'Organic' fruits and vegetables are treated with pesticides - copper salts and pythethrum.

But put in context:


1. 31,000 tonnes of pesticides are applied to UK farmland each year. Soil Association organic farms account for 0.03% of this (10 tonnes).


2. Soil Association organic growers in the UK can use only four pesticides (copper,rotenone, soft soap and sulphur) for specified purposes. The vast majority is used on potatoes, most of the remainder is used on orchard fruit.


3. In 2006, copper and derris were used by 63 Soil Association organic growers (3% of certified producers) on 709 hectares of organic land, representing 2% of Soil Association fully organic cropped land (0.3% total fully organic land).


4. If all UK farmland switched to organic, this would result in a 98% reduction in pesticide use.

The Soil Association, Pesticides and organic farming - a last resort 2007

The article goes on to say, "The Soil Association is not aware of any licensed organic farmers currently using pyrethrum and is monitoring any future use of pyrethrum by its growers."

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