New York: IPM-Labelled Vegetables |
A chain of food markets in the U.S. has launched an intensive campaign to promote and sell canned and frozen vegetables grown under verified integrated pest management practices.
Wegmans Food Markets in New York state now offers new IPM labeled products, the first in the nation, that call consumers' attention to growers' IPM practices and their environmental stewardship. "Wegmans believes that there is value added to the IPM products it sells. They have produced in-store video tapes, brochures, television ads, etc. that tell the consumer about IPM," according to J.P. Tette, director of New York State's well regarded IPM Program.
Started in 1996 following two years of planning and cooperation between growers, Wegmans, Comstock Michigan Fruit (the food processor that supplies Wegmans' fruits and vegetables) and Cornell Univ., the IPM labeling effort arose from the earlier success of Wegmans' sales of IPM-grown fresh sweet corn. Shoppers reacted so favorably to that initiative that the chain decided to expand its IPM-labeled offering to include processed products.
Dr. Tette noted that growers, Wegmans, Comstock, and experts from Cornell jointly determine the IPM "elements" (practices) for each of the fresh and processed crops that are authorized to wear the IPM label. Verification by a third party assures that growers strictly follow the agreed-upon practices. IPM elements are designed to be flexible to accommodate a variety of farming operations as well as account for significant changes in pest pressures related to weather conditions.
The new IPM labeled products, "represent the most direct link we have been able to develop between consumers and agricultural research and implementation," Tette said. He also believes that the extent to which consumers' accept IPM-labeled processed vegetables could have an effect on the future of IPM research and development.
FMI: J.P. Tette,
Cornell Univ., IPM Program,
NYSAES,
Geneva,
NY 14456, USA.
Fax: 1-315-787-2360.
Phone: 1-315-787-2208.
