Pesticide Free

Pesticides used for agricultural purposes are extremely harmful to the environment. A pesticide it used to get rid of or prevent "pests" whether that be insects, rodents, birds, or bacteria on a agricultural product.
But many pesticides are toxic and when used pollutes the soil, air, and water. The United States has some regulations for pesticides to lessen the affect they have on the environment. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is used to to this. This agency studies and tests the pesticide's toxicity to mammals, birds, and fish. As well as the pesticide's environmental impact on non target plants, water sources, and animals.

In my research looking at pesticides I found a company that is trying to do their part greening their pesticide process. Go Green Agricultural is a company that prides itself in doing everything in the greenest way they can find. Their speciality product is lettuce or what they call it Happy Lettuce. It is grown in a greenhouse. They use hydroponic  farming where the plants aren't grown in soil but in nutrient-rich water (that they recycle). When ready they are picked and packaged living (with the roots still attached) to maximize the self life and the amount of nutrients in the lettuce. Packaging for them is also green. They use a recyclable plastic and the packaging also acts like a mini greenhouse to help keep the lettuce fresh.

All of this is very impressive but what I found particular interesting was that they don't use a pesticide! They use ladybugs! They ladybugs eat the insects that traditional pesticides on other farms kill. Lady bugs are a predatory insect that keeps the lettuce pest free and the plants and environment pesticide free.

http://www.gogreenagriculture.com/Technology/index2.php
http://www.pollutionissues.com/Na-Ph/Pesticides.html