James T Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 I was over near Longforgan between Perth and Dundee this afternoon and took some photographs of the Angus Soft Fruits fields there. One field had a very small notice attached to date advising no-one to enter as it had been sprayed with sulphuric acid...the sign was easily missed but was very faded and had obviously been there for some time. I took the shot below of a large tank at the side of the field. Can anyone tell me why acid would be used? To prolong the life of the fruit? Any ideas welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 I THINK... it kills off the flies etc.. As Sulphur is a natural chemical... it's widely used in Organic farming... Strange fact for your here.. Organic fruit contains far greater "metals" than conventionally grown fruit... ORGANIC is not always the best for you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allis8550 Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Don't know why you would use it on soft fruit, but they used to use suphuric acid to kill off potato haulm before harvesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 I THINK... it kills off the flies etc.. As Sulphur is a natural chemical... it's widely used in Organic farming... Strange fact for your here.. Organic fruit contains far greater "metals" than conventionally grown fruit... ORGANIC is not always the best for you... Why is that then Mark?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Why is that then Mark?? I must start this of with SO I AM TOLD But... conventionally grown fruit tends to be sprayed for specific things... ie. Chemicals are only applied to specific targeted problems. Organic fruit tends to be sprayed with Sulpher (and magnesium ) on a regular basis to prevent disease and bugs occuring... to this end it tends to have a much higher "metal level" in the fruit than conventional... I know the Governments free fruit for school scheme got in a LOT of hot water over the metals in pears a couple of years ago for this reason \ I got the information above from one of our growers recently... so I believe it to be factual - could be propoganda I guess... but he must have some proof to make that statement I'm sure \ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 By the look of the analysis on the label and that it is from 'Hortifeeds' I would suggest that it is used as a fertiliser, which like Marky said may also have insecticidal properties. It takes me back to the days when in Strawberries we used to use Methyl Bromide as a soil sterilant - very nasty stuff. Also in Organic systems you are permitted (if I am right) to use 'organic' fertilisers such as Sulphur, Magnesium (like Marky said) and Copper, each of which have fungicidal and/or nutritional properties. Funny thing is that they are inorganically formulated so are almost the same as spraying Ag Chem : Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Thanks for the info, the way this reads to me is that Organic food in any great quantity is probably not good for us then. \ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Thanks for the info, the way this reads to me is that Organic food in any great quantity is probably not good for us then. \ Who knows?? The thing is with conventional produce there is a lot of residue testing to establish which is at what level. I wouldn't have thought it would be so riggerous with 'Organic'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Thanks for the info, the way this reads to me is that Organic food in any great quantity is probably not good for us then. \ I think you've hit the nail on the head there Jason... Sulphur and Magnesium are natural chemicals... granted... but they were never intended by nature to be refined and sparyed on our fruit & veg - I think thats the crux of it... It's a bit like (and I'll whisper this bit incase any of my customers are watching)... Frozen Veg has a much higher nutritional value than fresh - as a result of the time it takes from cut to frozen is so quick it locks the nutritional decline in the product... from the time an item is cut its nutritional value derceases quite considerably as it degrades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Thanks Mark, I've just shown this Mrs P and she has promptly halved my weekly fruit/veg bill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Thanks Mark, I've just shown this Mrs P and she has promptly halved my weekly fruit/veg bill! :D I do have some uses then :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyB Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 I think you've hit the nail on the head there Jason... Sulphur and Magnesium are natural chemicals... granted... but they were never intended by nature to be refined and sparyed on our fruit & veg - I think thats the crux of it... It's a bit like (and I'll whisper this bit incase any of my customers are watching)... [glow=red,2,300]Frozen Veg has a much higher nutritional value than fresh - as a result of the time it takes from cut to frozen is so quick it locks the nutritional decline in the product... from the time an item is cut its nutritional value derceases quite considerably as it degrades [/glow] Absolutly bob on Marky, couldn't aggree more, but then I do work for Birdseye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGEL FORD Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Would it be for killing off the grass under the trees? They used to do that so the tree has less competition and maybe assist with the collection of fallen apples? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I don't think my apple grower does that Nigel... I THINK it's mostly used for fly on top fruit \ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James T Posted October 18, 2007 Author Share Posted October 18, 2007 Thanks for the information guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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