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.

Extension Agent Jari Sugano (center) is initiating another series of educational events to ensure that growers understand how to best manage fungi and insects.

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.