"Ugly Ripe" Grower Violates Pesticide Regulations

[davtrent]

Ag-Mart, the Florida-based grower that produces "Ugly Ripe" and "Santa's Sweets"
tomatoes has been charged  with the worst pesticide violations in North Carolina history.

The NC Dept. of Health and Human Services is investigating whether severe birth defects of Ag-Mart workers were caused by pesticide exposure.  Birth defects have included babies born without arms and legs and having no visible sex organs.

Wal-Mart has pulled the tomatoes off their shelves because of concerns about pesticide violations.

The full article which ran in the 2/19/06 News and Observer may be found at: www.newsobserver.com/100/story/402173.html

[Perk]

wow what a heafty huge fine of $111,200. I'm sure with that they will go out of business with that bank breaker. 
It's amazing to think that this is the worst fine for violating pesticides.

[SouthernPete]

That is really sad to see such a pathetic fine for a crime like this, its obvious with the four children with birth defects that something is not right there.