Recently, I visited an old mate who happened to live on a kiwifruit orchard. I asked him about what they were spraying to combat the Psa-V virus that has almost wiped out their orchard.
When he told me it was Cupric Sulphate (CuS04) alarm bells started ringing off in my head, because I have a scientific background specialising in chemical compounds.
If the kiwifruit industry believes copper-based sprays are harmless to human beings, and to the land they live on, then you have been badly misled.
Even in small amounts the chemical builds up over time in the body and in the land.
Would I let my children play in an orchard sprayed with the copper-based sprays being applied in staggering amounts on orchards all across Tauranga? Never ever.
Peter Hammond, Papatoetoe.