Growers know it’s not just what you grow; it’s how you grow
it. Basil, especially the Thai and sweet varieties, is integral to much local
cooking. The fragrant herb is also one of Hawai‘i’s most lucrative crops, with
a farm-gate value of over $5 million both in the state and as an export.
However, it’s host to a number of pests as well, including basil downy mildew.
Many growers choose to use pesticides on their crops, but making sure they know
how to apply them properly is an important question, one CTAHR is addressing.
The Department of Health, which conducts random sampling of
crops for pesticide compliance, recently discovered pesticide residues
remaining after an O‘ahu farm had used an insecticide inappropriately on Thai
basil. The farm was ordered to destroy about 5,000 pounds of the herb and
undergo three months of pesticide sampling of all its crops to make sure allowed
pesticide levels are not surpassed.
Something similar occurred previously, when an unauthorized
pesticide was found on basil from four farms. CTAHR’s Local and Immigrant
Farmer Education (LIFE) program, Risk Management Hawaii, IR4 Minor Crop
Registration program, Food Safety program, and Basil SWAT Team all joined with
the USDA and HDOA to address farmers’ issues, concerns, and possible
confusions. Educational sessions covered common basil pests and diseases,
pesticides registered for use on basil in Hawai‘i, how to use them safely, and
the HDOA pesticide inspection process. Later their “Basil Road Show”
demonstrated how to calibrate pesticide sprayers, place crops in groups for
maximum efficiency in spraying, and establish field trials to prevent development
of chemical-resistant fungi or insects.
None of the farms cited in 2012 was involved in the more
recent incident. Now CTAHR is initiating another series of educational events
and workshops to ensure that the next generation of growers understands the laws
relating to pesticides and the techniques that will keep them in compliance
with it. The college also continues working on new ways to manage pests,
partnering with collaborators for variety screening, registering new
fungicides, and assessing the use of irradiation to kill pathogens post harvest
and avoid unnecessary chemicals. The future of growing basil—and other crops—in
Hawai‘i is strong, but the tools to control pests and diseases must be
correctly applied for a vibrant and successful industry.