ABSTRACT

 Methyl bromide is a critical pesticide that is used in producing many fruit and vegetable

crops grown in Florida and the nation. It is a broad spectrum pesticide serving as an insecticide,

nematicide, herbicide and fungicide. The environment which prevails in Florida makes the use

of methyl bromide critical to the competitiveness of these crops in the U.S. and international

markets. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared in November 1993 that methyl

bromide was a Class I ozone depletor, and as such must be phased out of use by the year 2001.

Commodities analyzed in this bulletin included tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, squash,

strawberries, watermelons and fresh citrus. Alternative chemical and non-chemical production

and marketing practices are discussed. Because no known alternatives exist that will effectively

substitute for methyl bromide, Florida is estimated to lose over $620 million in shipping point

value of fresh fruit, vegetables, and fresh citrus, worth over $1 billion in total sales in Florida,

and more than 13,000 jobs. Florida will reduce acreage by more than 43 percent if methyl

bromide is banned and no suitable alternatives are developed. Production of these crops will

cease in Palm Beach County and tomato production in Florida will decline by more than 60

percent. The primary beneficiary of this policy will be Mexico who, as a developing country,

will have 10 additional years to use methyl bromide in producing and marketing their crops.

Production will increase significantly in Mexico for all tomatoes (80 percent), bell peppers (54

percent), cucumbers (7 percent), and eggplant (143 percent).