Pesticide Usage in California

Webmaster's note: This just tells of the pesticide usage on the crops. On carrots, many have little or no residue since they are underground. I would be weary of eating pesticide contaminated food. This is ment as reference only.

A Crop Sampler The number of pounds of pesticide per harvested acre in California is shown for each major crop listed, rounded to the nearest pound. THE TOP 10. Crop Lbs Pesticide per acre.

1. Strawberries........... 302
2. Dates.....................140
3. Carrots...................119
4. Pears.....................112
5. Cabbage.................102
6. Lemon.................... 93
7. Grapes................... 91
8. Sweet potatoes...... . 88
9. Peaches.................. 71
10. Nectarines............... 70

THE BOTTOM 10.

1. Barley..................... 1
2. Wheat..................... 1
3. Figs........................ 2
4. Oil crops*................ 2
5. Avocados................ 2
6. Hay (alfalfa,etc.)....... 2
7. Pecan..................... 3
8. Oats....................... 3
9. Beans..................... 3
10. Garlic..................... 3
*Sunflower, safflower, canola oils.

Source: Pesticide Action Network based on figures from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.