"Torsten Brinch" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 18:10:04 GMT, "James Curts"
wrote:

Many of these
chemicals, just as in the instances of dirt grown vegetables, were within
the plant structure and could not be washed off. The only solutions are
to
remove the items from the store shelves, which one major local grocery
chain
did, or to advertise the product so strongly and favorably that customers
consumed the evidence.

The threat of food poisoning from aldicarb residues in American
hydroponically grown cucumbers comes to mind as one example that
residues of toxic chemicals within the plant structure cannot be
washed off. Indeed such aldicarb-soaked hydroponically grown
cucumbers would had been better removed from the shelves -- before
unknowing customers ate them and got sick. However, hydroponically
grown produce should from what I've heard generally have -lower-
residues than conventionally dirt-grown, and the residues would not
very often exceed maximum recommended levels, and not frequently lead
to clinical poisoning.

The first portion of your message is factual while the insinuation at the
end is unfounded and unnecessary.

Aldicarb (trade name Temik) is a granular pesticide registered
since 1970. It is used to control insects, mites, and nematodes on
bananas, cotton, citrus, dry beans, grain sorghum, ornamentals,
pecans, peanuts, potatoes, seed alfalfa, soybeans, sugar beets,
sugarcane, sweet potatoes, and tobacco. Additionally, there are
tolerances established for residues of aldicarb on imported bananas
and coffee beans. Rhone-Poulenc is the sole registrant of
aldicarb. It is restricted to use by certified applicators only.

Aldicarb was never licensed or intended for use on water melons or
cucumbers. The use on the cucumbers you mentioned was illegal and while a
fact was not discovered and isolated to prevent the illness and
hospitalization of consumers until after the fact.

The EPA was immediately on top of this and was grateful that Rhone-Poulenc
immediately pulled the product and compensated the growers for the
purchases.

Conventional hydroponic produce, unfortunately and for news fodder, is
lumped together with produce obtained by introducing "organic" additives
into the nutrient supply. The cucumbers in question were from an "organic"
hydroponics grower whose crop was infested almost beyond redemption
practices by insects, mites, etc. and the chemical was applied in much
higher amounts than was necessary.

Normal hydroponic practice is to create an environment in the greenhouse
which supports beneficial insects and organisms to combat these unwanted
infestations. Chemical additives are seldom even considered or necessary and
in today's well overseen actions nothing harmful is ever used in the serious
commercial operation.

What you've "heard" is of no import and in simple form has no foundation
other than to imply a familiarity you do not possess with the topic.

A serious study of hydroponics growing practices as we find in the US,
Australia, Israel, etc. shows a conscientious approach to food production
not found in dirt or supposed "organic" systems.

To clarify a small point, organic growing practices in true form are the
ideal food growing method and produce healthy, nutritious and wholesome
food. In reality and from a commercial standpoint it cannot compete with
conventional dirt farming in the market place. From the same standpoint it
cannot compete with standard hydroponics without cheating. Cheating means
using the large hidden barrels of chemicals and the sprayers after hours, as
one example.

"Organics" being no more than a marketing ploy in today's market place is
hard pressed to maintain a market share due to the added cost of production
and the subsequent higher price to the consumer. As mentioned earlier, the
production standards and supply guarantees have caused the removal of
"organic" fresh produce from the shelves of a major chain of grocery stores
in our area and without customer complaint.

The statement containing: "heard generally have -lower-
residues than conventionally dirt-grown, and the residues would not very
often exceed maximum recommended levels, and not frequently lead to clinical
poisoning." is ambiguous, cheap and insinuating reporting at best.
Hydroponics is not in question and conversations with the folks world wide
who produce and use these products are proud of what has been accomplished.

James Curts