Nick Apostolakis said:

do not believe that the proffesional farmers harvest their vegetables
looking at the pesticide label. they harvest them when the price market
is higher and some times the vegetables are not even ripe yet.

An argument for better oversight, if it is a common occurance. But I was
more under the impression that fruits are picked and shipped unripe because
ripe fruits are more prone to bruising and spoilage. Tomatoes, peaches,
and plums are alway picked under ripe for transport of any distance from
the field. (And strawberries are picked before they are fully ripe, too.)

Pesticides are expensive, though, so I would think that a farmer might
be more likely to harvest vegetables that were nearly ready and ship them
out rather than spray them one more time. Fruits and vegetables aren't
something that a farmer can market-time the same way he could grain
or beans.

so when you buy tomatoes or pears or any other fruit or vegetable would
it be safer to leave it for some days in the refrigerator and consume it
later if the agro-chemical continues its breake down in the refrigerator?

No. But it would be safer to wash the produce with a mild soap or detergent,
rinse completely, then dry off the produce before putting it in the refrigerator.
Or, where that is impractical, wash the produce before eating.
--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)