Question: Are there any published data on what insecticides our local farmers are using? We have been encouraged to buy and consume local produce, and that is a great idea. Those vegetables are fresher and presumably have more nutrition, and we are helping our local economy. But we need to know if the fruits and vegetables are sprayed with harmful chemicals.

Answer: You can find a list of pesticides licensed for use in Hawaii on the website for the state Department of Agriculture: hdoa.hawaii. gov/pi/pest/licensed-pesticides.

The list says what each pesticide may be used for but doesn’t specify what each farmer may be using. "People don’t realize that any chemical that kills anything is considered a pesticide," including everyday household items such as disinfectants and bleaches, said Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Janelle Saneishi. So the term "pesticides" covers insecticides that kill insects and fungicides that kill organisms, bacteria, etc. Regarding agricultural use, the site or crop must be specified on the pesticide label before the pesticide can be used.

Also, Saneishi said, the label instructions for use must be followed, by law. Failure to do so may lead to civil penalties of up to $5,000 or criminal penalties of up to $25,000 or one year in prison, or both.

PESTICIDES ON PRODUCE

Steve Russo, environmental health specialist with the Department of Agriculture’s Pesticides Branch, explained that his department works closely with the state Department of Health in overseeing the use of pesticides on produce.

His branch’s role involves registration of pesticides, certification of those applying restricted-use pesticides, education of farmers and enforcement from the application side — checking that farmers are following label instructions for a particular pesticide on a particular crop. This protects both farmworkers and consumers, he said.

He also said any pesticide, if used as directed, should not be harmful to the environment or consumer. That said, the Agriculture Department encourages farmers to apply "Integrated Pest Management" programs that use good field sanitation, insect baits and other methods to help control pests, decreasing the amount of pesticides used.

The Department of Health’s role is "after harvest," Russo said.

That includes testing crops to ensure they don’t have an illegal amount of pesticide residue. If farmers are following label instructions correctly, then the crops should not have an illegal amount of residue, Russo said. As far as "what is allowed," he said that’s determined based on research conducted by the manufacturer (or a third party) and approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

EPA regulations are nationwide, so pesticides used in Hawaii would be, for the most part, the same ones used in any other state, although there may be pests in different areas that require different pesticides.

He also said there are other types of food safety certifications, such as certain "big box" retailers requiring food producers to have third-party audits to make sure that farms are following good agricultural practices. As far as freshness, you’ll usually get fresher produce by buying local, but that also depends on how the retailer handles the produce, he said.

No matter where your produce comes from, the advice is to always wash the produce before consuming. But if you’re concerned that any pesticide is used, you should stick to produce labeled "organic." For more information on food safety, go to www.fda. gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/default.htm.

MAHALO

To Earl of the city Department of Facility Maintenance. My daughter and I were returning home when the tire pressure indicator went up. I willed myself not to panic as I pulled into the Aina Haina 76 station. Earl volunteered to check and fill our tires, saying, "Don’t mind me, ma’am. I was raised to be polite and help others." We are so grateful that he helped us not for money, but because his life is a legacy of loving parents who raised him to be a blessing. — Aloha K.

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