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Guard The Green

Protect your organic food products with environmentally friendly pest management.

According to the National Organic Program, U.S. organic food sales enjoyed 17-20 percent growth over the past few years. Whether it is to support our nation’s ever-growing “green movement” or simply to incorporate more nutrients into their diets, increasing numbers of Americans are realizing the benefits of “going organic.” Unfortunately, traditional pest management methods are not compatible with this trend. The challenge to organic food processors is to find ways to maintain their facilities and keep pests out with techniques that do not jeopardize USDA organic standards. 

Thanks to new technologies, food processors can now implement more environmentally friendly pest management methods to eliminate pest problems effectively without compromising the organic nature of their products. In contrast to conventional methods, these techniques prevent pest infestations by employing techniques dependant on knowledge of pest behavior. When employed as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that stresses non-chemical techniques, green pest management methods are highly effective at keeping pests and the germs they carry out of food products.   

Talk to your pest management professional about reviewing your IPM program and implementing some of the following organic-friendly techniques in your food manufacturing facility: 

Fly lights
Since many food-processing plants run around the clock, they always offer a beacon of light and food sources to flying pests. To combat flies before they turn into a full-fledged infestation, install fly lights inside all entrances, especially near entrances to shipping, receiving and waste management areas.  Fly lights use ultraviolet light to attract and draw pests to a non-toxic sticky board inside a confined trap unit. 

Sticky boards
Sticky boards are only one kind of trap, but they consistently prove to be one of the most effective ways to monitor for crawling pests like cockroaches. You can use these monitors as reliable barometers of your plant’s pest activity and spot early warning signs of a growing infestation by regularly checking sticky traps placed in potential pest harborage areas and runways. An added benefit of sticky traps is that they may capture enough pests to help control small populations.

Pheromone traps
With the help of modern science, pest management professionals have added insect pheromones (chemical attractants) to their IPM arsenal. Most often used to control stored-product pests like Indian meal moths, pheromone traps mimic real insect pheromones to draw in the pest. Like regular sticky traps, most pheromone traps track pest activity versus controlling the pest population. Some food processors use pheromone traps in a grid formation to help isolate the source of pest activity in warehouses and other large areas. Once the source is located, the infested inventory can be removed before it contaminates adjacent goods.

IGR’s
Insect Growth Regulators (IGR’s) use synthetic replications of insect hormones to prevent pests from reaching full maturity. Considered “safe” for pest management in most of the food industry, IGR’s pose little or no threat to other organisms as they only affect targeted pests. However, these products may not be suitable for use in areas where organic food materials are present. A pest management professional should be consulted to make sure that any materials used are consistent with the USDA’s “National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.” You can also obtain approval from your organic certifying agency prior to treatment.

Repellants/Dessicants
Small amounts of repellant dust help keep pests from hiding in hard-to-reach cracks and crevices in and around your facility. Commonly used to treat ants, repellants include a combination of silica gel and pyrethrins to damage insects’ exoskeletons. Exposure to this combination leads pests to immediately retreat and causes their bodies to dry out through desiccation. After application in small openings in the exterior of your building, consider caulking the area to reduce the pests’ hiding spots and the chance of future infestations.

Organic cleaners
Organic cleaners use the same biotechnology used to clean up ocean oil tanker spills and offer an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical sanitizers.  Organic cleaners can be used on all floors and with a brush in drains. They help prevent fly problems in and around drains, sinks and waste disposals by using “good bacteria” to remove grimy buildup and “bad bacteria” in drains and other fruit-fly breeding areas. 

Insect bait
Unlike conventional spray pesticides, non-volatile baits use chemical formulations that do not become airborne, thus enabling targeted application via gels or bait pucks. Insect pests will consume the bait and take it back to the nest, so baits help eliminate not only the wayward pest, but whole colonies as well. It is best to work with your pest management professional to make sure that all baiting follows federal strictures. 

As you consider each of these treatments, remember that they all require specific pest identification to be most effective. Your pest management professional should be well versed in pest biology and behavior so that you can work together to target individual pests of concern. A pest professional should also know the USDA’s requirements for the production, processing and storage of organic food products. 

In addition to professional support, remember that all pest management efforts depend on the cooperation of staff members. Some reputable pest management professionals offer free training sessions to equip employees with the tools and knowledge they need to monitor and report pest activity. A strong IPM program and the right combination of green management methods can keep your food processing facility safe from both pests and chemicals that have no place around organic foods.

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