Topic: The Garlic Farm

[tim]

The Garlic Farm is exhibiting at Hampton Court Flower Show this coming week.

We were fortunate enough to have a BBC film crew visit the farm recently in connection with this event.

If time permits, why not tune in to BBC2, Monday 7th July @ 7pm to see The Garlic Farm at work.

 For & on behalf of Colin Boswell

[tim]

That's TONIGHT!!

[daileg]

ill give it a go did you say 7 will be home in time for that tim
thanks

[tim]

Sorry you're still at work.
Great to be retired.
Plan for it!!

[grawrc]

Thanks for the tip Tim. I'm off down the lottie but i'll set it to record for when I get back.

[ACE]

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199900/ldhansrd/vo991215/text/91215w02.htm

Most of us would not trust him as far as we could see him. Scroll down to MERSLEY  FARM.

HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BANNED FROM FARMING FOR LIFE.

[betula]

The first I have heard of this.Quite shocking.

[ceres]

Well speaking as a victim of pesticide abuse, I share your sentiments ACE.

[Hyacinth]

WOW! :o

Thanks for posting that link ACE.

[Barnowl]

Another article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/business/2097718.stm

"sold his business and went organic"

 - seen the light?

I'd like more detail. Presumably wasn't a herbicide since they refer to pesticide but what was it? Was anyone ill as a result? Bear in mind a lot of people on this site have been complaining about the banning of derris - was it a similar situation?

[tim]

Funny - I thought it was exploitation of immigrant workers that was the problem.

[ACE]

Another article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/business/2097718.stm



 

I'd like more detail. Presumably wasn't a herbicide since they refer to pesticide but what was it? Was anyone ill as a result? Bear in mind a lot of people on this site have been complaining about the banning of derris - was it a similar situation?

Quite a few people were ill and I think a death occurred but could not be proved, The local council chucked him out of holding office. Some of his staff dobbed him in when he tried to get them to bury the evidence. Organic should be taken with a pinch of salts, that is whatever variety of salts he is using at the moment.

Only immigrants will work for him on very poor wages. Now a lot of this is heresay but he only lives 7 miles away. Over here if you don't know the colour of your neighbours toilet paper, you don't know nuffink

[Barnowl]

Sounds pretty serious. Removal from the shopping list methinks..... >:(

[twinkletoes]

....ditto
twinkletoes

[Baccy Man]

I'd like more detail. Presumably wasn't a herbicide since they refer to pesticide but what was it? Was anyone ill as a result? Bear in mind a lot of people on this site have been complaining about the banning of derris - was it a similar situation?

There is not much info available but.

Quoted from http://archives.foodsafety.ksu.edu/agnet/1999/6-1999/ag-06-04-99-01.txt

FARMER USED NERVE AGENT PESTICIDE ON SUPERMARKET SWEET  CORN
June 4, 1999
PA News
Vanessa Allen
One of Britain's biggest sweetcorn farmers was cited as admitting today to
illegally using pesticides on crops he sold to supermarket giant Tesco and
other retailers.
Colin Boswell sprayed Liquid Gaucho, Aztec and Capsolane--none of which is
approved for such use--on crops at his 850-acre farm on the Isle of Wight,
magistrates at Portsmouth were told.
He also used the nerve agent organo-phosphate pesticide Metaphor, before
it was licensed for use, said Mr Charles Gilby, for the Health and Safety
Executive.
A Health and Safety Executive spokesman said outside the court that
Metaphor--which works by destroying the nervous systems of insects--was
rated as being hazardous to human health.
Mr Gilby told the court that Boswell used Metaphor in 1997 to rid his
crops of an aphid infestation which would have ruined the harvest, making
it unsaleable for human consumption.

Quoted from http://www.corporateaccountability.org/dl/HSEOffences00.pdf

A farmer was convicted on eleven counts involving widespread misuse of
pesticides. Work was carried out which was liable to expose employees,
including crop pickers, to a substance hazardous to health. An insecticide
was applied to sweetcorn for human consumption although it was not
approved for that use. Pesticide sprayers were not given adequate
information to protect their own health and safety. The Crown Court imposed
a total fine of £220,000 plus £16,862 costs.

The HSE & Environment agency took over 3 years to look into it properly, the EA removed some unused pesticides but concluded no groundwater contamination had occurred. The HSE decided that  out of the the 50+ cases of ill health reported 9 incidents were not connected to the pesticides there and was insufficient information available to determine the causes in the remaining cases of ill health, no further action was taken.

[tim]

And he is the only grower to trangress??

Anyone supplying the supermarkets is under suspicion.

And his Garlic is good!

[ceres]

In my book, under suspicion (who and by whom?) isn't the same as being prosecuted, found guilty and punished.

[Baccy Man]

The fine given by the courts reflects how serious the offence was, Colin Boswells fine was over 4 times the average for that type of offence.
When he chose to accept the contracts with the supermarkets they would probably of specified what he grew, how much he grew & what they were going to pay for it but the illegal use of the pesticides would of been entirely his decision not the supermarkets they don't have quite that much influence.

Again quoting  from http://www.corporateaccountability.org/dl/HSEOffences00.pdf

The level of a fine will reflect a number of factors, including the seriousness of the offence, any aggravating or mitigating factors, and the offender’s ability to pay, which the courts must take into account.........

.........In total, in agriculture and forestry, inspectors issued 1644 enforcement notices and secured convictions for 103 separate offences. The average fine for all offences in this sector rose to £3780, more than double the previous year’s average. Of particular note was HSE’s conviction of a farmer on the Isle of Wight on eleven charges relating to the misuse of pesticides; seven under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, and four under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 (as amended). Committed to the Crown court for sentence, the defendant was fined a record £220 000.

[Mr Smith]

I was at the Garlic farm on the Isle of Wight last week, we had a good look round spent £20 asked a couple of Garlic questions bought a Garlic bulb which I hope will be good enough for my seed  :)

[Hyacinth]

Following all the links posted here, and with the knowledge of the proven evidence, I will never, EVER buy from the Garlic Farm again. >:( 

My deepest regret is that I've, over the years, promoted TGF to others on various sites and that I can't remember/post the links to those I've posted on to alert them of the actual state-of-play...

Tim -  his garlic is indeed good!.......but so are the branded goods I've bought in the past which then emerged were produced in sweat-shops by little children?

Mr. Smith - I'm not seeing that your answer is any answer atorl, really for your continued use of them as a supplier.....for 'x' years I've bought  from/recommended to others this place - but no more for me.

Back to Tim.....yes, the GF HAS BEEN ideal for us, but hey! there are other suppliers, no? And if you can't find a local organic grower who not only can guarantee 'clean' stock but also guarantee that the stock isn't produced courtesy of under-paid immigrant labour........then mail me.......can sort you out in a trice.