Arsenic??? or A Good Reason to Grow Your Own Tomatoes!
71Red is for Tomato
Tomato Fields
Or Your Own Tomato Patch?
Traveling in a neighboring state in February of this year we came across tomato fields that were being overwintered with a fumigant. When we asked about the signs announcing that arsenic was in use we were told that they use it every year between growing seasons to kill pests that would destroy the next season's plants.
Snapping photos then, and again just last week as we drove by the same fields, gave me the chance to share them with you. Isn't that nice of me? (UPDATE: Am trying to solve a problem with this hub because it was flagged. I took the photos down to see what would happen. Comments below can give you an idea of reader's initial responses to them.)
I am growing my own tomatoes, thankfully. Hope you are too! If not, I suggest that you forgo some other activity and develop the habit of gardening. Not worth it you say? Too hard, perhaps? If you have any excuse at all you might want to think again.
A quick look at just HubPages, not to mention the world wide web will give you all the information you need to learn how easy gardening is. Whether you have a small space or a lot, whether you need to grow in raised beds or containers, there is a gardening method and style that will let you grow tomatoes.
I can't grow everything in my own garden but I have found that organically grown foods are not as expensive as I thought they would be to buy. I shop at organic food markets when possible and have found their prices to be more comparable than, and when they have sales their prices are competitive.
Also, it's been great to find that nearly all traditional food stores are offering more organic foods these days. Their organic food spaces are growing all the time making it easier for us to make choices we need and want to make.
Still, after this first-hand look at the tomato fields, I believe we'll be expanding my veggie garden for that is the best way to be sure of what we are eating, sure of how it was grown, and sure of how fresh it is.
WInter Tomatoes
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Homegrown Tomatoes
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I absolutely agree that home grown or organic is the preference. I never dreamed they used arsenic on the fields. That is disgusting and surely it can't be healthy.
I decided to grow tomatoes as well as some herbs in my backyard, not only to avoid the chemicals, but to make sure they are fully mature when I bring them to the table.
No wonder everything tastes like “plastic”; picking us fruit or vegetable before their time and have them mature in refrigerated truck will ensure “long life”, but no taste. Who would have ever thought I will be “farming” in the middle of Los Angeles?
anginu - I hope you enjoy your garden. Wish I could share some of my plants with you--especially my volunteer tomatoes! We are have a great growing season. I don't think we can eat them, but my hydrangea have more blooms this year than ever before. Thanks much for leaving a comment. :)
Pamela99 - I was very surprised to see that sign, I can tell you. However, I do not know if all tomato farms have this same practice. This one produces a lot of tomatoes, though. It's going to be hard to look at tomatoes in a restaurant or from a can in the same way now. Hmmm, there is a restaurant called Seasons over in Flat Rock that has their own herb and vegetable garden. I "need" an excuse to go there! Maybe I'll ask them about this practice. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Petra - What passes for food in the produce departments is sometimes amazing. That is great, farming in the middle of LA! Made me smile :) Maybe you can inspire others there--what fun in the city. Post some pics when you can. Thanks very much for your input!
......
Arsenic??!!
Oh my.
Well, me and hubby didn't have the room to grow a garden before now; although I grew up with mom and dad having a garden every year.
This time we did it! And we've already had cucumbers, yum! And tomatoes should be ripe in a few weeks.
Good hub, RTalloni!
Thanks for stopping in!
Wow1! Thanks for the information. I already grow some fruit,veg and herbs in my garden, think I'll add a nice lot of tomatoes too.
An update on this hub is that I've just learned that the arsenic is "supposed" to dissipate in the air like natural gas. I'm left wondering, if that is true, whether there is any residual garbage from the propellant left in the ground after the infusion of arsenic. Too many questions for comfort!
Traveling to a friends wedding in that same state this past week we saw a front porch with white buckets hanging across the front like flower baskets only tomatoes (or potatoes?) were growing out of the bottoms. Very cool, although not very aesthetic! :)
Thanks very much for stopping by and commenting.
Wow. That is disturbing. I'm glad I'm growing my own tomatoes this year.
Ya!
Thanks for reading and commenting as it helps keep the topic highlighted!
My parents had a garden even before I can remember, but when we couldn't keep up with it longer, the one thing we wouldn't part with is home grown tomatoes. I won't ever go back! It's very easy to grow your own and we've had an abundance of crops in years past; so much so we've given away pounds and pounds of tomatoes and still had too many.
It really is easy, and it's fun to give them away, isn't it? :)
Thanks much for sharing your input! Appreciate your visit!
Your article sucks. Arsenic has many beneficial uses including off season pesticide. Your bias and ignorance is evident in your complete absence of supporting facts or research.
Arsenic may very well have some beneficial uses--that would not surprise me at all--and this may not be a very well done article as it is one of my early ones. However, I do know that it was quite a shock to see warning signs all over the tomato fields due to arsenic's use.
Now that I am more familiar with hubbing I plan to repost new photos from those fields this coming winter. They are in a neighboring state that we visit frequently so it will be no trouble. I may even do a little research for you. As for me, the warning signs were enough.
Thanks for stopping by.
anglnwu Level 7 Commenter 2 years ago
Agreed--home-grown and organic produce are way better, not just in taste but they're healthier. I'm looking forward to having my own garden when we move--hopefully soon. Thanks.