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Five Companies Lauded for Reducing Pesticide Risk

Release Date: 11/30/2009
Contact Information: Dale Kemery kemery.dale@epa.gov 202-564-7839 20256404355

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2009


WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has presented awards to five members of the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) for their sustained excellence in integrated pest management (IPM).

“These awards demonstrate that innovative pest management practices really do work,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, “EPA is helping growers and other pesticide users make the transition to safer practices and thereby reduce pesticide risk to people and the environment.”

The awardees were:

· Central Coast Vineyard Team (Paso Robles, Calif.) for demonstrating continued progress in outreach and education for growers, and adopting a reduced-risk approach to vineyard management.

· Glades Crop Care, Inc. (Jupiter, Fla.) for implementing IPM strategies that reduce pesticide use and risk, researching and testing lower risk pesticides, educating users on chemical safety, and providing outreach and education.

· IPM Institute of North America, Inc. (Madison, Wis.) for creating and marketing its innovative program for IPM certification for schools and pest control companies.

· Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission (Lodi, Calif.) for leading the development of a state-wide code of sustainable winegrowing practices in California.

· U.S. Department of Defense Armed Forces Pest Management Board (Washington, D.C.) for its extraordinary level of commitment to IPM and outstanding efforts to prevent and manage disease vectors and pests.

PESP is an EPA partnership for reducing risks posed by pesticide use to human health and the environment in both agricultural and urban settings. Established in 1994 with six charter members, PESP has grown to include almost 200 members.

More information about PESP: https://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/pesp/pesp-excellence.html