In recent years, products without pesticide residues have appeared on supermarket shelves. This alternative between organic and conventional products has been on an upward trend lately.

In 2019, Bonduelle launched its first line of  lettuce and canned corn without pesticide residues. As for Prince de Bretagne, Savéol and Solarenn, they brought their skills together and created a label “cultivated without pesticides” and an association “Alliance Nature et Saveurs”. The three cooperatives from Brittany, which represent 50% of the French tomato production, have agreed to develop a range of underground (and above ground) tomatoes cultivated without synthetic pesticides. Andros also launched Kidifruit, a line of mixed fruits in bottles, tubes and jars, made from apples, apricots, bananas, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, pears and mangos without pesticide residues.

But what does this “label” mean? In fact, it means that certain molecules are absent or at levels inferior to the threshold of quantification (less than 0.01 ppm). In order to replace phytosanitary treatments, farmers use alternative techniques such as mechanical or animal weeding, strip plowing, biocontrol (insects, birds, essential oils, pheromones…), or even insect nets, bird traps, planted hedgerows and tree cutting for fruit trees.

They do not meet the requirements to obtain the biological label but they do show a particular focus on the respect of health and the environment.

Source: processalimentaire.com