The expected grower adoption of the reduced risk programs in upcoming seasons will result in risk reduction on a larger scale. Scores will be determined by the method used in the survey of IPM practices in the 1996-97 growing season. Activity Growers have expressed interest in acquiring a green label for their produce. We are currently researching the different approaches to certifying a grower s IPM adoption to allow the use of such a label. We view this as the first step of several needed to bring south Florida growers into the green labeling movement.
Economic incentives are particularly effective in bringing about change.
This is particularly true in highly competitive markets such as fresh produce. By tying the economic incentive to ever-increasing IPM adoption with its concomitant risk reduction, we hope to lower pesticide risks on many farms at once. We expect the certification program to include close scrutiny of pesticide applications and thorough documentation of preventive practices. These are core elements of our current measurement technique, which will document the risk reduction. Activity We are planning to cooperate with American Farmland Trust in a pilot project to validate methods of measuring environmental risks of pesticide use.