Farmers treating fruits, vegetables with chemicals

Dear Editor,

OVER the years, repeatedly, I’ve penned my concerns regarding farmers lacing their produce, mainly fruits and vegetables, with chemicals and putting them on the market without giving the produce the required time for the chemicals to work out. Under the previous administration and this present, I’ve complained and ironically those responsible failed to act or address this issue properly. Today you go to the market, make your purchase, store it either in or out of a fridge and chances are that most would be in such a condition, that you would end up discarding most because they have become inedible.

Our country is still in the stone age in terms of medical testing and I am quite certain that the drugs in the fruits/vegetables cause some sort of effect to us and is not being monitored properly. Government alone is not responsible for this lapse, there are various agencies responsible for monitoring and carrying out random checks, but are failing. These people are getting paid to do a job and either they are not doing it or are taking bribes, whilst many  are hoping for a chance to get a job. Those found wanting should be dismissed and others given a chance. That’s the only way we will have an effective system.

Editor, at this present time, it’s the season for mangoes and without doubt, it’s the most widely selling fruit, green or ripe. There is a chemical popularly known as ripening/ripener, which is being used on vegetables and fruits to get them ripe before their period.

When the mango is close to being ripe (most people say half ripe / full / turn) they would put the chemical on the fruits or vegetables. Now there are vendors going around purchasing mangoes (buying out the whole trees/all the mangoes from the tree) and taking them home and soak them in the chemicals to get them ripe. Sometimes, or in most cases, these mangoes are extra green and they are being put in the chemicals to get ripe.

Now you innocently make a purchase and if you don’t eat it them the same day, it would turn black or have abnormal black spots inside, making it inedible.  This is a new development and many fruits, especially mangoes, banana, etc., are being forced to ripe before the given time. As i said before, there are people getting paid to do their jobs and they are not performing. At any given day you could go to the Stabroek Market and you would see people buying and getting either underweight or expired items and the only time raids are conducted is when someone in higher authority say something. We are not moving/heading anywhere and it’s sad.
Regards
Sahadeo Bates

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