3/10/08 - New Stance
California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
Modifies Stance on Light Brown Apple Moth Treatment Program

"CCOF supports the use of pheromones in ground applications and other ecologically sound
organic integrated pest management (IPM) approaches as far preferable to the use of dangerous organophosphates. However, CCOF does not endorse further aerial applications of pheromones
in LBAM eradication efforts due to potential human health and environmental concerns."

Contact: Viella Shipley CCOF Marketing Director (831) 423-2263, ext. 31 Viella@ccof.org

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10/10/07
 California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Sells Out

 CCOF approves of biochemical pesticide aerial spraying.

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Sells Out CCOF approves of biochemical pesticide aerial spraying.


LBAMspray.info contacted Peggy Miars, Executive Director of California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), on 10/10/07 at approximately 9:15AM to hear CCOF's opinion on the state's proposed aerial spraying of biochemical pesticides on urban populations.


Executive Director Miars was asked how CCOF came to the decision to support the aerial pesticide spraying. Her response was, "Our farmers want it, so we support it".


When asked if CCOF has researched or read any information other than what has been provided by California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Peggy Miars replied, "No, we have not". When asked if she had attended any of the public meetings related to this issue, she replied again that she had not.

Miars says CCOF simply followed the National Organic Program’s position on the LBAM spray. "If they support it, we support it [LBAM spray]" said Peggy Miars.


LBAMspray.info informed Miars about the adverse health effects of the inert ingredient, polymethylene polyphenyl isocyanate (PAPI), that is found in the pesticide that is being used in the spraying. Miars was also informed that OSH has reported PAPI as dangerous to our respiratory system. Miar's response was "That is not our concern. That is someone else’s department."


It seems that CCOF cares only about their own bottom line and their own profits and, ironically, has very little concern for the health of the consumers that buy their products.

After being given even more valuable information on the issue, Miars replied, "I don’t mean to sound blunt, but as long as we can keep our organic certification, we support it [LBAM spray]."