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An alarming investigation into one of California's finest fruits: the strawberry
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Nov 11, 2014
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An alarming investigation into one of California's finest fruits: the strawberry
9 out of 10 strawberries consumed in the US is grown in CA. It's a $2.6 billion industry, and it's one that relies heavily on pesticides believed to cause cancer.
Terry Farms Inc., also known as Terry Berries, produces 240 acres of strawberries each year. Each acre in the fields hold up to 30,000 strawberry plants.
Terry Farms Inc., also known as Terry Berries, produces 240 acres of strawberries each year. Each acre in the fields hold up to 30,000 strawberry plants.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)

9 out of 10 strawberries consumed in the US is grown in CA. It's a $2.6 billion industry, and it's one that relies heavily on pesticides believed to cause cancer.

Nine out of ten strawberries consumed in the United States is grown in the Golden State. It's a $2.6 billion dollar industry for California, and it's one that relies heavily on pesticides believed to cause cancer, respiratory, or reproductive harm.

The Center for Investigative Reporting recently uncovered how state regulators have allowed strawberry growers to use such chemicals despite repeated warnings from scientists. 

Andrew Donohue is the Senior Editor of CIR's report: "The Dark Side of the Strawberry."  He told Take Two that the danger lies in that strawberries -- a fragile fruit that is now in extremely high demand around the world -- like to grow where people like to live: in areas of perpetual Spring such as Ventura County, CA.