Green Jersey

NJ tomato grower hit with record fine

Ag-Mart's UglyRipes.

A corporate tomato grower has been saddled with a fine of nearly $1 million for pesticide violations that could have endangered workers’ health, the Associated Press and others reported yesterday.

The Department of Environmental Protection charged Ag-Mart Produce with hundreds of violations, including using “forbidden mixtures” of pesticides, denying inspectors access to facilities, losing track of a highly toxic insecticide, failing to properly ventilate during pesticide use, and, on 17 occasions, shipping pesticide-treated tomatoes before they were safe for public consumption.

Acting DEP Commissioner Mark Mauriello called the violations “the most serious DEP inspectors have ever uncovered.” The fine is unprecedented in its size.

The Florida-based company employs 700 people throughout 17 farm locations in New Jersey, according to DEP; it has an office in Cedarville, Cumberland County.

While Ag-Mart denies these charges, the Star-Ledger story notes that last year, it settled a lawsuit with a couple whose baby was born without limbs. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but the company did not admit any fault.

Ag-Mart lawyer John F. O’Riordan said the bulk of this fine was administered because the company’s records failed to note exact spraying time, including indicate “a.m.” or “p.m.” when spraying is always done during the day. He said Ag-Mart had been doing things this way for many years, and the DEP has never complained before. He also said no workers had been injured.

The company is a subsidiary of Procacci Brothers Sales Corp. in Philadelphia.