News Blog

News Blog

Faces from the Methyl Meeting

County Supervisor Dave Potter called it the most memorable day in his 16 years on the Board of Supervisors: Tuesday, Feb. 14 was packed with more controversial agenda items than he’d ever seen, including a discussion on whether the board should send a message to Gov. Jerry Brown requesting he reconsider the approval of the controversial fumigant methyl iodide—and devote more manpower and resources to helping growers find a better alternative.

In the end, before a chamber packed with farm workers, labor organizers, anti-pesticide activists —and growers and ag lobbyists—the supes ignored the recommendation of Ag Commissioner Eric Lauritzen, who asked his bosses to take a wait-and-see approach, and agreed to send a resolution asking Brown to reconsider methyl iodide.

Brown, Lauritzen told them, has just appointed a new head of the Department of Pesticide Regulation—veteran organic farmer Brian Leahy who is going to reexamine the 2010 approval of methyl iodide; and meanwhile, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch is on the verge of rendering a decision in a lawsuit brought by farm labor and environmental groups asking for the approval to be rescinded.

The decision came after Lauritzen led a series of “stakeholder” meetings between growers, ag lobbyists and farm labor and health activists. Methyl iodide was approved in 2010 despite a scientific review process initiated by the DPR in which scientists stated the pesticide was too dangerous to be used. It’s considered a replacement for methyl bromide, the use of which was banned under the treaty known as the Montreal Protocol and which will be phased out of use by 2014.

Eric Lauritzen, county Ag Commissioner: “This issue is in fact very complex scientifically, legally and from a regulatory standpoints, our office has spent hundreds of hours on it and has just scratched the surface.”

Jim Bogart, president and general counsel of the ag lobby group Grower-Shipper Agency of Central California: “I am not nor have I ever been a big fan of something that absolutely polarizes a community and methyl iodide certainly fits that condition. It’s challenging, divisive…all of that.”

Norm Groot, executive director for the Monterey County Farm Bureau: “We remain very concerned that (chemical) registrations are a statewide issue and any action should be directed at legislators and regulators, and not come before the Board of Supervisors.”

Jeff Gilles, agriculture and land-use attorney: “Without an alternative to methyl bromide, the sky will fall on agriculture. Half of ag will go elsewhere, is already going elsewhere. Jobs will be lost, headquarters will not be built…we will all be asking what happened.”

Mark Murai, third generation strawberry grower and president of the California Strawberry Commission: “We’re faced with a dilemma. We need to have clean and healthy plants to grow…the workers are being forgotten here.”

Cesar Lara, Monterey Bay Central Labor Council: “I walked into the process a little naive, not knowing much about the issue. We had respectful dialogue. I learned a lot and walked away with a clearer understanding of this chemical and more of a want for you to pass a resolution.”

Romero Medrano, Pajaro resident: “You are not rushing into anything. If anything, you are taking too long to act.”