Pests & Pesticides

Pest Control in Organic

Organic agriculture applies a systems approach to pest control by utilizing a number of approaches, including the use of natural forces to achieve balance; introducing of beneficial insects; building up the soil to increase a plant’s pest resistance; and, when absolutely necessary, the application of pesticide products approved for use in organic agriculture. Certified organic agricultural operations do NOT use the toxic synthetic pesticides that are common in most conventional agriculture practices.

CCOF has collected an assortment of information and resources related to pesticide use, exposure and human health. Find out more. By purchasing organic products, consumers help reduce the amount of pesticides used in agriculture. Reducing use and exposure to pesticides is one of the many reasons to buy organic food. Learn more - download 'Why Buy Organic?' flyer (PDF).

Invasive Pests

CCOF is a member of the Invasive Pest Coalition, a California-based organization comprised of a broad range of agricultural organizations including conventional and organic farming which is committed to supporting efforts to prevent the introduction of invasive pests into California. Unfortunately, with an increasingly global society, invasive pests, like the light brown apple moth (LBAM), are finding their way into the state, often threatening the livelihoods of local farmers, California native plants and species and the overall environment.

Pesticide Spraying

The use and success of large-scale pesticide spraying to eliminate a native pest or eliminate a disease is often questionable and has sometimes caused more problems than it has set out to correct. CCOF believes proposals to undertake large-scale pesticide spraying should be assessed thoroughly and take into full consideration any environmental or human health implications. This assessment should be part of an open, transparent, public process. CCOF works with the Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) and supports its efforts to reduce the use of hazardous pesticides.

Pesticide spraying is used as a means to stop the spread of the dangerous West Nile Virus, of which the main route of human infection occurs through the bite of an infected mosquito. Read more about pesticide spraying for West Nile Virus.

Pesticide Drift

In a world addicted to agrochemicals, pesticide drift is a serious concern shared by all CCOF certified growers. CCOF addresses the issue of potential pesticide drift in every certification by requiring clearly defined buffers and boundaries between organic and non-organic farms.

CCOF certified clients should inform CCOF as soon as possible of any suspected or actual pesticide drift or direct spraying on CCOF certified parcels. Read more.