigh, NC 27601, (919) 833-5333, Toll-free 1-877-NO-SPRAY
http://www.toxicfreenc.org

Mission: Toxic Free NC advocates for alternatives to toxic pesticides in North Carolina by empowering people to make sound decisions about their health and environment.

Staff: Program Coordinator: Billie Karel; Executive Director: Fawn Pattison; Interns: Anna Jensen, Carl Chamberlain, Will Martin, and Ben Matchar.

Board of Directors: Allen Spalt, President; Katherine M. Shea, Vice President; Colleen Boudreau, Treasurer; Annette Hiatt; Mindy Hiteshue; Cathy Jones; Omar Laínez; Annie O'Leary; Michelle Nowlin; Billie Rogers, Emeritus; Jane Sharp MacRae, Emeritus; Erick Umstead, Emeritus.

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